Vijayawada Kanakadurga Ammavaru
Varalakshmi Vratham in Vijayawada Kanakadurga Temple attracts thousands of devotees to the temple. In 2018, it is celebrated on 24 August. This is the second Friday (Shravana Shukravaram) in Shravana Masam.
On this day, Goddess Kanakadurga Devi is decorated in the form of Varalakshmi Mata and blesses her devotees with happiness and prosperity. This year, Varalakshmi Vratham is celebrated on all four Fridays in Vijayawada Temple – 17 August, 24 August, 31 August and 7 September 2018.
Vijayawada Kanakadurga Temple (Durga Malleshwara Swamy Devasthanam) is one of the Shakti Peethas, the ancient temples dedicated to Shakti, the Mother Goddess. Apart from Varalakshmi Vratham, every Shravana Shukravaram is celebrated with utmost gaiety in the temple.
The women offer pujas to propitiate the goddess and seek her blessings for prosperity and well-being of their families. It was estimated that nearly 1 lakh devotees visit the temple on the day. Scores of women are seen applying turmeric paste on the various steps and entrances to the temple on the Indrakeeladri hill.