Traditional Shakambari Utsavam celebrated at Kolanubharathi

The Kolanubharathi shrine, an adopted temple of Srisailam Devasthanam, marked the traditional Shakambari Utsavam on August 7 with devotional fervour.

 Sri Saraswathi Devi was adorned with an eye-catching display of vegetables, leafy greens and assorted fruits, followed by special rituals. Over 300kg of fresh produce was sourced for the elaborate decoration, including gourds, beans, brinjals, cabbage, yam, colocasia, cucumber, capsicum, leafy greens, bananas, oranges, pomegranates, grapes and pineapple. Priests began the proceedings with a sankalpam seeking timely rainfall, healthy crops, prosperity and the wellbeing of people, while praying for relief from excessive or deficient rains. Mahaganapati Puja was then performed, followed by Shodashopachara Puja to the deity in her Shakambari form. Temple governing board members Chittibotla Bharadwaj Sharma and P.U. Shivamma, along with officials, attended the celebrations.