Kotappakonda festival was declared as state festival in AP
The temple authorities are also trying to get state festival status for Dasara celebrations and waiting for the nod of minister for endowments P. Manikyala Rao. (Photo: DC/File)
Vijayawada: MP Kesineni Srinivas favoured state festival status for Dasara celebrations at Kanaka Durga temple. Meanwhile, the temple authorities are also trying to get state festival status for Dasara celebrations and waiting for the nod of minister for endowments P. Manikyala Rao. Only the Kotappakonda festival was declared as state festival in AP. Over 10 lakh devotees visit the temple during Navaratri Mahotsavam.
Sri Kanaka Durga temple and the devotees observe Bhavani Deeksha and visit the temple after the conclusion of Dasara celebrations. The residents of Vijayawada expected state festival status to Dasara celebrations. But the ruling party leaders failed to influence the state government to get state festival status to the temple. The TDP government appointed a festival committee with 36 members to look after the festival arrangements.
The state government fails to appoint a regular executive officer, though there was a long pending demand to appoint an IAS cadre officer for efficient administration of temple affairs. The temple officials are making temporary arrangements for devotees every year during Dasara festival, without concentrating on providing permanent solution for devotees’ comfort.
The officials fails to complete the Mallikharjuna Maha mandapam, which provides queue complex on par with TTD for the convenience of devotees. Now devotees have to suffer in open pandals in temporary queue at a stretch of 2 km without any toilet facilities.
In addition, the rainy season multiply the woes of devotees as rolling down of small boulders on temple ghat road is a common feature during rainy season, though the officials arranged iron wire mesh at the vulnerable places of the ghat road.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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