Vijayawada: Goddess Kanaka Durga has given darshan to her devotees in the attire of Sakambari Devi on Sunday. The Durga Temple and Goddess Durga was decorated with various fruits, vegetables and greens.
The three-day Sakhambari celebrations began here on Sunday at Durga Temple atop Indrakeeladri, that is celebrated every year in the Telugu month of Ashadham.
Pilgrims and devotees thronged the temple to get a darshan of Goddess Durga in the attire of Sakhambari. People of Andhra Pradesh pray to the goddess for sufficient rains for the farmers and herders during the rainy season. The people were agog to see Goddess Durga decorated beautifully in the attire of Sakhambari Devi and were satisfied with the darshan on the first day.
On this occasion, the main idol of goddess Durga in the sanctum sanctorum and the idol located at Mahamandapam on the 6th floor were decorated with fruits, vegetables and greens.
The priests discontinued the Argita sevas except for Suprabhatam, due to the Kadambari celebrations.
The State Endowments Commissioner, Movva Padma, and his wife participated and officially started the celebrations by performing a special puja to Sakhambari Devi.
The Minister for Endowments also visited the temple on the first day along with his family and performed a special puja.
Speaking on this occasion, temple executive officer, Valanukonda Koteswaramma said that while the Sakhambari celebrations were conducted at the temple, the devotees would be offered Kadamba Prasadam with the decorated vegetables, Fruits and green to Goddess Durga.
She also informed that on the last day of Sakhambary celebrations, that is on Tuesday, July 16, the temple would be closed after Panchaharati to Durga Maa at 6 PM because of the Ketu grasta Chandragrahanam (moon eclipse). She informed that the temple would be reopened on July 17 at 10 am. She also said that on July 17, Argita Sevas which is generally organised in the sanctum Sanctorum was cancelled, including Suprabhatam, Vastram Seva, Khadgamalarchana, Trikalarchana due to the eclipse of the moon.
Meanwhile, in Telangana State, Hyderabad, Mahankali Jatara Bonala celebrations joint committee presented Golden Bonam to Goddess Kanaka Durga as a part of Bonalu celebrations.
The committee members from Hyderabad along with the local devotees reached Durga Temple in a procession from Ravichettu centre, Brahmana Street, Vijayawada, via Ratham centre, Toll Gate, Ghat Road with 200 cultural artists with traditional Mela, tala, Dappu and other musical instruments. The Minister for Endowments attended the programme as the representative of Andhra Pradesh state and flagged off the holy procession.
On this occasion, Minister of State for Endowments, Velampalli Srinivas said that the Bonalu the festival was a celebration of nature and the culture of Telangana. The organising committee members Srinivas Yadav, Anjay Yadav, Chandramohan Goud, Praveen Kumar Goud, Ananda Goud were present.
