Kanaka Durga in two avatars on Dasara

Vijayawada: The nine-day Dasara Sarannavaratri festivities at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada concluded on Monday with the presiding deity giving darshan in two avatars.

Coinciding with the Suddha Navami from 4 a.m. to 12 noon, Durga Devi was adorned as Sri Mahishasura Mardhini. Thereafter, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., she appeared in the alankara of Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi.

The celestial Teppotsavam of Sri Kanaka Durga Devi and Her consort Sri Malleswara Swamy was performed at 6 p.m. on Monday on the Krishna River at Durga Ghat. The Goddess and the God rode on the specially designed boat in the Krishna River. For this, the temple authorities designed a special Hamsa Vahanam with the support of police, revenue, water resources and fire service departments.

Incidentally, Teppotsavam could not be organised last year due to floods.

On Sunday, the eighth day of the ongoing Dasara Sarannavaratri, Sri Kanaka Durga Devi appeared as Sri Durga Devi. Many devotees from the Telugu states and neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other states visited the temple.

Due to the rush of devotees and queue lines, many pilgrims preferred to have darshan by buying Rs 500 tickets.

Many VIPs, including civil supplies minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao, TD Rajya Sabha member Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar and several Andhra Pradesh High Court judges visited the temple for darshan of the Goddess.  Minister Nageswara Rao said he prayed to the Goddess Durga Devi for the welfare of the state.