Thousands throng Vijayawada’s Kanaka Durga temple on Day 4 of Dasara festivities

Goddess Kanaka Durga, adorned as Sri Maha Chandi Devi, at the Siddhartha Hotel Management College grounds in Vijayawada on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: G.N. RAO

The Indrakeeladri hill reverberated with chants of ‘Jai Bhavani’ as thousands of devotees thronged the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam on Wednesday to worship the presiding deity in her Sri Maha Chandi Devi alankaram on the fourth day of the Dasara Sharannavaratri festivities. Film personalities Murali Mohan, Srinivas Reddy and Raja Ravindra were among those who visited the temple and offered prayers.

The spiritual atmosphere atop Indrakeeladri was marked by the chanting of ‘Jai Bhavani’ and Chandi mantras. Devotees also recited the hymn ‘Sarva Mangala Mangalye’ to seek the Goddess's blessings.

Temple authorities arranged drinking water and other basic amenities along the queue lines to ensure smooth darshan. Officials from various departments coordinated the arrangements to prevent inconvenience to devotees amid the heavy rush.