Lower turnout at Durga temple this year worries staff
A volunteer, along with a policeman, helps an old woman climb the steps of the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada on Wednesday. High temperature has made it difficult for devotees to walk the entire stretch to the temple. (Photo: DC)
Vijayawada: The officials of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanams are concerned over the decrease in devotees’ footfalls when compared to previous years. It may be noted that around 90,000 devotees have visited the temple for darshanam on the first two days of the ten-day-long festivities. In the previous years, the footfall reached over 70,000 on the first day itself.
Abnormal increase in temperature has been cited as the main reason behind the lesser number of footfalls on Tuesday and Wednesday. The city has recorded a temperature of 37 degree Celsius over the past one week. The temperature conditions have increased the chances of people getting dehydrated. Cases of nausea, headache and uneasiness for old people and children can also result, feel the city doctors.
It may be noted here that the festival was recently announced as the state festival by the government. However, the scorching sun seems to play a spoilsport for the festival's new found tag.
Meanwhile, devotees, fearing the sun, are unable to walk the 3 km long queue to reach the sanctum sanctorum. They are forced to remain indoors as there are no provisions to reach the temple atop the Indrakeeladri directly through vehicles.
"Mostly old-aged devotees and children below 13 years are the victims of the soaring temperatures and the heat waves," said Dr Zareen, who is performing duties atop the hill.
“It has been a tough job to walk 3 km from Vinayaka Temple to the Kanaka Durga temple. Though temple authorities have made elaborate arrangements, the scorching sun and heat waves have forced many devotees to remain indoors,” Neelamma, a devotee from Ajith Singhnagar.
Chaos prevails at temple
Though the Mahamandapam is in use for devotees to exit after having darshnam, they still use the old route via sivalayam, with just two queue lines in the narrow road.
Due to land issues, the temple has failed to use the Mahamandapam this Dasara. However, they decided to use it as an exit way.
However, due to negligence on part of devotees, cops and volunteers fear there is a scope of stampede as the two lines in the narrow space swell up during evening as more devotees visit the temple.
Meanwhile, temple officials said that devotees visit Upalayas around the temple and leave through the east entrance at Mallikarjuna temple.
“We have told the devotees to use Mahamandapam as the exit way but they pay no heed to the rules set by us,” said Rambabu, temple official.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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