AP: Dasara celebrations begins at Kanakadurga temple

Vijayawada, Sep 30: The ten-day Dasara festivities at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamiyaria Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri hill began today with 'Snapanabhishekam' to the presiding diety.

A Devasthanam official said the devotees were allowed to pay hamage to Goddess Durga since morning, marking the beginning of Navaratri festival.

The Kanakadurga temple would be kept open for 'darshan' from 0300 hrs to 2300 hrs till October 4 and from October 5 to 9, the devotees would be allowed 'darshan' from 0200 hrs to 0000 hrs, he said.

On the 'Moola Nakshatram day (the birth star of Goddess Kanakadurga) on October 6, about 2.5 lakh devotees were expected to throng the temple. Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister J Rathnakar Rao would present silk robes to the goddess on that day.

The festival would conclude with 'Teppotsavam', when the diety would be taken on 'Hamsa Vahanam' in river Krishna on October 9, he added.

UNI