Lakhs of devotees throng Shiva temples across B’gavi

Belagavi: Lakhs of devotees thronged the temples of Lord Shiva on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, on Wednesday. The Kapileshwar temple in Shahapur, also known as Dakshin Kashi, attracted huge crowds from early morning to late night.
Women and child welfare minister Laxmi Hebbalkar performed a special puja at the temple along with her brother, MLC Channaraj Hattiholi. Recently, deputy CM DK Shivakumar had also offered abhisheka at the Kapileshwar temple.
On Mahashivaratri, various programmes, including Rudrabhisheka, abhisheka, pooja, Shivbhajan, parayana, bhajan, kirtan, and mahaprasadam, were arranged in the Kapileshwar temple. There was about a kilometre-long queue for darshan today.
Apart from Kapileshwar temple, there was a huge crowd at Military Mahadev temple, Shahapur Muktidham, and Siddheshwar temple at Shanivar Khoot, Goaves, Uppar Galli, Shahapur, Khade Bazar, Anand Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Shahu Nagar, Ganeshpur, Kakati, Pipeline road, and Kanabargi.
Tens of thousands of devotees visited the famous Shiva temples across Belagavi district, including Yadur Veerabhadreshwara temple (which belongs to Shrishail Peetha) on the Krishna river banks, ancient Someshwar temple in Sogal, Bailhongal taluk, and Siddheshwar temple in Kakati. Special puja and religious programmes were also arranged at Naganur Rudrakshimuth and Hukkeri Hiremath in Belagavi.
Similarly, thousands of devotees thronged Mullur Gudda, on the outskirts of Ramdurg town, where a 78ft tall statue of Lord Shiva was installed a few years ago. Various spiritual and cultural programmes were organised on the premises.