Vijayawada Kanaka Durga Temple Prepares For Dasara Festival
The Kanaka Durga temple atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada has commenced its annual Dasara festivities, drawing massive crowds as state authorities implement extensive security and crowd management measures.
News Desk · · 2 min read
The annual Sharad Navaratri festivities commenced at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada, drawing thousands of pilgrims on the opening day. Temple authorities reported that more than 17,000 devotees completed darshan of the presiding deity by mid-morning as the ten-day celebrations officially got underway.
State officials expect approximately 25 lakh visitors to arrive at the shrine over the course of the festival. On the first day of the celebrations, the deity appeared in the manifestation of Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi. The schedule includes distinct incarnations of the goddess daily, culminating on Vijayadasami with the traditional Hamsa Vahana Teppotsavam on the Krishna River.
Ahead of the heavy pilgrim influx, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed district administrators and police officials to prioritize common devotees during the festival period. Reviewing preparedness arrangements, the Chief Minister emphasized that VIP protocols must not cause inconvenience or prolonged delays for ordinary citizens seeking darshan.
Security arrangements have been scaled up significantly across the temple complex and surrounding areas. Police deployment includes over 3,500 personnel stationed for crowd control and bandobust duties. Authorities have installed around 500 closed-circuit television cameras across the hill and lower tiers, while traffic regulation teams are utilizing specialized digital applications to monitor movement.
Logistical preparations feature holding areas designed to accommodate up to 30,000 waiting pilgrims, equipped with provisions for drinking water, buttermilk, and free meals. Temple management has also arranged specialized transport services to ferry ticket holders from designated transit points to the foothills.
The ten-day celebration period coincides with several high-profile national and regional events in the city. President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to arrive in Vijayawada during the festival to offer prayers at the shrine and inaugurate the National SARAS Mela 2026 at Punnami Ghat. The exhibition features hundreds of stalls showcasing products crafted by women from self-help groups.
Additionally, the state tourism department is executing Vijayawada Utsav 2.0 to promote local cultural traditions and stimulate regional economic activity. Chief Minister Naidu is scheduled to present traditional silk robes to the deity on behalf of the state government during the Moola Nakshatram observances. Officials remain stationed round-the-clock to monitor sanitation, queue management, and parking infrastructure across the 22 designated zones near the temple.