Laddu is the most sought after prasadam at Kanaka Durga temple during the Dasara festival. And Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam has geared up to meet the demand on Saraswathi alankaram day on Saturday.
The temple authorities have estimated that 3 lakh devotees will throng to the temple on Saturday. And to meet the demand the authorities are preparing 3 lakh laddus for Moola nakshatram day (Sarswathi alankaram) demand. The temple has opened prasadam counters at Kanaka Durga Nagar downhill of Indrakeeladri. The demand would pick up from the Moola Nakshatram day as there would be surge in the devotees visiting the temple.
The mouth-watering, delicious and yummy ‘laddu' is the mainstay of prasadam at the temple on par with ‘Tirupati laddu’. Every devotee returning from Vijayawada after having darshan of goddess Kanakadurga on Indrakeeladri necessarily distributes ‘laddu' as prasadam to friends and relatives. And, the demand for the laddu is ever increasing. The sale of laddu has been touching new heights every year.
In 2009, 10.47 lakh laddus were sold during Dasara festivities. In 2010, the temple prepared nearly 14 lakh laddus during the festival. This year, the authorities have made arrangements to sell one lakh laddus every day, and 3 lakh laddus on Moola Nakshatram day.
Though ‘pulihora', the famed tamarind rice, is a much sought-after prasadam on normal days, it is less preferred on the festive days. The prime reason: a major chunk of devotees visiting the temple would be non-locals, and the shelf life of laddu is longer compared to that of pulihora. This was evident from the previous years’ sales. As many as 10,47,550 laddus were sold in 2009 as against 2,25,196 pulihora packets. On normal days, about 30,000 to 40,000 laddus are sold every day, and the sale touches 80,000 on Fridays and Sundays.
Though the temple incurs an expenditure of Rs. 6.50 to Rs. 7 for preparation of each laddu, it is sold at Rs. 5 in September 2011 in view the pilgrims’ sentiments. Now, it is being sold at Rs.10. However, the weight of the laddu has been increased to 100 grams.
