Vijayawada: The sacred Bhavani Deeksha initiation at the Kanakadurga Temple began with great pomp and devotion on Saturday, marking the start of one of the temple’s most significant annual rituals after Dussehra.Hundreds of devotees thronged the temple to receive the 41-day Mandala Bhavani Deeksha in the presence of Guru Bhavani, filling the temple with chants, prayers, and a festive spirit. The ritual began on the sixth floor of the Maha Mandapam, where Sthanacharya Shiva Prasad Sharma led the Vedic ceremonies and offered special prayers before initiating the devotees.From this day, Bhavani devotees don red attire, chant the name of Goddess Kanakadurga, and observe a 41-day period of austerity and devotion. The temple authorities expect around 600,000 devotees to participate in the Deeksha’s concluding ceremonies this year.Temple Trust Board chairman B Radhakrishna (Gandhi) joined the devotees in the rituals, while temple executive officer Srina Nayak announced that the Bhavani Deeksha program will continue till Dec 15.With the temple illuminated and filled with devotional energy, Vijayawada’s Indrakeeladri hill has once again transformed into a hub of spiritual vibrancy, drawing pilgrims from across Andhra Pradesh.
