Vijayawada: Trial run successful for darshan by devotees at Durga temple

Vijayawada: Durga temple administration on Monday successfully conducted trial run for the Darshan of devotees. After the lockdown of more than 70 days, the devotees will be allowed in to temple for the Darshan from June 10. So, the temple authorities started trial run on Monday with staff and local residents. It will continue on Tuesday. Endowments Minister Velampalli Srinivas, Trust Board chairman Pyla Sominaidu and temple executive officer MV Suresh Babu inspected the arrangements for Darshan. The devotees must take ticket online for the Darshan and 250 persons will be allowed into queue lines per hour. Free Darshan and Rs 100 Darshan will be allowed and Rs 300 tickets are cancelled.

The temple administration has made arrangements to maintain physical distance in the queue lines and other places by marking circles. Thermal screening will be conducted at the entrance. As per the guidelines given by the State and Central governments, the endowments authorities have made arrangements in the temple.

The devotees have to enter the temple from Mahamandapam route for the Darshan. Lifts are not used at any cost.

After inspecting the arrangements, the minister expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made in the temple by the temple authorities. He said permission has given to reopen all the temples in the state on June 10.

Durga temple Trust Board Chairman Pyla Sominaidu said the temple authorities follow the guidelines framed by the State and Central governments and appealed to the devotees to wear mask and take other precautions.

Temple administrative officer MV Suresh Kumar said the trial run was conducted with the temple staff and it will continue the second day on Tuesday with the local residents. The Darshan timings are from 6 am to 5 pm only. He suggested the devotees to reach Mahamandapam 30 minutes before the time slot given for the Darshan. Referring to tonsure and hair cut, he said 30 barbers would be on duty for the tonsure and the devotees have to book tickets for tonsure.

Executive Officer has announced that there will be no Satagopam and Teerdhams and Kunkuma packets will be given at the exit points to the devotees.