Mon Dec 02 01:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Thousands Celebrate Poli Padyami in Visakhapatnam
**VISAKHAPATNAM, Andhra Pradesh (Dec 2, 2024)** – The Krishna River shimmered with thousands of lights on Monday as devotees celebrated Poli Padyami, marking the end of the holy Karthika month. The festival, which commemorates the celestial ascension of Poli, a devout woman, saw large crowds gathering at the Simhachalam Pushkarini and other water bodies across the city.
Devotees performed early morning rituals, bathing in the river and offering lighted lamps made from banana stems and cow ghee. The Simhachalam temple saw particularly high numbers of pilgrims, leading traffic restrictions around the Pushkarini. Temple authorities deployed lifeguards and police to manage the crowds and ensure safety. Other temples, including the Bhavani Jala Shankara Temple and the old Shiva temple in Yanamalakuduru, also reported large numbers of worshippers.
The legend of Poli Padyami tells the story of a pious woman whose unwavering devotion to God, even amidst hardship and family conflict, earned her a place in heaven. Astrologers recommend lighting 30 lamps on this day to gain the same merit as lighting a lamp every day of Karthika month.
The festive atmosphere extended throughout the day, with the Krishna River ablaze with the light of countless floating lamps, symbolizing the end of Karthika and the beginning of Margashira month.
First Piper 