Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam Executive Officer V.K. Seena Naik carrying sacred offering as part of the ‘Pavitrotsvams’ ritual atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri
The annual three-day Pavithrotsavams commenced on Thursday (August 27, 2026) at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada, with priests performing special rituals to uphold the sanctity and ritual purity of the temple.The festival, traditionally observed during the Sravana maasam, is an annual ritual of purification and atonement for any inadvertent lapses or omissions that may have occurred during temple rituals and services throughout the year.The celebrations commenced with Vighneswara Puja, Punyahavachanam, and Akhanda Deepa Aradhana under the supervision of the temple’s Vedic committee. Specially prepared sacred garlands, known as Pavithrams, which are offered to the presiding deity and other deities in the sub-temples, were consecrated and installed as part of the first-day rituals.The temple authorities said that the Pavithrotsavams are held to seek expiation for any known or unknown ritual lapses and to reaffirm the spiritual sanctity of the temple.Special paid sevas have been temporarily suspended during the three-day festival. The Pavithrotsavams will continue with various Vedic rituals and special worship programmes.Temple chairman B. Radhakrishna Gandhi and Executive Officer Sheena Naik offered the sacred garlands and participated in the special pooja programmes conducted in the presence of members of the Vedic committee. Published - August 27, 2026 07:16 pm IST
