The spectacular 11-day Dasara festival officially began with immense grandeur at Indrakeeladri, the sacred dwelling of Goddess Kanaka Durga. On Monday, September 22, 2025, a massive throng of devotees gathered to witness the Goddess, resplendent in her divine ‘Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi’ adornment, marking a truly magnificent start to the celebrations.
Temple priests at Kanaka Durga lovingly adorned the presiding deity before opening the temple doors to the public. Reports indicate that over 47,000 devotees reverently visited the temple by Monday evening, eager to receive blessings.
A priest performs ‘harati’ for Goddess Kanaka Durga, beautifully arrayed as ‘Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi’, at the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada on Monday. (Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI)
On Tuesday, September 23, the second day of the Dasara festival, Goddess Kanaka Durga in Vijayawada will grace devotees in her stunning ‘Sri Gayatri Devi’ form.
The temple administration generously offered complimentary ‘anna prasadam’ (sacred food) to 14,814 devotees. Revenue figures reveal a collection of ₹9 lakh from ₹500 tickets and ₹3.10 lakh from ₹100 tickets. Overall, the temple successfully generated ₹22.79 lakh from various services and ticket sales, as confirmed by temple officials.
Adding to the festive spirit, a brand new stone ‘Yagashala’ (sacrificial hall) and ‘Puja Mandapam’ (prayer hall) were officially opened. These structures, generously donated by the philanthropist Sanga Narasimha Rao, will now be the dedicated venue for sacred rituals such as ‘Chandi Homam’. Prominent figures including Vijayawada (West) MLA Y. Satyanarayana (Sujana) Choudhary attended the inauguration ceremony.
Endowment Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, along with Vijayawada (West) MLA Y.S. Choudhary and other dignitaries, offered prayers at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam in Vijayawada on Monday, following the inauguration of the newly constructed Yagashala. (Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI)
However, the widely publicized VIP darshan timings, set for 7–9 a.m. and 3–5 p.m., reportedly faced challenges. Uninterrupted VIP access continued beyond the scheduled hours, as on-duty staff struggled to manage the flow. Sources suggest that personnel from revenue, police, and other departments stationed at Indrakeeladri were allegedly observed facilitating their friends and relatives through the VIP queue lines.
Former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu offered heartfelt prayers for the welfare of Andhra Pradesh, expressing hopes for plentiful rainfall, prosperity, and divine protection against negative influences. He also conveyed his warm Dasara greetings to all citizens celebrating the festival.
A steady stream of devotees patiently waited in queue lines for a sacred ‘darshan’ of the Goddess at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam in Vijayawada on Monday. (Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI)
Ministers Ramanarayana Reddy (Endowments) and Anitha (Home) emphasized the extensive preparations made for the festival, anticipating approximately 20 lakh devotees this year. More than 4,000 police officers have been deployed to ensure public safety, and assurances were given that VIP darshan would be strictly managed to prevent any disruption for regular visitors.
NTR District Collector Dr. Lakshmisha meticulously inspected various facilities, including queue management, ‘prasadam’ (offerings) counters, ‘annadanam’ (free food) arrangements, sanitation, drinking water supply, and medical services. To enhance the devotee experience, a new QR-code feedback system was implemented, designed to swiftly resolve any issues and ensure a seamless, spiritually enriching visit.
Several notable personalities, such as music director Mani Sharma, MLC Kavali Greeshma, MLA Kamineni Srinivas, and Police Commissioner S.V. Rajasekhara Babu, also paid their respects at the temple. Vedic scholars bestowed blessings upon these dignitaries, and sacred ‘prasadam’ was distributed by temple officials, including Endowments Commissioner K. Ramachandra Mohan and Executive Officer V.K. Seena Nayak.