A Decade of Healing Oil for the Feet that Tread Simhachalam’s Sacred Path

Every year, as July wanes, a sea of barefoot devotees gathers at the foot of Simhachalam hill in Visakhapatnam. They set out on the 32‑kilometre Giri Pradakshina – a solemn circuit around the ancient Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple – a journey that tests stamina, faith, and the soles of their feet.

This year, the pilgrimage kicks off on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from the ‘Tholi Pavancha’, the first step leading up the slope. Along the dusty track, volunteers sprout like small islands, offering water, buttermilk, tea and simple snacks to keep walkers going.

But the real lifeline for many is the fragrant, warm oil that trickles onto aching heels and sore calves. For a full decade now, a group of Shri Satya Sai Baba devotees has taken on the task of preparing this oil, turning a humble kitchen ritual into a community service that many have come to rely on.

In a modest stall near the Sivalayam at NAD Junction, the volunteers start early. They gather up to 75 kg of ingredients – pure sesame oil, crushed black pepper, peeled garlic cloves, fresh vetiver roots, raw camphor and a pinch of ajwain – and set them to simmer over a slow‑burning flame. The mixture bubbles for hours, its volume halving as the herbs release their essence, concentrating the therapeutic properties.

When the oil reaches the perfect temperature, it’s carefully poured into clean bottles, each portion earmarked for a pilgrim’s tired feet. Later, volunteers sit at low tables, massaging the hot oil into the skin, letting the warmth melt away stiffness while the aromatic herbs lull the walkers into a brief, comforting pause.

“We have been doing this for the last ten years,” says Malla Jagadeesh, convener of the Gopalpatnam Satya Sai Bhajana Mandali. “It started as a small offering, but over time it became something the community looks forward to. The oil isn’t just a remedy; it’s a reminder that we’re all walking this path together.”

The practice has grown quietly yet steadily. What began as a handful of volunteers now includes a rotating crew that works through the night, ensuring fresh oil is always on hand as the pilgrims push forward, some covering the distance in a single day, others pacing themselves over two.

For the walkers, the oil is more than relief; it’s a ritual of renewal. The sharp bite of pepper, the earthy scent of vetiver, the faint perfume of camphor – all blend into a sensory experience that feels almost spiritual, a gentle nudge to keep moving forward, both on the hill and in life.

As the sun dips behind Simhachalam’s granite peaks, the hill glows with the soft light of lanterns, and the hum of whispered prayers mixes with the faint clatter of oil bottles being passed hand‑to‑hand. It’s a scene that has repeated itself for ten years, and likely will continue, as long as feet keep stepping on that holy stone.