Velal
18°44′42″N 79°40′19″E / 18.74500°N 79.67194°E Velal (or vElAla [వేలాల]) is a village in Jaipur Mandal, Telangana state, India.[1] It is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Jaipur. The Sri Gattu Mallanna Swamy Temple is located at Velala, Jaipur Mandal in Mancherial District, Telangana and is dedicated to Gattu Mallanna Swamy.[2] Near by cities are Ramagundam at 32 kilometres (20 mi), Mancherial at 36 kilometres (22 mi), Bellampalli at 46 kilometres (29 mi), and Karimnagar at 69 kilometres (43 mi).[3] Velal is famous for the temple on the hills of Mallana during the Maha Shivaratri festival near the Godavari River.[4]
Velal Mallanna Swamy Temple
The ancient Sri Mallanna Swamy temple of Velala in Jaipur mandal is famous for the three-day-long Maha Shivaratri festivities, which are slated to be held from February 24 to 26. Devotees from various parts of northern Telangana congregate at the holy place and throng this historic abode of Shiva in view of this auspicious occasion.[5]
According to locals, the temple was built on a hillock near Velala village on the shores of the River Godavari, centuries ago. Over a period of time, it became one of the major pilgrim centres of Mancherial district. It sees huge crowds nearly 1 lakh people of pilgrims at the time of Maha Shivaratri celebrations. It is the most sought-after destination to devotees of Shiva belonging to erstwhile Adilabad, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts.[5]
As a part of tradition, devotees take a holy dip in the river and then prepare bonam (special sweet food made with rice and jaggary) on the hillock using water from the Godavari River. They present it to presiding deity Shiva in the temple. Similarly, people congregate at the holy place during the jathara conducted during the Shivaratri festival. They participate in shopping and recreation.[5]
Transport
By road
Mancherial is the nearest town to Velal. Mancherial is 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Velal. There is road connectivity from Mancherial to Velal. Special buses are arranged on the Maha Shiva Ratri day to Velal from Macherial Bus Station and Godavarikhani bus station.
By rail
There is no railway station within 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of Velal. The nearest railway stations are at Mancherial and Ramagundem. Warangal Railway Station is a major railway station 93 kilometres (58 mi) from Velal.
References
- ^ "Velal Village of Jaipur Mandal". districtsinfo.com. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "sri-gattu-mallanna-swamy-temple-vellala". ishtadevata.com. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Near by cities to the velala temple". wikimapia.org. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Overview of velal". onefivenine.com. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c Santosh, Padala (February 23, 2017). "All set for Maha Shivaratri". All set for Maha Shivaratri. Retrieved March 3, 2017.