Bhavani Deeksha Viramana Begins With Devotional Fervour Atop Indrakeeladri
Temple Trust Board chairman Borra Radhakrishna (Gandhi), temple executive officer V.K. Seena Naik, governing body members, priests, and temple officials lit the sacred fire and offered coconuts and traditional puja materials.
VIJAYAWADA: The annual Bhavani Deeksha Viramana rituals have started at the Kanakadurga Malleswara Swamy Temple atop the Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada from Thursday, with thousands of devotees relinquishing their Deeksha on the day.
The temple administration has put in place extensive arrangements to ensure a smooth and safe experience for devotees.
A major attraction on the opening day turned out to be the exquisite floral decoration adorning Goddess Kanaka Durga, with fragrant flowers specially sourced from Bengaluru.
The Fire Consecration procession on the day commenced under the guidance of chief priest Lingambhotla Durga Prasad, Sthanacharya Vishnubhotla Siva Prasad Sharma, Vedic scholars, and Vedic committee members. Carrying the sacred torch, they proceeded from the sanctum sanctorum to the sacrificial pits via the old ghat steps, formally initiating the Yagashala rituals.
Temple Trust Board chairman Borra Radhakrishna (Gandhi), temple executive officer V.K. Seena Naik, governing body members, priests, and temple officials lit the sacred fire and offered coconuts and traditional puja materials. The chairman, EO, and members then started the Irumudi ceremony.
Gurubhavani Ganesh performed special pujas while devotees chanted “Jai Bhavani, Jai Jai Bhavani,” offering their Irumudis in large numbers.
Trust board chairman Radhakrishna inspected arrangements from the Siva temple to the bathing ghats while interacting with devotees for feedback with regard to queues, annadanam, medical camps, drinking water supply, lighting, wheelchair and battery vehicle services, accommodation, and availability of laddu prasadam.
EO Seena Naik ensured that sufficient laddu stocks are available. Devotees purchased laddus in specially packed boxes.
The Bhavani Deeksha Viramana rituals will continue until December 15. Lakhs of devotees are expected from Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states, including Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
NTR district police commissioner S.V. Rajasekhara Babu reviewed the security arrangements. Drone cameras have been deployed to monitor the Giripradakshina route.
The commissioner later inspected homa gundams, Irumudi counters, and prasadam stalls, instructing officers to ensure smooth crowd management. He expressed confidence that Bhavani Deeksha Viramana will conclude smoothly, while providing a spiritually enriching experience to devotees.