Vijayawada: Devotees making their way to Indrakeeladri to offer prayers at the Kanakadurga temple during the Dasara Navaratri celebrations are all praise for the services offered by the Bhavani Seva Dal.
The Vijayawada police, under the guidance of police chief Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, constituted the BSD with 60 female and 90 male constables to serve the devotees, especially senior citizens and women at the Durga temple.
An estimated 13 lakh devotees visited the Durga temple over the past six days and almost all of them saw the BSD personnel at work – helping the elderly, infirm, physically-challenged and women.
These BSD personnel, clad in special T-shirt and caps designed to makes it easy for devotees to spot them, station themselves at vantage points in the temple premises.
D. Venkateswara Rao and P. Manikyam, both elderly devotees who managed to get prasadams at the counters with the help of BSD personnel said, “Usually, the cops “show their power” while discharging their duties. Here, BSD personnel behaved like volunteers and were helping devotees thus ensuing smooth conduct of pujas.”
DCP–Crime B. Raja Kumari said that BSD helped hundreds of devotees who came to the temple for darshan.
She said that BSD personnel offer drinking water and milk to children and pregnant women waiting in the queues for darshan.
Ms Raja Kumari said that BSD’s services were the part of the friendly policing initiative and also give the cops to serve the devotees.
She added that the police department will continue BSD services during Dasara festival every year.
S. Durga, a constable S Durga working in BSD said that helping devotees was like serving the deity. “We have got the rare opportunity while working in the police department,” Ms Durga said.
