Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Navaratri fete ends

Staff Reporter

Devotees throng Prakasam Barrage for `Teppotsavam'

SPELLBINDING SIGHT: `Kumkum puja' was performed to the processional deity of goddess Kanakadurga at Bhavani mantapam atop Indrakeeladri hill in Vijayawada on Wednesday.

VIJAYAWADA: Dasara Navaratri celebrations at Kanakadurgamma temple on Indrakeeladri concluded on Wednesday with a colourful `Teppotsavam' in the Krishna.

Amidst chanting of `Bhavani Mataki Jai' by thousands of devotees, the `Utsava Vigraham' of the goddess was taken out to Durga Ghat and was installed in a specially decorated `Hamsa Vahanam' - a huge boat decorated like a swan -- for the `Teppotsavam'. Thousands of devotees swarmed Prakasam Barrage and the bathing ghat to have a glimpse of the once-a-year event. The boat moved gently on the water during sunset and proceeded towards the barrage. Krishna district Collector Navin Mittal, city Police Commissioner Umesh Sharraf, chairman of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamivarla Devasthanams A. Prabhakara Rao, executive officer E. Gopala Krishna Reddy boarded the boat while other officials and media crew followed it in two separate boats.

Glittering event

The dark sky of the cloudy evening turned bright and colourful following two-hour-long fireworks on the riverbed near Sitanagaram in Guntur district.

The `Hamsa Vahanam' got stuck for a while near the barrage gates. The boat stopped there for nearly 20 minutes. However, the boat crew resolved the trouble even before some fishermen went there in another boat.

Sub-Collector and chairman of the Celebrations Committee Budha Prakash Jyothi sought an explanation from Irrigation Department and ordered action against those responsible for the lapse.

Tough time for police

The police had a tough time controlling pilgrims from entering into the bathing ghat. Vehicular traffic was stopped at Kaleswara Rao Market. Pilgrims competed with others to have a glimpse at the `Hamsa Vahanam'. Meanwhile, the temple priests adorned the goddess as `Mahishasuramardhini Devi' in the morning and as `Rajarajeswari Devi' in the evening. Besides the regular vedic rituals, `Purnahuthi' was performed in the temple in the afternoon.

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