Durga to have 9 alankarams this year

VIJAYAWADA: Kanaka Durga, the presiding deity on the Indrakeeladri here, will give darsan to devotees in nine alankarams, instead of the usual ten, during this yaer's Navaratri celebrations which will begin on September 28.Explaining the reason, temple sthanacharya Vishnubhotla Sivaprasada Sarma said that as Panchami and Shashti tithis fell on the same day, the festival would begin with Balatripura Sundari alankaram and there would be no Swarnalankruta Durga Devi alankaram.Meanwhile, temple executive officer Manchanapalli Raghunath has assured devotees of free darsan of the deity within two hours.Speaking to newsmen here on Monday, he said the temple would be opened for darsan at 9 am on September 28, the first day of the festival, and from 3 am form the second day.There will be five queue lines starting at the Vinayaka temple, located at a distance of nearly 1.5 km. There will be no interruption to the free darsan queue except from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm for Nivedana. The Teppotsavam will be organised at 5 pm on October 6.A sum of Rs 1.14 crore has been allotted for arrangements this year, much less than the Rs 2.10 crore allocated last year.The arrangements are nearing completion and the remaining works will be completed by Tuesday. Pamphlets containing useful information and guidance were being distributed at the railway and bus stations, he added. Prasadam counters will be set up at Kanaka Durga Nagar and the railway station and bus stand.