Dasari Srinivasa Rao Vijayawada

Indrakeeladri, the abode of Goddess Kanaka Durga in Vijayawada, wore a festive look on Wednesday as the presiding deity was adorned with ‘Gajula Alankaram’ (bangle decoration) on the auspicious occasion of Kartika Shuddha Vidiya, observed as ‘Bhagini Hastha Bhojanam’.

More than eight lakh colourful glass bangles were used to adorn the Goddess and decorate the premises of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri. The elaborate decoration extended to the sanctum sanctorum, corridors, ceilings and sub-shrines. Bangles in vibrant shades of green, red, yellow and blue were intricately arranged into attractive garlands and decorative patterns, lending a spectacular appearance to the temple. Temple Executive Officer VK Seena Naik said all arrangements had been completed in accordance with temple traditions and customs. Inspecting the decorations on the sixth floor of Mallikhana Maha Mandapam, he said the temple had used more than four lakh bangles last year, while the number had been doubled this year to decorate both the main deity and the entire temple premises.

He said devotees and donors had contributed bangles in large numbers, while the temple administration made additional arrangements to meet the requirement. Women devotees from various parts of the State thronged Indrakeeladri to have Goddess darshan in the special alankaram. After the completion of rituals, the bangles offered to and worshipped in the presence of the deity were distributed to women devotees as prasadam. Temple officials closely monitored queue management, drinking water supply and prasadam distribution to ensure the smooth movement of devotees.