With just two days to conclude the Dasara festival celebrations atop Indrakeeladri, abode of goddess Kanaka Durga, the stage is set for ‘Teppotsavam’ on a decorated ‘Hamsavahanam’ (special boat built in the shape of the mythical Hamsa) on the River Krishna on Vijaya Dasami day on Saturday.
Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam has made elaborate arrangements for the celestial boat ride. The temple priests adorn the goddess as ‘Rajarajeswari Devi’.
Besides the regular vedic rituals, ‘Purnahuthi’ will be performed in the temple in the afternoon on Vijaya Dasami.
Thousands of devotees are expected to swarm Prakasam Barrage and the bathing ghat to have a glimpse of the annual event. On Thursday too, several people watched the trial run from Prakasam Barrage.
The temple priests take out the Utsav Vigrahams (processional idols) of goddess Durga and Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy for ‘Nadi Viharam’ in the River Krishna, which marks end of the festivities.
The devotee rush crossed 7.40 lakh by Thursday since the beginning of the festival. Of this, the devotees who purchased ₹300 ticket were 26,866 and those who preferred ₹100 ticket queue line were 47,029.
The temple sold 7.42 lakh laddus and 3.37 lakh pulihora packets, according to temple Executive Officer A. Surya Kumari.
The presiding deity would be decked up as Sri Mahishasura Mardhini Devi on Friday and Sri Rajarajeswari Devi on Saturday. The temple will be thrown open for darshan till 11 p.m. on Vijaya Dasami day. The teppotsavam will be organised at 4 p.m.
Deeksha relinquishment
Influx of Bhavanis, who relinquish their deeksha atop Indrakeeladri has already begun. The Bhavani devotees, after taking a holy dip in the Krishna river, made a beeline for the Kanaka Durga temple since early morning and offered special pujas to the goddess.
