Vijayawada’s annual Dasara Utsavams began with a profound display of devotion as Police Commissioner S.V. Rajashekara Babu, accompanied by his wife, performed sacred rituals and presented exquisite ‘pattu vastralu’ (traditional silk garments) to Goddess Kanaka Durga. This ceremonial offering, a cherished local tradition, took place on Sunday at both the revered ‘chettu’ (sacred tree) and the temple housed within the One Town police station premises. Following the main offerings at the Vinayaka temple, the Commissioner, his family, and local police proceeded to Indrakeeladri, where they formally offered the ‘pattu vastralu’ to the Goddess, inaugurating the auspicious Dasara celebrations. Priests then bestowed ‘teertha prasadams’ (holy water and sacred food) upon the officers. Dignitaries, including Temple Executive Officer V.K. Seena Naik and several Deputy Commissioners of Police, were also present to witness the event.
The grandeur of the Dasara festivities will further unfold on Monday, September 22, when the deity blesses devotees in her magnificent ‘Bala Tripurasundari Devi’ adornment, with ‘darshan’ commencing at 4 a.m.
Special Arrangements for Devotees
NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha confirmed that the temple administration has meticulously planned all necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth pilgrimage. A key initiative for this year’s celebrations is the cancellation of the ₹500 special entry ticket, ensuring that priority is given to common devotees and significantly reducing waiting times in the queue lines. VIP ‘darshans’ will be exclusively available during specific windows: from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. To manage the large crowds effectively, Temple Executive Officer V.K. Seena Naik explained that the entire Indrakeeladri hill has been segmented into 35 distinct sectors, each overseen by dedicated officers. Additionally, emergency gates have been strategically placed every 50 meters along the queue pathways for safety and crowd control.
Traffic Management During the Festival
To ensure public safety and smooth movement, the Police Commissioner announced comprehensive traffic restrictions across all major roads in Vijayawada from September 22 to October 2. Traffic arriving from major cities like Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai will be rerouted to minimize congestion and inconvenience for devotees. Ample parking facilities have been designated at various locations, including Kummaripalem, Punnamighat, Gollapudi Market Yard, Bhavani Ghat, B.R.T.S. Road, and Gymkhana Grounds in Gandhi Nagar.