Vijayawada: As lakhs of devotees prepare to celebrate Dasara with pomp and devotion, another group quietly powers the festival’s machinery. From sanitation workers and police constables to street vendors, paramedics, and volunteers, these unsung heroes ensure the grandeur of Navaratri at Kanaka Durga temple and across Andhra Pradesh runs smoothly.From sanitation workers sweeping away heaps of garbage, to police constables standing guard for 12-hour shifts, street vendors feeding the crowds, young volunteers assisting specially abled and elderly people, and paramedics rushing to emergencies — these unsung heroes form the unseen workforce of Dasara.Every morning, before the first batch of devotees climbs Indrakeeladri hill, sanitation workers are already on duty. “By midnight the way is littered with plastic covers, food plates, and flowers. We work till dawn to clear it,” says Lakshmi, a municipal worker. Yet many do so without gloves or masks. “People see only the decorations, not our work,” adds another.Traffic jams and stampede fears keep police on their toes. Over 4,500 personnel are deployed in Vijayawada alone. A constable posted at a temple barricade hasn’t been home for three days. “My children are also celebrating Dasara, but I can’t join them. Duty is our festival,” he says. Senior officers admit the stress is high but insist the safety of lakhs of devotees comes first.For thousands of small traders, Dasara is survival. Toy sellers, flower vendors, and food stall owners depend on these ten days to recover losses. “We earn enough now to pay school fees for my children,” says Chittikomma Murthy, who sells bangles near the temple.Emergency medical teams have been stationed at temple entrances and bus stations. Fainting, dehydration, and minor injuries are common. “People fast and then walk for hours in the heat. We treat dozens every day,” says K Hema Nagamani, a health supervisor from a government medical camp. She says each day we handle around 180 cases.Akhil, a youngster serving as a volunteer, told TOI that “most devotees only see the goddess and the celebrations, but they don’t notice the people working behind the scenes. As volunteers, we guide queues, offer water, and calm frustrated pilgrims. It’s exhausting, but serving the goddess and helping devotees is our way of celebrating Dasara.”As the Vijayawada skyline glitters with lights and the chants of “Jai Durga” echo on the hill, the festival owes as much to the goddess as to the countless unseen hands that keep faith, order, and celebration alive.
