Rain fails to dampen Durga devotees in Vijayawada VIJAYAWADA: On the penultimate day of Dasara Mahotsavams, Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy temple in Vijayawada witnessed a heavy flow of devotees despite heavy rains duing evening.
Goddess Kanakadurga was adorned as 'Sri Durga Devi' in the morning and 'Mahishasuramardini' in the evening. More than one lakh devotees visited the temple on the day.
'Normally, the devotee turnout will increase after the 'Moolanakshtram'. With the Goddess appearing in two 'alankarams' and the 'Mahotsavams' set to conclude Friday, the devotee rush has increased.
The rush will continue till the completion of Teppotsavam Friday,' said temple EO Trinadha Rao. While the Durga Temple was jam-packed on the occasion of Moolanakshtram, more or less a similar situation prevailed Thursday. But the vehicles, which were stopped from plying up the hill on 'Moolanakhstram', were allowed on the day.
However, the queue lines were not maintained properly and the devotees were seen getting stuck. Instances of devotees arguing with temple authorities were witnessed. Even VIPs had to face problems for 'darshan'.
To control the situation, DCP (administration) GVG Ashok Kumar personally monitored the queue lines. There was a huge rush between 12 pm and 1 pm.
With eight days of Dasara Mahotsavams being celebrated successfully, the temple authorities have started arrangements for the final day of Mahotsavams. The trial run of 'Teppotsavam' was conducted Thursday.
On Friday, the last day of 'Dasara Mahotsavams', Goddess Durga will be adorned as 'Sri Rajarajeswari Devi' and the 'darshan' will start from 3 am. The 'Teppotsavam' programme will start from the temple at 4 pm.
Chief whip of the government Dhulipalla Narendra, chief secretary IYR Krishna Rao, former MLA Vellampalli Srinivas and former MP Lagadapati Rajagopal visited the temple Thursday.
News Posted: 3 October, 2014
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