Vijayawada gears up for Ashada Masam festivities at Durga shrine

Vijayawada: The famous Sri Kanaka Durga Temple atop Indrakeeladri is all set to host its annual Ashada Masam festivities from July 15 to Aug 12, with authorities expecting a massive influx of devotees, particularly women, during the monthlong celebrations.Ashada Masam holds immense spiritual significance for devotees of Goddess Kanaka Durga. Thousands of women from Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states visit the temple every year, considering the presiding deity as a cherished daughter of their family. As part of the traditional ‘Saare Samarpana’ ritual, devotees offer turmeric, kumkum, new sarees, bangles, ornaments and other auspicious items to the Goddess, seeking blessings for the well-being and prosperity of their families.Temple authorities estimate that nearly 5,000 groups of women devotees will participate in the sacred offerings this year.The celebrations will also include the Varahi Navaratri from July 15 to July 24, during which special rituals and pujas will be performed every day. Another major attraction will be the Shakambari Devi Utsavam, scheduled from July 27 to July 29 to mark Ashada Pournami. During the three-day festival, the temple will be magnificently decorated with nearly 20 tonnes of fresh vegetables, symbolising Goddess Shakambari, the divine provider of nourishment and prosperity.

To ensure smooth management of the festival, the Kanaka Durga Temple Trust Board held a review meeting on Tuesday and approved a series of arrangements for devotees. The board resolved to register the details of devotees bringing Saare offerings at the foothill before allowing them to proceed to the temple, ensuring better crowd management.The trust board also directed officials to provide Anna Prasadam, drinking water, queue management and other essential facilities so that devotees can participate in the sacred festivities without inconvenience. With elaborate preparations underway, the temple administration is expecting one of the largest turnouts for the Ashada celebrations in recent years.