# Nearly two lakh devotees throng Gudivanka hill shrine for Adi Krithika 2026-08-07T15:48:23+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Nearly two lakh devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu thronged the hilltop temple of Lord Muruga at Gudivanka in Chittoor district on Friday for the annual Adi Krithika celebrations. A steady stream of devotees began trekking the hillock from Thursday evening, many dressed in traditional attire carrying kavadis. Some devotees pierced their skin with hooks and pulled weights as part of intense devotion. Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi said 200 police personnel were deployed for bandobast. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operated 20 special buses round the clock between Kuppam bus station and Gudivanka, with additional services from towns in Tamil Nadu. Thousands more offered prayers at nearby temples in Palamaner, Chittoor, and at Tiruttani, Palani and Maruthamalai. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: Adi Krithika, Chittoor, devotees, festival, Gudivanka temple, Lord Muruga Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/nearly-two-lakh-devotees-throng-gudivanka-hill-shrine-for-adi-krithika/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nearly-two-lakh-devotees-throng-gudivanka-hill-shrine-for-adi-krithika/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.