VIJAYAWADA: Kanaka Durga Temple executive officer (EO) D. Brahmaramba on Thursday announced that Dasara celebrations this year will be held for ten days, from September 26 to October 5.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will visit the temple on the auspicious Moola Nakashatram day, perform pooja and offer silk robes on behalf of the AP government to the Goddess, she stated.
The EO said tender processes for various works on the occasion of Dasara celebrations had been completed. Queue lines will be constructed on the ghat road and the temple illuminated with attractive electric lights at an expenditure of ₹80 lakh, she disclosed.
Brahmaramba explained that as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has decreased, they are expecting around 10 lakh devotees for the Dasara celebrations. Besides free darshan, there will be paid darshans with tickets of ₹100 and ₹300. She clarified that there will be no Antaralaya darshan.
Regarding VIP break darshan, the executive officer said a final decision will be taken during the upcoming coordination committee meeting. She disclosed that seven prasadam counters will be set up to provide prasadams, including laddus of Tirupati quality.
The EO said arrangements had been completed for Chandi Homam, Srichakranawavarchana and Kumkumarchanas. Twenty thousand tickets will be made available online to those who want to perform Kumkumarchana.
Replying to a question, Brahmaramba said the temple is not making any arrangement for the Bhavani Deeksha Viramana (relinquishment). Bhavanis will have to relinquish their Deeksha on their own. They can then come to the Durga temple for darshan.
Responding to another question, the executive officer said the temple received revenue of ₹9.5 crore last year, of which ₹3 crore had been spent. This year, they are expecting a revenue of ₹15 crore and are planning an expenditure of ₹5 crore for increasing facilities being made available to devotees.
