Latest news with #Shakambari
Time of India
10-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Guru Purnima, Shakambari festival celebrations attract thousands
Vijayawada: was celebrated with immense spiritual fervour and devotion across Vijayawada on Thursday. Temples witnessed a massive influx of devotees who participated in special rituals and festivals marking the auspicious occasion. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Sai Baba Temple at Mutyalampadu saw thousands of devotees throng its premises in the early hours to take part in the sacred Abhishekam ritual. The temple resonated with chants and spiritual hymns as the faithful paid their respects to Sai Baba, expressing gratitude on this traditional day dedicated to gurus. Meanwhile, the three-day Shakambari festival concluded at the famed Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam. On the final day, goddess Kanaka Durga was adorned in Shakambari Devi attire, draped in leafy greens, vegetables, and fruits, symbolising her role as the nurturer of vegetation. Thousands of pilgrims were delighted to witness the goddess in this rare form. To mark the occasion, the sanctum sanctorum was artistically decorated with farm produce, giving it a vibrant, earthy look. Vedic scholars conducted Satha Chandi Yagam and Poornahuti, invoking blessings for prosperity and good rains. As part of the celebration, over 12,000 devotees were served 'Kadambham', a special dish prepared with fresh vegetables and dal. Pilgrims praised the smooth arrangements. "Despite the heavy crowd, I had darshan in just 40 minutes," said K Nagaraju from Paruchuru, Prakasam district. Durga temple executive officer Seenanayak expressed joy over the festival's success and thanked staff and volunteers for their efforts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Special shirga darshan was arranged to manage the heavy footfall, while prasadam counters distributed decorated vegetables to eager devotees. At the Malleswara Swamy temple (Shivalayam), Rudra Abhishekam and special prayers were conducted as part of Guru Purnima rituals. Meanwhile, the Shakambari festival at Sri Bhramaramba Malleswara Swamy Temple in Srisailam also concluded, with Vedic rituals praying for good rainfall and a bountiful harvest.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Huge demand for Kadambam prasadam at Shakambari festival in Kanaka Durga temple
Vijayawada: The three-day Shakambari festival at the Sri Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri began on a grand note drawing thousands of devotees. While the temple is beautifully adorned with tonnes of fresh vegetables, it is the Kadambam Prasadam that has become the biggest attraction for devotees visiting the temple. Prepared exclusively during the Shakambari festival, Kadambam Prasadam is a special offering made once a year during Ashada Masam. The dish, which resembles sambar rice, is made from a rich blend of rice, lentils, seasonal vegetables, pumpkin, cashew nuts, and premium cow ghee. Temple priest LD Prasad explained, "Shakambari Ammavaru is fond of vegetables. That is why the temple is decorated with various vegetables, and the prasadam offered is also full of vegetable goodness. Especially, the use of pumpkin and ghee gives it a divine taste." Typically, devotees line up for pulihora and laddu prasadams after darshan, but during this festival, Kadambam takes centre stage, with many devotees queuing exclusively for it. On the first day alone, temple authorities distributed nearly one tonne of Kadambam prasadam. Devotees from across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are thronging the temple, and many are carrying boxes of Kadambam back home as a sacred and delicious memory of the goddess. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo "We came here for the past 10 years. The taste of this prasad cannot be replicated at home, even with the same ingredients," said K. Shruthi, a devotee from Khammam. Temple executive officer Seena Nayak assured that the prasadam is prepared in hygienic conditions and distributed with great care. He added that efforts are being made to provide the prasadam to as many devotees as possible during the three-day festival. "Satisfaction of devotees is our priority. We are taking measures to provide Kadambam prasadam free of cost to devotees," EO Nayak said.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Preparations begin for Shakambari Utsavam at Kanaka Durga temple
Vijayawada: Preparations for the grand three-day Shakambari Utsavam at the historic Kanaka Durga Temple on Indrakeeladri began on a spiritual and vibrant note on Monday. The festival, which will be celebrated from July 8 to 10, is dedicated to Goddess Shakambari, who is revered as the embodiment of nature and nourishment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The inaugural puja for the elaborate vegetable and fruit decoration was conducted on Monday morning at Maha Mandapam. The event was formally launched by V K Seenanayak, executive officer, Vedic Committee members, Vedic scholars, and over 200 devotee volunteers. The Maha Mandapam was adorned with a wide variety of vegetables, greens, fruits, and floral garlands, transforming the sanctum into a visual celebration of nature's bounty. Speaking on the occasion, EO Seenanayak said, "The Goddess is nature herself. Offering vegetables and fruits symbolises gratitude to the Earth for its abundance. We pray that the land is blessed with timely rains and rich harvests for the prosperity of all." He added that this tradition is carried out every year from Ashada Shuddha Trayodashi to Ashada Pournami with devotion and community participation. In view of the heavy footfall experienced during the Ashadha Saare Samarpana on Sunday, authorities have taken special crowd management measures. Notably, VIP and special darshans will be suspended daily from 10 am to 2 pm during the three-day festival to ensure smooth Lagu darshan (general darshan) for all devotees. Temple staff are on high alert, with added security, queue systems, and sanitation measures in place. Devotees are encouraged to participate in the rituals and offer fruits and vegetables as part of the ongoing festivities.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Devotees offer sarees and prayers at Kanaka Durga Temple during Ashada Saare festival
1 2 Vijayawada: A sea of devotees thronged the Sri Kanaka Durga Temple atop Indrakeeladri on Sunday as part of the annual Ashada Saare offering. Thousands of women, in colourful groups and processions, reached the temple with traditional offerings — silk sarees, bangles, flowers, fruits, and pongal — symbolically treating Goddess Kanaka Durga as their daughter. The temple premises were packed from early morning, and special arrangements were made to handle the heavy influx of devotees. Temple authorities cancelled VIP and Special Entry Darshans, ensuring only Lagu Darshan (fast-track darshan) was available for the public. Around eight special counters were set up across various locations to collect the saree offerings from devotees. Executive officer (EO) Seena Nayak personally oversaw arrangements, managing queues and directing volunteers across key areas. The EO also inspected the offerings of vegetables and fruits made by devotees ahead of the upcoming Shakambari festival, scheduled from July 8 to 10. He encouraged devotees to donate fresh produce for the decoration of the deity during the three-day celebration. To ensure smooth flow, the temple administration deployed staff along the lift routes, queue lines, and Ghat Road, which witnessed massive footfall. EO Nayak confirmed that protocol darshans were suspended from 11:30 a.m. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo to 2:00 p.m., prioritising regular devotees during peak hours. Adequate drinking water, free prasadam distribution, and Anna Prasadam were also arranged. In an effort to prevent overcharging, the EO said staff were deployed at cloakrooms, footwear storage, and coconut crushing counters. Congested areas were identified using CCTV surveillance, and temple staff were dispatched immediately to control crowd flow.
