The government would celebrate Dasara Navaratri festivities as a State festival from next year, Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said here on Friday.
Speaking after releasing the temple calendar at Sri Kanaka Durga Temple atop Indrakeeladri, Mr. Rao said every employee should render services to devotees sincerely and honestly. Plans have been chalked out to inaugurate ‘Maha Mandapam’ in February next and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu would be participating in the programme. Temple Executive Officer Ch. Narsing Rao said the devotees could purchase the calendar from the counters on the temple premises for Rs. 35. As many as 6.5 lakh devotees took part in the relinquishment of ‘Bhavani deekshas’ recently and over 17 lakh laddus were distributed during the ritual.