VIJAYAWADA: The trust board of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam (SDMS), which met on Thursday, decided to set aside `10 crore for the smooth conduct of Bhavani deeksha relinquishment at Indrakeeladri from December 10 to 14.Addressing a press conference here, temple executive officer A Surya Kumari said sanitation will be accorded top priority as thousands of people throng Indrakeeladri during the festival. The ghats in the city are being spruced up for the festivity. Shower baths, toilets, information centres, dress changing rooms, medical aid etc would be available at the ghats, she said.
“We are expecting around 5.5 lakh devotees at the hill shrine during Bhavani deeksha relinquishment. Around `98.8 lakh has been sanctioned for executing various development works for the smooth conduct of the festivities. A whopping `10 lakh has been sanctioned to install CCTV cameras on a rental basis to monitor the security of devotees and `21 lakh has been spent for electrifying the ghat road,’’said Suryakumari. She also clarified that the deeksha relinquishment will be performed only by the Guru Bhavanis.
Temple trust board chairman Y Gouranga Babu said four power lifts have been inaugurated at Mallikharjuna Maha Mandapam for the convenience of the elderly.
Disclosing details of other rituals, he said temple priests would also confer Artha Mandala deeksha between November 20 and 24. The annual ‘Kalasa Jyothi Utsavam’ of the processional deities of Lord Malleswara Swamy and his consort Goddess Kanaka Durga will be taken out in a palanquin from Indrakeeladri on December 3 and will be placed on a decorated van at Sivaramakrishna Kshetram from where the procession will begin.
The procession will pass through the main thoroughfares of the city before reaching Indrakeeladri. Purnahuti will be conducted on the temple premises on December 14 to mark the end of Bhavani deeksha relinquishment, he added.The board meeting also approved construction of dormitory halls in Hamsala Deevi but it has not given green light to Kalyana Utsavam, a special ritual performed in Tirumala.