Vijayawada Dasara celebrations to prioritize common devotees

The annual Dasara Navaratri celebrations are set to begin on Monday, September 22, at the renowned Indrakiladri temple in Vijayawada. This year's festival will run for 11 days, during which Goddess Durga will be presented in 11 unique forms for devotees to have darshan.

Temple Executive Officer (EO) Sheena Nayak announced that special arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth and different experience from previous years, with a strong focus on devotee convenience. The darshan will begin at 3 AM on the first day.

NTR District Collector Lakshmi Shah echoed this sentiment, stating that all arrangements are being made with a primary focus on common devotees. To manage the crowds and streamline the process, all referral darshans have been canceled. On the sacred Moola Nakshatra day, all protocol darshans will also be suspended.

Specific time slots have been designated for special categories to ensure a hassle-free experience VVIP darshan: 7 AM to 9 AM and 3 PM to 5 PM, Elderly darshan: 4 PM to 5 PM.

The Collector also detailed the logistical preparations, which include the creation of 35 sectors for crowd management, an increase in holding points, and the setup of 20 parking areas. To gather real-time feedback, the temple will utilize technology, with QR codes placed at various points for devotees. Food distribution will be continuous, ensuring pilgrims are well-cared for throughout the celebrations.