Devotees in thousands gathered at the Srisailam Mahakshetram for the Swarna Rathotsavam festival, where the processional deities of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and Sri Bhramaramba Devi were taken out on the golden chariot. The temple town echoed with chants of “Har Har Mahadev” and rhythmic kolatam, folk dances, and bhajans, marking one of the most festive days at this Jyotirlinga.
The Swarna Rathotsavam began with special pujas, including Mahanyasa Purvaka Ekadasa Rudrabhisekham and Annabhisekham, after which the golden chariot was pulled around the temple streets. The utsava murtis were seated on the Swarna Rath, draped in silk and gold, offering darshan to rows of devotees lining the route to seek blessings for rain, good crops, peace, and prosperity.
In recent years, the Srisailam temple administration has decided to hold Swarna Rathotsavam every month on the day of Arudra Nakshatram, making the golden chariot procession a regular feature. The festival, originally held on special occasions, now gives more devotees a chance to witness the divine Jyotirlinga on the Swarna Rath under the guidance of the temple committee and priests.
The Swarna Rathotsavam is not just a ritual but also a cultural showcase, with traditional art forms, disciplined sevaks, and temple volunteers working together to keep the crowd safe and the rituals precise. The presence of devotees from across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and neighbouring states underlines Srisailam’s role as a living centre of Sanatana Dharma, where faith, music, and ritual coexist in a single sacred frame.
