Vijayawada : Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy temple administration has started preparations in full swing for the nine - day festival starting from 7th October to 15th October at Durga Temple situated on the Indrakeeladri hill . Temple officials said that about Rs 1.34 crore would be spent on necessary arrangements like tents, queues, transport, lighting and decoration of the temple and 'hansa vahanam'. The temple priests will take out the festive deities of Goddess Kanaka Durga and Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy for 'Nadi Viharam' on Krishna on the last day of the festival.

One queue will be for Rs 100 ticket, another for Rs 300 ticket and third queue will be for free darshan of devotees. Also, two separate lines will be arranged for senior citizens and VIPs near Om turning point. According to temple executive officer D Bhramaramba and temple trust board chairman Payala Somi Naidu, only 10,000 devotees will be allowed per day depending on the time slot in view of the Covid.

The Chairman and the EO told the media that bathing in the Krishna River is prohibited and the authorities have provided 300 bathing facilities at Seethammma Vari Padalu for the convenience of the devotees. He said that in addition to the existing 160 employees, 150 additional Safai Karamcharis would be made ready for duty. Apart from 156 cc cameras, 20 additional cameras will be installed to keep vigil during the nine-day festival. This year also cultural programs and Nagar Utsavam will not be organized due to the COVID pandemic. All the queues will be sanitized thrice a day and steps will be taken to maintain physical distance in the line and the temple premises.

Covid restrictions extended in Uttarakhand till October 19

Manish Kashyap says "It was all a dream."

Domestic flights operation of 4 airlines likely to shift to Terminal 1 from Oct 20