The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Indrakeeladri Protection Committee have submitted a joint representation to the Executive Officer of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam, on September 10, seeking measures to protect the interests of devotees during the upcoming Dussehra Sharannavarathri celebrations ( October 11-20) at the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
The organisations urged the temple authorities to conduct the celebrations transparently and conveniently, keeping the interests of devotees in mind.
The Kanaka Durga Temple is an ancient temple situated on Indrakeeladri hill on the banks of the Krishna River in Vijayawada.
Kanaka Durga Maata, the presiding deity of Vijayawada, attracts lakhs of devotees during the Navaratri festival. The annual Dussehra celebrations draw pilgrims from across Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country.
During the 2024 Dussehra festivities, more than 10 lakh devotees visited the temple, according to temple officials. In 2025, the footfall crossed 15 lakh during the 11-day festivities, with nearly 2.5 lakh devotees visiting on Moola Nakshatram alone.
Against this backdrop, the VHP and the Indrakeeladri Protection Committee said several issues concerning devotees and the temple premises have been observed and represented to the authorities repeatedly.
Demands made by the organisations
- The VHP and the Indrakeeladri Protection Committee made the following demands:
- Immediately stop payments to various government departments from the temple hundi offerings during the Dussehra Navaratri celebrations.
- Make public the complete estimates relating to the proposed expenditure of Rs. 25 crore for the Dussehra celebrations.
- Restrict VIP darshan and provide ordinary devotees with quick and easy darshan.
- Do not appoint persons belonging to other religions for duties on Indrakeeladri.
- Make a copy of the Indrakeeladri Master Plan available to the public.
- Protect the Giripradakshina route in the Indrakeeladri hill area without symbols of other religions.
- Restore the approximately 45-feet-wide road that previously existed from Prakasam Barrage to Arjun Street and make it available to devotees.
- Develop the Kanaka Durga Nagar area and make arrangements so that devotees do not have to walk on the road.
- Provide parking, footwear and mobile phone counters free of charge for devotees.
- Construct a second road from Kummaripalem to the Ghat Road to reduce congestion.
Devotees arriving from different parts of the State often face difficulties due to long queues on the roads leading to the Kanaka Durga Temple. The absence of dedicated lines while approaching the hill also creates traffic problems, particularly during the festival when the number of devotees rises sharply.
It has also been observed that evangelical groups have put up their symbols along roads leading to the temple. Hindu organisations have repeatedly represented the issue to the authorities and sought protection of the temple surroundings and the Giripradakshina route.
The scale of the annual festival also poses significant traffic and crowd-management challenges. During the 2024 celebrations, more than 1.5 lakh devotees visited the temple on Vijayadashami alone, adding to traffic congestion in Vijayawada.
Speaking to Organiser, Durg Prasad Raju, said the temple authorities and the current government should address the issues at the earliest. “We request the temple authorities and the current government to address these challenges at the earliest and come out with a permanent master plan that will address the issues being raised by devotees today,” Raju said.
VHP State Treasurer Durgaprasad Raju, district secretary Potti Srihari, assistant secretary Kompelli Srinivas, Indrakeeladri Protection Committee general secretary Avutapalli Sivaprasad, members Durga Bhavani, Suribabu and others participated in the programme.
The VHP and the Indrakeeladri Protection Committee urged the Devasthanam authorities to take immediate steps for the convenience of devotees, protection of the temple and its surroundings, and transparent administration.
