90,000 devotees throng Vijayawada Kanaka Durga temple on fifth day of Dasara celebrations

VIJAYAWADA

Devotees made a beeline for the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam to witness the Sri Lalitha Tripura Sundari alankaram of Goddess Kanaka Durga on the fifth day of the Dasara celebrations on Thursday.

Special rituals were performed and five-fold offerings of haratis were offered to the deities at Sri Malleswara Swamy temple during the auspicious pradosha period. More than 90,000 devotees turned up at the hill shrine as part of the Dasara festivities. 

The rituals were followed by the traditional Nagarotsavam of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy. Temple Executive Officer V.K. Seena Naik launched the procession by breaking a coconut and participated in the celebrations.

The procession was accompanied by Vedic chants and auspicious music. Saxophone performances, traditional Kerala Panchavadyam, Tamil Nadu’s Nayanandi Melam and rhythmic kolatam performances by women devotees added colour to the programme.

Thousands of devotees gathered along the route of the procession as the chariot was decorated with electric lights and fragrant flower garlands. Devotees offered coconuts and performed camphor harati as the procession passed along the Krishna riverfront and ghat road.

After reaching Indrakeeladri, the palanquin was halted in front of the temple’s Raja Gopuram, where Vedic scholars performed special rituals and mangala harati.

Devotees believe that having darshan of the deities on the chariot during Navaratri brings fulfilment of wishes, prosperity and peace to their families.

Meanwhile, devotional and cultural programmes were held at the stage in Kanaka Durga Nagar .The performances included traditional bhajans, devotional music, Harikatha and classical dance.

B. Suvarnakumari’s troupe presented a traditional talam bhajan. G. Nageswara Sarma, P.H.S. Manikantha, M. Naga Sunitha and P.V.N. Kameswari rendered devotional songs and hymns celebrating the Goddess and the glory of Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam.

Harikatha exponent J. Sudhakar narrated the story of Bhakta Markandeya while explaining the significance of Goddess Tripura Sundari.

Artistes also presented Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam performances featuring devotional hymns, the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram and Shiva’s cosmic dance.

Temple authorities appreciated the participating artistes and honoured them with the Goddess’s seshavastrams and sacred prasadam. Temple staff and devotees participated in the celebrations.