More than 90,000 devotees participate in first day of Sarannavaratri festivities at Indrakeeladri peak

Devotees wait in a queue for darshan of Goddess Kanaka Durga on Sunday at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada. | Photo credit: GN RAO

VIJAYAWADA

As many as 90,110 devotees had darshan of Goddess Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada by 6:08 pm on Sunday, the first day of the Sarannavaratri festivities.

The hill temple witnessed religious fervor as devotees came in large numbers to seek the blessings of Goddess Kanaka Durga. Temple authorities have coordinated arrangements to facilitate darshan and provide basic amenities to devotees.

Goddess Kanaka Durga adorned as Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi on the first day of Sarannavaratri festivities at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam at Indrakeeladri Peak on Sunday. | Photo credit: GN RAO

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Kanumuru Raghurama Krishna Raju visited the temple and offered prayers. He described the darshan as an unforgettable spiritual experience and said it brought him peace and satisfaction. He prayed for the happiness, good health, peace and prosperity of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

As part of the festivities, the Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple in Srikalahasti presented a silk dress and traditional ‘saare’ to Goddess Kanaka Durga. The offerings were made by executive officer BK Venkateswarlu, Srikalahasti MLA Bojjala Sudheer Reddy and members of the temple council who prayed for the welfare of the people.

Srikalahasti MLA Bojjala Sudheer Reddy and Sri Kalahasteeswara temple staff came to offer silk robes to Goddess Kanaka Durga at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam at Indrakeeladri Peak on Sunday. | Photo credit: GN RAO

A delegation from the Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple in Kanipakam also presented a silk robe to the goddess on Sunday evening. The team of trustees and priests led by Executive Officer Penchala Kishore were welcomed by temple chairman Borra Radhakrishna and managing director Seena Naik and later honored with Vedic blessings, prasadam and a portrait of the deity.

Devotees perform ‘Nagarotsavam’ on Sunday at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Temple on top of Indrakeeladri. | Photo credit: GN RAO

Meanwhile, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) said that comprehensive arrangements have been made to ensure smooth running of the festivities. Addressing a media point, Indrakeeladri said that uninterrupted supply of drinking water, round-the-clock monitoring and inter-ministerial coordination are being ensured.

A control room was monitoring the situation round the clock, while QR codes were being used to collect feedback from devotees and enable officials to address complaints quickly, he added.

The MP urged all departments to work together to ensure hassle-free darshan during the Sarannavaratri celebrations.

Goddess Kanaka Durga will be adorned as Sri Gayatri Devi at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam on Monday, the second day of Sarannavaratri festivities. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

Published – 11 Oct 2026 20:28 IST