Ashada Navratri festival, nine festive nights that falls during the month of Ashada, is an auspicious occasion in Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada.
Ashada Navratri utsavam is also called as Gayathri Navratri or Shakambari Navratri. Ashada Navratri celebrations begin on Ashad Shukla paksha Padyami (the first day of Ashada masam) and culminated on Dashami.
In 2017, Ashad Navratri starts on July 24 and ends on August 2. Shakambari Utsav are held for five days.
Goddess Kanakadurga as Shakambari Devi:
During Ashada Navratri, for three days, Goddess Kanakadurga idol (presiding deity in Durga Malleshwara Swamy temple in Vijayawada) is appeared in the alankar of Shakambari Devi. Durga idol is decorated with vegetables and fruits and worshipped as Shakambari Ma. And all other alankarams are worshipped as Maha Navratri festival (Ashwayuja Sharan Navratri Utsavams).