All set for Bhavani Deeksha relinquishment

 Vijayawada: Sri Durga Mallelswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam (Kanaka Durga temple) atop Indrakeeladri is all set for the relinquishment of Bhavani Deeksha scheduled to begin tomorrow on January 3. Around 5 lakh devotees are expected for the deeksha relinquishment this year. Temple authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the Deeksha Viramana. APSRTC officials are operating special buses from all over the state to Vijayawada to clear the rush. The temple authorities have also readied the free food arrangements for the devotees.

NTR district deputy police commissioner (DCP) Vishal Gunni along with Kanaka Durga Temple Trust Board chairman Karnati Rambabu inspected the Bhavani Deekshas’ relinquishment bandobast on Tuesday. He visited the queue rows from the Vinayaka temple to uphill Indrakeeladri. He inspected the Giri Pradakshina, ticket counters, holding areas, homa gundams, prasadam counters and annadanam arrangements and gave suggestions to the officials.

Bhavani Deeksha Relinquishment is the second largest fest at the Kanaka Durga temple after the Dasara Sarannavaratri festivities. Devotees from various parts of the state, particularly north coastal districts including Odisha and other states, visit the temple to relinquish the Deeksha. Durga temple authorities are coordinating with other departments to make arrangements for the five-day Deeksha viramana. They have completed the erection of three queue lines from the Vinayaka temple to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Multiple homa gundams were arranged to avoid rush. In addition to these, temple authorities have provided drinking water, free milk and toilet facilities at every 500 metre in the queue lines.

Durga Devi temple officials expect the rush will increase from midnight of January 5. In coordination with the water resources department, adequate showers have been set up at river Krishna ghats for the holy bath. Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and Durga Temple authorities are making alternative arrangements as the sanitation staff of the municipal corporation are on strike. To make the city roads clean, the authorities are likely to deploy alternative staff.