Dasara celebrations to begin on September 22 at Indrakeeladri

The annual Dasara celebrations at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri will be held from September 22 to October 2, said temple Executive Officer V.K. Seena Nayak on Monday.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday (July 28, 2025), the EO said that the Vedic Committee has suggested conducting Dasara Mahotsavams for 11 days this year. Large number of devotees from across Andhra Pradesh and other States, and even abroad are expected to participate in the celebrations.

Elaborate arrangements are being planned to ensure smooth darshan for devotees. A coordination meeting under the guidance of the District Collector will soon be held to finalise logistics, he added.

Kanaka Durga Temple Sthanacharya Vishnubhatla Siva Prasad Sarma said that during the 11-day festival, Goddess Kanaka Durga will appear in a different avatars each day. On the first day of festivities (September 22), the presiding deity would appear as Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi. On its following day, the goddess will be decked up as Sri Gayatri Devi; Sri Annapurna Devi (September 24);  Sri Katyayani Devi (Septeber 25); Sri Mahalakshmi Devi (September 26); Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari Devi (September 27); Sri Maha Chandi Devi (September 28); Sri Saraswati Devi (on the auspicious Moola Nakshatram day on September 29); Sri Durga Devi (September 30); Sri Mahishasura Mardini Devi (Vijaya Dashami on October 1); Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi (October 2), he said.

On Moola Nakshatram day, the Chief Minister is scheduled to present silk robes (pattu vastralu) to the Goddess on behalf of the State government. On October 2 (Vijaya Dashami), the day will begin with Maha Poornahuti in the morning and conclude with the celebrated Teppotsavam (boat festival) in the Krishna River by evening.

As in previous years, the festivities will also include archaka sabhas, vedic sessions, and daily nagara utsavams, the chief priest added.

Vedic Committee members including L. Durga Prasad, Chintapalli Anjaneya Ghanapati, V.S. Maharshi Ghanapati, Vedic scholars were also present.