Vijayawada: The Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam (SDMSD) temple atop Indrakeeladri is gearing up for the grand conduct of the three-day Shakambari Utsavalu – 2025 from July 8 to July 10.The annual festival, dedicated to goddess Shakambari Devi, will be celebrated with great pomp and attracts a large number of devotees. The festival coincides with the auspicious Asahada Masam, during which women devotees in groups arrive at the Indrakeeladri temple to offer traditional sarees to goddess Kanaka Durga at the temple.During the three-day festival, the temple authorities will decorate the temple premises with a variety of flowers and vegetables offered by devotees from not only AP but also from neighbouring states.As per the legend, goddess Shakambari, moved by the suffering of people during drought situation, manifested vegetables and fruits from her own body to save people from starvation. The festival attracts tens of thousands of devotees over the three days, as general belief among devotees is that they will be blessed with abundant prosperity.Meanwhile, the temple authorities have started making elaborate arrangements including erecting auxiliary queue lines, prasadam counters, and other arrangements to manage the rush during the three-day festival. On Monday, the temple authorities met farmers and traders in Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Tanuku, Kothapet, and neighbouring towns, wherein the farmers and traders pledged to donate vegetables and flowers to decorate the temple.Subsequently, arrangements are underway to provide Kadambam, a special prasadam distributed to devotees during the festival.
