Arrangements at brisk pace for Dasara festival

Vijayawada: The arrangements are going at a brisk pace for the nine-day Dasara festival to be held at Kanaka Durga temple atop Indrakeeladri. Though the government had already given the state festival status for Durga festival, it did not release any funds in this regard so far.

The temple administration is envisaging that the State government may release some share of funds in the total expenditure for this year. Meanwhile, the temple administration has cut down the budget for Dasara celebrations from Rs 16 crore to Rs 8.3 crore for the current year.

In fact, the temple administration spent Rs 16 crore last year and the same amount was spent for the last three years. However, the newly appointed executive officer V Koteswaramma made several changes in temple administration.

She planned to organise the festival celebrations just for Rs 8.3 crore by cutting unnecessary expenditure. The temple administration wants to conduct cultural programmes without spending money by inviting voluntary organisations. Earlier, the temple administration had spent Rs 25 lakh for the cultural events in the past.

Presently, the queue lines are being erected and the total works would be completed in the next two days. It is expected that nearly 15 lakh devotees would visit the temple during the nine days. The temple administration is making special arrangements to regulate the crowd on October 14 on which day the deity will give darshan in Sarswathidevi Alankaram.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will present pattu saree to the Goddess on that day. Besides, the huge crowd is expected to visit the temple on Vijayadashami on October 18.

Meanwhile, the Vijayawada Railway Division made elaborate arrangements to run special trains during the nine days of Dasara festival. As many as 25 special trains would be operated keeping in view the previous year traffic, said a railway official.