Date:15/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/15/stories/2008121552450300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Staggered schedule announced for ‘deeksha viramana’

Staff Reporter

Officials make elaborate arrangements for six-day ritual beginning Dec. 19

Dec. 23 is the day for devotees from Krishna, Guntur and Nellore districts
Arrangements for tonsuring made at Padmavathi ghat

PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR

Safety first: Barricades being erected atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada. —

VIJAYAWADA: Over eight lakh devotees are expected to visit the temple of goddess Kanakadurga on Indrakeeladri for ‘Bhavani Deeksha Viramana’ scheduled to be held for six days from December 19.

For the first time, officials of the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamivarla Devasthanam have made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims and prepared a comprehensive route map for them, keeping in view the last year’s stampede in which seven persons died. The officials are also advising devotees and those who had taken Bhavani Deeksha to visit the temple as per a staggered schedule already announced.

As per this schedule, devotees from Rayalaseema and Telangana regions will have to visit the temple on December 19 and 20, while devotees from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari districts will have to participate in the ‘Deeksha Viramana’ on December 21 and 22.

For the devotees coming from Krishna, Guntur and Nellore districts, the officials have decided December 23 as the day of Deeksha Viramana. ‘Poornaahuthi’ will be performed at 11 a.m. on December 24.

Endowments Commissioner P. Sundara Kumar on Sunday reviewed the arrangements for Deeksha Viramana with Krishna district Collector N. Sridhar, Joint Collector B. Ramaiah, Vijayawada Sub-Collector Gaurav Uppal, Commissioner of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation P.S. Pradyumna, Police Commissioner K.V. Rajendranath Reddy, temple Executive Officer T. Chandra Kumar and other officials.

Briefing the media later, Mr. Sundar Kumar said that keeping in view the tragedy that took place on the hillock during last year’s Deeksha Viramana, the department was making elaborate arrangements for the devotees. “On the lines of arrangements we have made for the Dasara festival in October, we are making arrangements for the devotees keeping even the minute details in mind. “The temple will be kept open for 22 hours a day during the Deeksha Viramana,” he said.

Elaborating about the arrangements, he said shower bath facility had been arranged at all bathing ghats, while construction of cloakrooms and additional toilets was in progress.

The ‘homagundam’ had been shifted to Mallikharjunapeta and Jammidoddi areas from the hillock and barricading done to regulate the crowd.

Plea to devotees

The devotees should not spend much time on the hillock, as they should come down after darshan. Bhavani Deeksha Viramana could be done at Mallikharjunapeta, Jammidoddi, Seetammavaari Paadalu, Bhavani Ghat and Akkanna-Madanna caves. Arrangements for tonsuring had been made at Padmavathi ghat opposite Pandit Nehru bus station, while a stand for footwear and cloakrooms arranged at Ratham centre and Vinayaka temple on the Canal Road.

The officials were planning to convert platform number 10 of Vijayawada railway station into a makeshift pilgrim amenities centre for pilgrims who arrive by trains.

YSR’s visit

Mr. Sundara Kumar said Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy would visit the temple on December 18 and lay foundation stone for Mallikharjuna Maha Mandapam, estimated to cost about Rs. 32 crores. Deputy Commissioner of Police U.V.S. Raju, temple Executive Engineer K.V.S.R. Koteswara Rao and other officials were present.