Elaborate arrangements made for Teppotsavam in Vijayawada on October 20

Elaborate arrangements are being made for the Teppotsavam (float festival), the concluding ceremony of the nine-day Dasara Navaratri celebrations of the Kanaka Durga temple atop Indrakeeldari in Vijayawada, in the Krishna River on October 20.

Devotees are excited for the Teppotsavam this year as it was cancelled in the last two years due to the floods in the Krishna.

Officials of endowments, police, irrigation and other departments are making elaborate arrangements for the boat ride of Goddess Kanaka Durga and Lord Malleswara Swamy.

The Hamsa Vahanam, on which the deities will take a ride on the Krishna river, has been decked up.

The officials conducted a trial run of the Hamsa Vahanam (boat) on Sunday.

The police have deployed personnel on the ghats as a precautionary measure and the Irrigation Department has deployed expert swimmers at the bathing ghats.

The Hamsa Vahanam and the Durga and Punnami ghats have been illuminated for the festival.

The NTR Commissionerate Police will take the deities in a procession along the Brahmana Veedhi. Shami Puja and Paruveta will also be performed in Jammidoddi as part of the rituals.