Vijayawada: Pomp and gaiety marked the Giri Pradakshina procession at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam (SDMSD) temple atop Indrakeeladri, held on Sunday in Vijayawada. Devotees thronged the temple in large numbers to participate in the Pournami Giri Pradakshina procession, which began at the Goddess Kamadhenu Ammavari temple at the ghat road entrance in the early hours of Sunday.
Durga Temple EO K.S. Rama Rao and temple priests performed special prayers before the start of the Pradakshina procession, which featured the idols of Adi Dampathulu. The procession began at the ghat road entrance and passed through Kummaripalem Centre, Sitara Junction, Kabela, Milk Factory, KBN College, Brahman Vedhi, Ratham Centre, and culminated at the ghat road.
Later, devotees who participated in the Giri Pradakshina procession sought the divine blessings of Goddess Kanaka Durga at the temple. Festive fervor was evident along the procession route, with cultural performances and Vedic chanting by priests and scholars.
Meanwhile, the temple premises reverberated with chants of "Jai Durga, Jai Bhavani," as scores of devotees gathered for darshan of the presiding deity, Goddess Kanaka Durga, on the holiday. On this occasion, a large number of devotees also participated in the Nitya Arjita Seva services. Additionally, temple priests performed the Suryopasana Seva for the well-being of the world.
