Amaravati, February 16, 2026: The ancient Srimukhalingam temple in Srikakulam district saw over 50,000 devotees offer prayers during and after Maha Sivaratri.
Special rituals, including Rudrabhisekham performed on the Sivalingam by chief priest Naidugari Rajasekhar, drew crowds from across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring areas. The rush peaked Sunday night into early Monday, boosted by the festival falling just before a regular busy Monday.
This 8th-century shrine, built under the Eastern Ganga dynasty and known as Dakshina Kasi, stands out for its spiritual pull.
Nearby sites like Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy temple and Umarudra Koteswara Alayam also reported heavy footfall, with many taking holy dips in rivers like Nagavali or Vamsadhara before darshan.
