With only 10 days to go for the commencement of Dasara festivities, arrangements are being made at a brisk pace. Roads leading to the Kanakadurga temple are being spruced up for the occasion.
Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam will organise the festival from September 21 to September 30. The devasthanam is making arrangements with a budget of about ₹ 14 crore for the festival and Bhavani deeskha relinquishment.
The devasthanam authorities are making arrangements for a hassle-free darshan. Formation of queues, annadanam, water supply, ghat road electrification, cloakrooms, chappal stand, toilets, and temporary dressing rooms are some of the arrangements that are being made for the devotees.
Works to erect barricades have gained momentum. The queue lines start from the Vinayaka temple on canal road. The temple management is making arrangements for supply of water sachets and extending medical assistance to devotees in the queue.
Apart from free darshan, the temple authorities are making arrangements for ticket entry also. However, the ticket price is yet to be fixed this year. Usually, the devasthanam charges ₹50, ₹100, and ₹300 per devotee.
Prasadam counters
The temple authorities are planning to open prasadam counters at Kanaka Durga Nagar and special counters at the railway and bus stations for the convenience of pilgrims coming from faraway places.
The temple also plans to ply free bus services from the railway and bus stations to the bathing ghats and the Vinayaka temple on Canal Road. Free bus service from Ashoka Pillar to Indrakeeladri would also be operated for the benefit of physically challenged and aged persons.
Temple Executive Officer A. Surya Kumari said that special kukumarchana , sata chandi yagam would be conducted during the festival. The kumkumarchana and yagam would be conducted at Mallikarjuna maha mandapam and yagasala respectively, she said.
The devotees would have to pay ₹3,000 to participate in kumkumarchana . The price would be ₹4,000 on Moola Nakshatram day. To participate in yagam, the devotees would have to pay ₹4,000.
