VIJAYAWADA: The Kanaka Durga temple is gearing up to celebrate Dasara festival on a grand scale. As the celebrations will commence on September 25, the officials are chalking out plans to make the festival a grand success.
According to the officials, nearly 10 lakh devotees are expected to throng Kanaka Durga temple during Dasara. In view of this, the officials are making all arrangements and are going to invite tenders for various works soon.
The works include erection of the queue lines, setting up of CCTV cameras, repairs to the roads near the temples. The temple spends about `2 crore on Dasara arrangements every year.
Meanwhile, a coordination committee meeting has been held at the Vijayawada Sub-collector’s office. Addressing the officials of VMC and various departments, sub-collector Harichandana stressed the need for coordination among various departments and asked the VMC to construct around 230 makeshift toilets.
She also asked the officials to take steps to avoid any untoward incidents during the festival and asked the Fire Department officials to make suggestions to the temple officials on fire safety by visiting the temple Tuesday.
However, district fire officer V Srinivas has found fault with the temple officials for not following the suggestion made by the Fire Department and suggested shifting of the prasadam preparation centre to a new place.
According to DCP (law and order) Tafseer Iqbal about 4,000 police personnel will be used for the bandobast.
On the other hand, the locals are demanding that the festival be declared a state festival and also appoint an IAS rank officer as executive officer for the temple.
Speaking to Express, Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) state vice-president Y Lokanadha Sarma said that the state government should announce the festival as the state festival and take the responsibility to conduct the Dasara festival (Sarannavaratrulu).
Expressing similar views, APCC secretary Kolanukonda Sivaji even demanded that the government appoint an IAS rank officer as the EO of the temple and bring transparency in the temple transactions.
It may be worth mentioning that the Sitarama Kalyanam organised at Bhadrachalam and Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara and Kotappakonda Tirunallu were declared as state festivals in the unified state.