Devotee denied VIP entry despite buying ticket at Durga Temple in Vijayawada

VIJAYAWADA: The authorities of the Vijayawada Kanaka Durga Temple are under fire for their lackadaisical approach in ensuring proper arrangements during the Navaratri festivities which began on Monday. On the first day, there were reports of how the devotees, young and old, were left in the lurch and made to take the stairway to reach the temple atop the Indrakeeladri hill.

As if to prove these accusations right, an agitated devotee expressed his frustration on Tuesday for denying the VIP entry despite buying the Rs 500 ticket for the purpose. A video of the devotee coming from a neighbouring state, whose identity could not be immediately established, has gone viral. In the video, he was seen complaining that they were sent in the queue lines of the Rs 300 category despite purchasing a VVIP ticket of Rs 500.

The devotee said that he was stopped by an officer from entering the VVIP queue and was enraged that it was not right on the part of the authorities to trouble those coming from other states. He said that there were no officials anywhere in the temple to assist them.

There are allegations that the officials were too busy facilitating darshans to a more privileged lot while ignoring common devotees and forcing them to fend for themselves.