Giri Pradakshna – lakhs of people trek to Simhachalam

Saturday, July 8, 2017 
Visakhapatnam

On the eve of ‘Giri Pradakshna’ of Sri Varahalakshmi Nrusimha Swamy on Saturday to mark Guru Poornima, lakhs of people trekked for several hours to cover 32 kms stretch.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation P.Ashok Gajapathi Raju flagged off the chariot with replica of the deity at the foothills of Simhachalam Hills in the evening. According to sources, over five lakh devotees participated in the annual ritual. Devotees started their trek form the first step of stairs after praying to the replica of the deity located at the foot hill and trek along the BRTS Road towards Hanumanthuwaka and back via Seethammadara, HB Colony, Alluri Seetharama Raju statue and Madhavadhara, R&B, National High Way, NAD and back to Simhachalam.

Volunteers all along the roads served water sachets, butter milk, tea and prasadam. Many apartment associations came forward to set up kiosks in front of the residential complexes to pep up the spirit of the devotees.

The GVMC deployed a sanitary works who were at work to continually keep the city streets clean. APSRTC arranged special buses for those who could not trek the 32 km. stretch.

A large number of people thronged in the court to participate in the National Lok Adalat through negotiations.

District Judge Jyotirmayi said that the response for the National Lok Adalat was overwhelming. Over 7,000 cases were settled through negotiations. She emphasized the importance of Lok Adalat to reduce pendency of cases and early settlement of claims by the litigant public.

Joint Collector G.Srijana, Commissioner of Police T.Yoganand, Metropolitan Sessions Judge Nagarjuna, Visakhapatnam Bar Association P.Balakrishna and others participated.

The district administration has made adequate arrangements on the eve Giri Pradakshna – arrangements are in place of Giri Pradakshana.