Devotees line up from 5 am onwards

Vijayawada: Large turnout of devotees continued at the Kanaka Durga temple atop Indrakeeladri hill in the city on Sunday. The presiding deity was adorned as Goddess Durga in view of Durga Ashtami.
Devotees had lined up in queues by 5 am to offer special prayers to the goddess. Temple authorities and city police used barriers to regulate the crowd.
Vedic scholars performed special ‘chandi homam’, ‘laksha kumkuma archana’ and ‘nagarotsavam’ to the goddess.“Goddess Durga is considered the symbol of victory. Worshipping Durga is believed to give strength and courage. Durga Ashtami is an auspicious day to worship the goddess. ‘Kumkuma archana’ on this day is believed to give good health,” said Vishnubotla Siva Prasada Sharma, sthana acharya of the temple.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board chairman YV Subba Reddy offered silk robes to the goddess. “I’m fortunate to have darshan of Goddess Kanaka Durga on Durga Ashtami day. Offering silk robes on behalf of TTD is a great privilege and I’m happy to get the opportunity,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking of the sucess of ‘moola nakshatram’ celebrations on Saturday, executive officer MV Suresh Babu said 3.8 lakh devotees took darshan of the goddess adorned as Saraswati.