Dussehra Navaratri celebrations begin at Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada

VIJAYAWADA: The nine-day long Sharnavaratri (Navaratri) celebrations as part of the Dussehra festival begin at Sri Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri hill in Vijayawada on Monday.

The Goddess Durga appeared as 'Swarna Kavachalankruta Durga Devi' on the first day of the occasion of Ashwayuja Shudda Padyami. The presiding deity was draped in golden saree and given naivedyam, the sacred offering of prasadam.

The devotees were allowed for darshan from 9 am after conducting Suprabhat Seva of the presiding deity at 3:30 am, followed by Snapanabhishekam at 3:30 am, Pratahkala Acharana and Bala Bhoga Nivedana at 7.30 am. Devotees throng the famous temple here in hordes during the Dasara festival time with the staunch belief that worshipping the Goddress during this time would help them ward off evil in their lives.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh governor Biswabhushan Harichandan, along with his wife, visited the temple on the first day and had the darshan of the deity. He was welcomed by Endowments Minister Kottu Satyanarayana and temple Executive Officer Bhramaramba. Speaking on the occasion, the governor said that he had prayed to the Goddess for the victory of good over evil.

The temple officials, besides getting the premises grandly decorated, made elaborate arrangements in anticipation of heavy devotee rush. Darshan will be allowed from 3 am to 11 pm for the next eight days.