Annual Srisailam Padayatra Commences from North Karnataka Ahead of Ugadi Festival
In a vibrant display of faith and tradition, thousands of devotees from North Karnataka have embarked on their annual padayatra to Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant prelude to the Ugadi festival. This long-standing pilgrimage, observed yearly by devout pilgrims, sees participants from districts including Ballari, Koppal, Raichur, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Belagavi, Yadgir, and parts of Kalaburagi undertaking the journey on foot.
Journey to the Sacred Temple
The pilgrims are covering distances of 350 to 400 kilometers towards the Lord Mallikarjuna temple, nestled in the Nallamala forest of Nandyal district. Their destination is the annual fair at Srisailam, which commences on Holi Hunnime and extends until Ugadi. Channabasava Kudarimothi, a devotee from Koppal, explained, "The festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati (Bhramaramba). Srisailam is believed to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva and one of the 18 Mahashakti Peethas."
Devotional Practices and Challenges
Large groups of pilgrims, including women and children, can be seen walking both day and night, with numbers swelling during the early morning and evening hours to avoid the intense heat. They chant devotional songs and remember ‘Mallayya', another name for Lord Shiva. Unique aspects of this pilgrimage include some devotees walking with wooden sticks tied to their legs throughout the journey, while others carry kavadi, a cradle-like structure offered to Bhramaramba Devi at Srisailam.
Pilgrims report walking at least 20 to 30 kilometers daily, with some covering up to 40 kilometers. To combat the scorching heat, many place wet cloths on their heads while walking. They often halt at temples and villages along the route, where local residents, donors, and voluntary organizations provide essential support.
Community Support and Medical Aid
Volunteers have set up tents offering shade and drinking water, and serve fruits, sharbat, and buttermilk to the weary travelers. Medical assistance is also being extended, with a free medical camp organized in Raichur under the leadership of Veerashaiva Rudra Sena. This camp conducts health check-ups and treats issues like swollen feet. Shivasharan Reddy, president of Veerashaiva Rudra Sena, noted, "The organization has been conducting free medical camps for Srisailam pilgrims for the past 12 years with the support of the Veerashaiva Lingayat community."
Another volunteer, Mallikarjun Patil, mentioned that fruits are distributed free daily to 1,000 to 3,000 pilgrims along the route. The flow of padayatra groups is expected to increase in the coming days as more devotees from various parts of North Karnataka set out for Srisailam to participate in the Ugadi celebrations.
