Dasara festivities end with Teppotsavam of Goddess Kanaka Durga in Vijayawada

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Hamsa Vahanam, a celestial boat ride for goddess Kanaka Durga, in placid waters of river Krishna in Vijayawada on the final day of Dasara festivities on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri

The Dasara festivities at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam on Indrakeeladri concluded with the traditional Teppotsavam, the celestial boat ride of goddess Kanaka Durga and her consort, Malleswara Swamy, on Tuesday evening.

As the sun set over the Krishna, the specially decorated and illuminated Hamsa Vahanam , shaped like a swan, carrying the processional deities from Durga Ghat towards Punnami Ghat, drawing thousands of devotees to the riverbanks and the Prakasam Barrage.

The temple authorities made elaborate arrangements to ensure the safety of devotees as water was being released from the Prakasam Barrage and inflows from upstream were reaching Durga Ghat.

The complete Teppotsavam could not be conducted over the past couple of years because of floodwaters and unfavourable river conditions. As the prescribed minimum of three rounds could not be completed, the priests had confined the ritual to placing the processional deities on the illuminated boat anchored near Durga Ghat.

This year, the ceremony was conducted in keeping with tradition, with temple priests reciting Vedic hymns as the One Town police brought the processional deities in a palanquin from the hillock to the riverbank. The celebrations reverberated with chants of “Bhavani Mata Ki Jai” as a sea of humanity gathered to witness the event, marking the culmination of the nine-day festivities.

The festival passed off smoothly, with the authorities ensuring hassle-free darshan for ordinary devotees throughout the celebrations. Special arrangements were made on Moola Nakshatram day, when the pilgrim rush peaked, with VIP darshan not being permitted.

Meanwhile, the number of Bhavani devotees visiting the temple increased during the festival, with thousands in red robes thronging the premises. Hundreds of devotees, particularly from north coastal Andhra Pradesh, visited the temple to relinquish their Bhavani deeksha. Some undertook padayatras to offer special prayers on Dasara.

Governor S. Abdul Nazeer visited the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam on Tuesday and offered special prayers to Goddess Kanaka Durga, adorned as Sri Rajarajeshwari Devi.

Temple officials and Vedic scholars accorded him a traditional welcome. After the prayers, the scholars offered Vedic blessings to the Governor at the Ashirvachana Mandapam. Endowments Secretary K. Kannababu, Commissioner K. Ramachandra Mohan, temple trust board chairman Borra Radhakrishna and Executive Officer V.K. Seena Naik presented him with the deity’s ceremonial robes, prasadam and a portrait of the goddess.

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