Sri Kanyaka Parameswari Temple’s Grand Navratri Celebration
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
During the vibrant Navratri festival, the Sri Kanyaka Parameswari temple in Visakhapatnam was adorned with lavish decorations. The deity was embellished with 6 kg of gold, Rs 4 crore in cash, and 10 kg of silver. On the eighth day of Sharan Navaratri, the Goddess was presented as Sri Mahalakshmi, adorned with golden clothes and 108 golden flowers.
Devasthanam Sangha President Arishetty Dinakar and Secretary Penugonda Kamaraju shared that the temple’s sanctum was transformed into a treasury, impressing devotees with its grandeur. The decoration included various currency notes and was funded by the devotees themselves, with the belief that it would bring prosperity.
Chairman of the Sharannavaratri festival committee, Kadimishetti Venkataramana, along with Vedullapalli Srinivas Rao and Pusarla Sanjeevi, explained that this tradition has been followed for 22 years. The money used for decoration is returned to the devotees after the festival.
In addition to the decorations, members of the women’s section recited sacred texts, and a collective Ashtalakshmi Puja was performed for 200 women, led by RBB Kumar Sharma. The temple provided all necessary materials for the puja, and all participants received Maha Prasad.
Doubts Revealed
Sri Kanyaka Parameswari Temple -: This is a temple located in Visakhapatnam, a city in India. It is dedicated to the goddess Kanyaka Parameswari, who is worshipped by many people.
Navratri -: Navratri is a Hindu festival that lasts for nine nights. It is celebrated to honor the goddess Durga and her different forms.
Visakhapatnam -: Visakhapatnam is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is known for its beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage.
Opulent decorations -: Opulent decorations mean very rich and luxurious decorations. In this context, it refers to the use of gold, cash, and silver to decorate the temple.
Sri Mahalakshmi -: Sri Mahalakshmi is a form of the goddess Lakshmi, who is the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is often worshipped during festivals for good fortune.
Prosperity -: Prosperity means having wealth, success, and good fortune. People believe that worshipping the goddess during Navratri brings prosperity to their lives.
Sacred recitations -: Sacred recitations are the chanting or reading of holy texts or prayers. They are an important part of religious ceremonies.
Collective puja -: A collective puja is a group worship ceremony where many people come together to pray and perform rituals. In this case, 200 women participated in the puja.
Maha Prasad -: Maha Prasad is a special food offering that is blessed and distributed to devotees after a religious ceremony. It is considered very sacred and auspicious.
