The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Operation of special vehicles for the aged resumed atop Indrakeeladri

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Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Operation of special vehicles for the aged resumed atop Indrakeeladri

Staff Reporter

More than one lakh devotees have darshan of goddess Kanakadurga

Veda sabha is organised and scholars are felicitated
People thank the police for trouble-free darshan

VIJAYAWADA: More than one lakh devotees had darshan of goddess Kanakadurga on Indrakeeladri on the eighth day of Dasara festivities on Tuesday, when the presiding deity was adorned as ‘Durga Devi’. A Veda sabha was organised wherein nearly 300 Vaidic pundits recited the Vedas in the evening. The temple management felicitated the scholars.

Principal Secretary (Revenue) G. Sudheer presented ‘pattu vastrams’ to the deity. Officials resumed operation of special vehicles meant for the aged, physically challenged and members of the festival committee on to the hillock.

The police officials, who were at the receiving end on Monday in the wake of stopping of the fleet of vehicles that were following Endowments Minister J. Ratnakar Rao’s vehicle, received kudos from the devotees for crowd management.

The pilgrims thanked the police for the elaborate arrangements made for their trouble-free darashan. The devotees said they felt happy with the arrangements, though they had to walk more than five km in queue lines. “Considering the lapses that happened last time, we are happy with the facilities and arrangements. The police department should be lauded for its good show. The elaborate arrangements made the devotees feel more secure,” said G. V. Krishnan, a retired railway employee.

The police on the duty were, however, thoroughly unhappy with the quality of food supplied to them in packets. Many of them were taken aback to see stale and half-cooked food in the packets. The constables and home guards were not ready to discuss the issue with mediapersons, fearing a rap from higher-ups. The police lamented that neither they could eat the food supplied to them nor move out to a restaurant. The constables said they were instructed not to move from the place where they were posted. If they did so, the higher officials would mark them absent, a constable said.

Teppotsvam tomorrow

The stage has been set for ‘Teppotsavam’ of Utsava Vigrahams (processional idols) of goddess Kanakadurga and Kord Mallikarjuna Swami in the Krishna on Vijayadasami day on Thursday. The ‘Nadeevihaaram’ (celestial boat ride) of the deities in a decorated ‘Hamsavahanam’ (special boat built in the shape of the mythical swan) marks the culmination of the 10-day Dasara festivities.

The authorities of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamivarla Devasthanam have made elaborate arrangements for the ritual.

The temple priests adorn the goddess as ‘Mahishasuramardini Devi’ in the morning and as `Rajarajeswari Devi’ in the evening. Besides regular Vedic rituals, ‘Purnahuthi’ will be performed in the temple in the afternoon.

Thousands of devotees swarm Prakasam Barrage and Durga ghat to have a glimpse of the once-a-year event.

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