Devotee rush peaks on Mulanakshatram

VIJAYAWADA: Indrakeeldari saw the devotee rush at its peak as scores thronged to the Kanaka Durga temple to have the darshan of the deity in Sri Maha Saraswathi Devi alankaram on the auspicious day of Mulanakshatram on Monday.The presiding deity appeared with Hamshavahanam holding a book and veena on the Mulanakshatram, the birth star of Saraswathi Devi, on the fifth day of Navaratri festival.In view of the huge devotee rush on the Mulanakshatram, the temple was open for darshan at 1.30 am on Monday. Devotees in large numbers were seen waiting in queue lines for darshan. Scores of students of the city offered pujas to the Saraswathi Devi, the goddess of knowledge.The queue lines were jampacked from Kummaripalem Centre and Vinayaka temple. The devotees were seen quenching their thirst with the water supplied by the temple administration due to the scorching heat.Secondary education minister Kolusu Parthasarathi offered pattu vastrams to the presiding deity on behalf of the state government.According to Sthanachari, people from across the country throng Indrakeeladri for darshan of Maha Saraswati Devi alankaram every year taking the devotee count up to 2 lakh.Special pujas were performed apart from the daily rituals at the temple including Kumari Puja and Suvasini Archana.Tollywood actor Allu Arjun with his wife visited the temple and offered prayers to the deity. Other dignitaries who had darshan at the temple include TDP leader and former minister Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and cine actor Gadde Rajednra Prasad.