VIJAYAWADA: Endowments Commissioner P. Sundara Kumar presented ‘pattu vastram’ (silk saree) to goddess Kanakadurga atop Indrakeeladri on behalf of the State Government on the sixth day of Dasara celebrations on Wednesday.
Mr. Kumar got the unexpected opportunity to perform the ritual after Endowments Minister J. Ratnakara Rao, who was originally scheduled to do the honours, failed to make it to the city due to personal reasons. Thousands of devotees trekked the hill on the ‘Moola Nakshatram’ day, considered to be the birthday of the goddess. Accompanied by his wife Padmavathi, Mr. Kumar had a darshan of the goddess who was adorned as ‘Saraswathi Devi’ in the afternoon. The couple was given ‘aaseervachanam’ (blessing) by temple priests and ‘seshavastram’ (piece of cloth from the idol) was presented to them.
Nagendra Rao and Devasenamma, the aged parents of the Commissioner, were moved to see their son participating in an all-important ritual of the Dasara festivities. “I did not expect this kind of an honour to my son. I have no words to express my feelings,” Ms. Devasenamma said in a humble tone. Mr. Kumar said he would remember this “sweet memory” for his entire life. Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements for the festivities, Mr. Kumar said he had a darshan of the goddess in the morning by opting for a free darshan.
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