Over 5 lakh devotees expected for Giri Pradakshina today
Authorities in Visakhapatnam are preparing for the annual Giri Pradakshina festival, expecting over five lakh devotees to participate. Extensive security, traffic restrictions, and sanitation measures have been implemented to manage the large crowds.
Why it matters
Large-scale religious events require significant logistical coordination to ensure public safety and manage urban infrastructure during mass gatherings.
Elaborate arrangements have been made by the district administration for the annual ‘Giri Pradakshina’ of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy of Simhachalam, which will be held on Tuesday.
The Giri Pradakshina will commence from Tholi Pavancha in the early hours of Tuesday. Although devotees begin the trek from morning, officials said the footfall generally increases significantly after the ratham (ceremonial chariot) of the presiding deity sets out in the afternoon. Similar to last year, a sharp rise in the number of devotees is anticipated after the chariot procession begins. While around 3.5 lakh devotees participated in the event last year, the administration expects the turnout to cross five lakh this year.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in