Three-day Shakambari Utsavam concludes on Guru Purnima – The New Indian Express

VIJAYAWADA: The three-day annual ‘Shakambari Utsavam’ concluded on a grand note at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri Hill here on Tuesday. The event is celebrated every year seeking good rainfall and more crop yield.

Pilgrim rush was significantly high on the third day, as last day of the festival coincided with the auspicious ‘Guru Purnima’. Around 50,000 devotees had the darshan of Goddess Kanaka Durga on Tuesday. The temple authorities decorated the presiding deity with a variety of fruits and vegetables and offered special pujas.

Besides the regular ‘laddu’ prasadam, devotees were offered ‘Kadamba’ prasadam made of vegetables. ‘Purnahuti’ was performed at Yagasala near Nataraja Swamy Temple on the hill, marking the conclusion of ‘Shakambari Utsavam’.

Temple executive officer A Surya Kumari along with his family members participated in the ritual. Amidst chanting of Vedic hymns, temple priests dropped a silk sari, sandalwood pieces, flowers and fruits in the ‘homam’. Later, they gave ‘Ashirvachanam’ to the temple officials and staff.