On Sunday, the first day of Sarannavaratri, 90,110 devotees reached the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada to seek the blessings of Goddess Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi by 6:08 p.m. The hill temple witnessed intense religious fervor as large crowds gathered. Temple authorities organized arrangements to facilitate darshan and provide essential amenities for the devotees.
Among the visitors was Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Kanumuru Raghurama Krishna Raju, who offered prayers and described the darshan as a memorable spiritual experience that brought him peace and satisfaction. He prayed for the happiness, good health, peace, and prosperity of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
During the festivities, the Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy temple at Srikalahasti presented silk robes and traditional ‘saare’ to Goddess Kanaka Durga, with executive officer B.K. Venkateswarlu, MLA Bojjala Sudheer Reddy, and temple board members attending. A delegation from Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy temple at Kanipakam also presented silk robes led by executive officer Penchala Kishore. The team was welcomed by temple Chairman Borra Radhakrishna and Executive Officer Seena Naik, and received Vedic blessings, prasadam, and a portrait of the deity.
Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) highlighted that comprehensive arrangements had been made to ensure smooth conduct of the celebrations. He noted uninterrupted drinking water supply, round‑the‑clock monitoring, interdepartmental coordination, a control room, and QR codes to collect feedback and address complaints promptly. The MP urged all departments to collaborate for hassle‑free darshan throughout the Sarannavaratri celebrations. On Monday, the goddess will be adorned as Sri Gayatri Devi for the second day of the festivities.
