Over 600 women participate in mass puja

Vijayawada: The last Friday (Sravana Shukravaram) of the holy Sravana Masam was observed with devotion at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada on Friday, with a mass Varalakshmi Vratam organised at the Sri Mallikarjuna Maha Mandapam.

The temple authorities conducted the programme in two sessions. The first session, an Arjitha Seva, was held from 7 am to 9 am, followed by a free mass Varalakshmi Vratam from 10 am to 11.30 am amid Vedic chanting by temple priests and scholars. More than 600 women participated in the free Vratam. The temple provided all the required puja materials free of cost, enabling women from economically weaker sections to perform the ritual at the feet of Goddess Durga.

After the Vratam, the women were presented turmeric and Kumkum, blouse pieces, bangles and prasadam. Anjali, wife of Temple Trust Board chairman Borra Radha Krishna (Gandhi), participated in the Varalakshmi Vratam along with other women devotees. Later, Temple Trust Board chairman Borra Radha Krishna and Executive Officer VK Seena Naik visited the Maha Mandapam and offered prayers to Goddess Varalakshmi.

Sthanacharya V Siva Prasad Sharma, Vaidika Committee member V Sridhar Sharma, Festival Assistant Executive Officer Dr K Gangadhar, supervisors Hema Durgamba and senior assistant Sirisha were among those who participated in the programme.

On the occasion of the last Friday of Sravana Masam, a devotee offered gold ornaments to Goddess Sri Kanaka Durga Devi. Guntupalli Sri Pranavi of Bank Colony in Vijayawada visited the temple office on Friday and donated gold ornaments weighing approximately 22.800 grams for decorating the presiding deity. She handed over the ornaments to the temple authorities in the presence of Trust Board chairman Borra Radha Krishna. The donated ornaments included a gold Bottu embedded with Navaratnas and diamonds, a gold Nattu studded with diamonds and red and green stones, and a gold Bulaki embellished with diamonds, red and green stones and a pearl.

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The Hans India