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Bhavani Deeksha Viramana begins
Bhavani Deeksha Viramana began with devotional fervour at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam atop the Indrakeeladri Hill in the early hours of Friday.
- Special medical camps arranged
- Free bus service introduced for devotees
- Devotees can purchase any number of laddus
Vijayawada: Bhavani Deeksha Viramana began with devotional fervour at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam atop the Indrakeeladri Hill in the early hours of Friday. Thousands of devotees of Goddess Bhavani of all age groups and men, women and children visited the temple on the first day to give up their 21-day or 41-day Deeksha.
Earlier, Executive Officer of the Temple Ch Narasinga Rao along with the priests, lighted the Homagundam on the Devasthanam premises downhill. A large number of Bhavani devotees thronged the Homagundam to perform rituals associated with Deeksha Viramana. The devotees first made ‘Giri Pradakshina’ and took a holy dip in River Krishna. Later, they climbed Indrakeeladri for relinquishment of Bhavani Deeksha and have a darshan of the Goddess. Special pujas were performed at the temple to mark the Deeksha Viramana ceremony.
According to Narasinga Rao, about six to seven lakh devotees were expected to visit the temple during the remaining days for the Deeksha Viramana. “The Deeksha is observed for 41 days or 21 days as per the convenience of devotees. The devotee rush would increase in the last few days as a majority of them want to give up their Deeksha on an auspicious day,” the temple EO said.
The temple will be kept open from 3 am to 11 pm from Saturday onwards to enable more Bhavani devotees to have a hassle-free darshan of the Goddess after relinquishment of their Deeksha. The temple authorities made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the devotees visiting the temple for the Deeksha Viramana do not face any inconvenience.
Waterproof tents and barricades for queues were erected. The temple authorities opened 11 prasadam counters keeping in view the rush of devotees. The devotees can purchase any number of laddus they want at the prasadam counters this time unlike the previous year when the Devasthanam failed to meet the demand for prasadam fully. Under the Nitya Annadanam scheme of the temple, free meals were being provided to 5,000 to 7,000 devotees every day, he said. The police made foolproof security arrangements at the temple and its surroundings to thwart any untoward incident.
About 3,000 policemen were deployed at the temple and its vicinity. About 6,000 NSS volunteers were also pressed into service. Water sachets were being distributed to devotees at various places. Free bus services are also being run from the railway station and bus stand for the convenience of devotees. Special medical camps were set up atop Indrakeeladri and at the foot of the hill to provide aid to devotees in emergencies, the EO said.
