Devotees Offer Scorpions at Kodumuru Temple, AP

Devotees usually offer clothes, money, gold, silver, milk and other items to deities. But at a Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kodumuru of Kurnool district, devotees follow a unique tradition of offering scorpions to the deity. 

Every year, on the third Monday of the Telugu month of Sravanam, devotees from various parts of the state visit the hilltop temple in large numbers. Many devotees undertake the journey on foot and offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara



Swamy.

The hillock is known for scorpions that are found underneath rocks. As part of the long-standing tradition, some devotees catch the scorpions with their bare hands and offer them to the deity. They believe that performing the ritual will help fulfil their wishes. 

On Monday, August 31, devotees from different parts of the state gathered at the temple to participate in the annual tradition, which has reportedly been followed for several decades.