Vijayawada Police Offer Ashada Sare to Kanaka Durga

The Vijayawada City Police on Wednesday offered the traditional Ashada Sare to Goddess Sri Kanaka Durga atop Indrakeeladri, praying for the welfare of police personnel, their families and the public.

Police commissioner S.V. Rajasekhar Babu, accompanied by his wife, led the ceremony. After offering prayers beneath the sacred Ravi tree at the One Town Police Station, the police contingent proceeded in a traditional procession with musical troupes to the temple.

Temple board chairman Borra Radhakrishna, executive officer V.K. Seena Naik and temple officials accorded the police a ceremonial welcome. The Ashada Sare was offered to the presiding deity, followed by darshan, Vedic blessings and distribution of prasadam.

Earlier, One Town Inspector Guna Ram, on behalf of the Commissioner, invited women police personnel to the festival by presenting them with bangles, blouse pieces, kumkum, a pocket-sized image of the Goddess and prasadam.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajasekhar Babu said the annual offering reflected the NTR district police's prayers for the well-being of police families and society.

The temple also witnessed a heavy influx of women devotees on the 22nd day of the Ashada Sare festival. By 5 p.m., 44 saree groups, comprising 18,904 devotees, had offered sarees, turmeric, kumkum and bangles to the Goddess. Women from community organisations, employee associations and residential colonies across the state participated in large numbers, while the temple provided free darshan to all saree groups.