23 elderly people get VIP darshan at Durga temple

Vijayawada: This Sankranti is a special festival for the inmates of Amma Prema Adharana Seva Samstha old-age home in Vijayawada city. They never dreamed that they can visit Goddess Kanakadurga like VIPs. But it happened unexpectedly on the occasion of Sankranti festival. The Durga temple management provided the darshan to the inmates of old age home on Wednesday.

The temple management, for the first time in the history, provided Darshan of Goddess Durga exclusively to the senior citizens free of cost consecutively for three days from Monday to Wednesday. The temple management's decision received well appreciation from various quarters.

Temple Executive Officer (EO) V Koteswaramma thought in an innovative way to provide justice to deprived sections also. She offered special darshan to 23 inmates of Amma Prerana Adharana Seva Samstha in VIP queue lines by getting same respect and other honors of temple.

The temple staff picked up the elderly persons from old age home premises at Singhnagar on the outskirts of the city. Later, the temple management provided free darshan to them in VIPs queue, free prasadams, special Achamanam (blessings by group of priests) and provided free meals in the temple premises. Finally, they dropped the inmates on temple bus at their old age home.

EO Koteswaramma and other main priests of the temple spent time with them during their temple visit. They explained them about temple activities and poojas. Inmates of old home A Adilakshmi, M Chandrakala, P Ramulamma expressed their happiness and conveyed regards to the temple management. They said that they never expected VIP darshan at the temple premises. They have been residing in the old age home for eight years and it was the first time to visit Goddess Durga, they said.

Speaking to The Hans India, Amma Prema Adarana Seva Samastha founder KV Narayana said they expected the VIPs darshan and honors at the temple. He thanked the EO for her kind attitude to people of all sections. 

EO Koteswaramma said as many as 25 members of the old age home people visited the temple two days ago. Koteswaramma said that she would continue the free darshan and other VIP arrangements for inmates of old age homes.