Vizianagaram, February 12, 2026: Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy visited Ramatheertham and Punyagiri temples today to assess arrangements for Maha Shivaratri, set for Sunday, February 15.
He instructed Revenue, Endowments, and Police departments to coordinate efforts for seamless devotee access and worship.
Ramatheertham, linked to Pandava legends with its Lord Rama and adjacent Shiva shrines, draws crowds from Vizianagaram and nearby areas.
Punyagiri, about 35 km away, hosts the Umakotilingeswara Alayam, a popular Shiva site on the festival. The review comes after a stampede-like event at Arasavilli temple during Rathasaptami, pushing focus on better crowd control statewide.
