VIJAYAWADA: As the deadline for Krishna Pushkarams fast approaches, Krishna district authorities and endowments department are making arrangements to ensure pilgrims visiting Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam, atop Indrakeeladri hill during the river festival are safe and enjoy an incident-free pilgrimage.
Lakhs of devotees are expected to make a beeline to the Kanaka Durga temple after taking a holy dip in the River Krishna during the Pushkarams. With this in mind, temple authorities have evacuated the shops, the queue line complex, administrative offices and other structures on the Indrakeeladri Hill. In this regard, the Annadana Satram was shifted to Sringeri Mutt on Arjun Street and the tonsure hall to Arundel Satram.
Authorities are also not taking any risky decisions to chalk out grandiose plans. The temple will arrange 4 to 5 lifts more at the Mallikharjuna Maha Mandapam for devotees who cannot climb the hill. Others may use the ghat road or climb the hill. Barricades for queues from the check post is nearing completion.
Widening of the ghat road is under progress and will be complete by the month’s end. To create pleasant ambiance for the pilgrims the pathway leading to the Indrakeeladri hill was being developed with greenery.
In this regard, Andhra Pradesh Urban Greening and Beautification Corporation was entrusted the task to develop the greenery. Extensive drinking water supply and medical aided services will be made available to lakhs of devotees expected to seek blessings of Kanakadurga during the river festival.
Speaking to Express, Kanakadurga Temple executive officer A Surya Kumari said that the temple with the support of voluntary organisations is planning to feed nearly 75,000 to 1 lakh devotees per day during the pushkarams. As many as 61 donors have come forward to feed around 7 lakh pilgrims.
A proposal was also sent to the District Collector seeking a suitable location for the Annadanam. In return, the district administration assured a suitable location for the temple to conduct Annadanam for pilgrims, she said.
Meanwhile, the temple EO also said that the temple is gearing up to meet the surge in demand of laddu prasadam during the pushkarams. ‘We are expecting about 20 lakh devotees will throng to the Indrakeeladri hill and to meet the demand the authorities are preparing about 60 lakh laddus for the river fete.
An additional laddu potu is being constructed on the foothills of Indrakeeladri to prepare the laddu and other prasadams. Pilgrims can also avail of the prasadam of goddess at the special prasadam counters being arranged at the bus stand and railway station’’, Surya Kumari said.