more-in With just a few days to go for the Dasara festival, arrangements are going on at a brisk pace at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam here. The Kanaka Durga temple will organise the 9-day festivities from October 10. The authorities estimate a devotee footfall of more than 15 lakh this year and that ?8.26 crore are required to organise the festival. Roads leading to the temple are being spruced up and the work to erect barricades has gained momentum. The queue lines start from the Vinayaka temple on the canal road. Annadanam, water supply, ghat road electrification, cloakrooms, chappal stand, toilets and temporary dressing rooms are some of the arrangements. Darshan tickets are priced at ?300 and ?100 besides a free darshan queue line; 14 ‘prasadam’ counters would be opened. When contacted, Temple Executive Officer (EO) V. Koteswaramma said the Devasthanam would ensure hassle-free darshan. The management will supply water sachets and extend medical assistance to the devotees. Archaka sabha, Veda sabha, cultural programmes are also planned. The EO said they were expecting 3 lakh pilgrims on the Moola nakshatram day when the presiding deity would give darshan as goddess Saraswati. On Vijaya Dasami, the rush is expected to swell to 3.5 lakh, she said. The temple has planned to ply free bus services from the railway station and the bus station to the bathing ghats and the Vinayaka temple. A free bus from Ashoka Pillar to Indrakeeladri would be operated for the physically challenged and the elderly. The festival begins with Sri Swarna Kavachalankrita Durga Devi alankaram on Asviyuja Suddha Padyami, first day. The priests have decided to deck up the presiding deity goddess Kanaka Durga as Sri Mahishasura Mardhini and Sri Rajarajeswari Devi on the last day. She would give darshan as Mahishasura Mardhini till afternoon and as Sri Rajarajeswari Devi thereafter.

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