Nine-day Dasara festivities at Goddess Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada from October 15

VIJAYAWADA: Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam (SDMS) will celebrate the nine-day Dasara festival, atop Indrakeeladri starting October 15, 2023, with an estimated budget of Rs 7 crore, said Temple Executive Officer (EO) D Brahmaramba.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, Brahmaramba said that the festivities would begin on October 15 and first priority would be given to devotees. The presiding deity would be decorated as Sri Swarna Kavachalankrutha Durga Devi on the first day. For the first time, the presiding deity would also be decorated as Sri Maha Chandi Devi on October 19, she said.

The temple EO said that works related to the erection of queue lines, starting from the Vinayaka temple on Canal Road, would begin soon. The presiding deity would be decorated with two alankarams-Sri Mahishashura Mardini and Sri Rajarajeswari Devi-on October 23. The celestial boat ride of processional deities of Lord Sri Mallikharjuna Swamy and Goddess Kanaka Durga would be organised on the Krishna River on the same day, Brahmaramba said.

Informing about the arrangements being made for the festivities, the EO said that as many as five queue lines would be erected between the hill shrine and Canal Road for devotees. While darshan slots would be allotted for the VVIPs visiting the temple during the nine-day festivities, Bramharamba added that this year around 10 lakh devotees are expected to throng the temple.

SDMS trust board committee chairman K Rambabu said that Rs 500 VIP tickets would be made available on Moola Nakshatram which falls on October 20, Keeping in view of the devotees' rush, a decision was taken by the board to deploy staff from other temples on a contract basis during the festivities, he said.

Rambabu said that a six-foot retaining wall would be built near the places where boulders were expected to roll down on the hill shrine. "As many as 16 lakh laddus were sold in the previous season. This year, we are making arrangements to prepare around 20 lakh laddus," he said. Around 600 Nayee Brahmins would be deployed at the tonsure hall for devotees and temporary sheds would be arranged for devotees after identifying the suitable locations, he added.