Following the massive turnout during the recently concluded Bhavani Deeksha Viramana, authorities at the Kanakadurga Temple on Indrakeeladri have announced plans to introduce comprehensive online services for devotees, modelled on the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) system.
As stated in a report by Times of India, the temple officials said the move is aimed at streamlining darshan and allied facilities throughout the year, as footfall at the shrine continues to rise steadily. On average, the temple receives around 15,000 devotees on weekdays, with numbers surging to 30,000–50,000 during festivals.
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Temple Executive Officer Seena Nayak and Trust Board Chairman Borra Radhakrishna highlighted the encouraging response to the newly launched mobile application during the Bhavani Deeksha Viramana programme. They said the app will soon be expanded to allow devotees to book darshan slots, purchase prasadam, reserve parking, and make donations towards annadanam, satrams and various sevas.
Digital push to ease darshan rush
As per the report, the officials noted that a large number of devotees arrives without prior bookings and often spend hours waiting in long queues. It is expected that the suggested digital platform will reduce traffic, better crowd control, and improve the darshan experience in general.
Devotees will be able to reserve darshan times in advance and order laddu and pulihora prasadam in advance under the proposed system. Infrastructure support for the initiative has already begun, with computers and related equipment worth nearly ₹10 lakh being donated to the temple.
The Bhavani Deeksha Viramana, held from December 11 to 15, witnessed an unprecedented turnout. According to temple officials, 5.27 lakh Bhavani devotees participated in the event, with the total number of visitors expected to cross six lakh when general devotees are included.
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To manage the rush, authorities had set up special counters, 19 prasadam distribution outlets, three homa gundams and designated riverside bathing points. Nearly 3,000 police personnel were deployed round the clock to ensure smooth crowd control and security during the event.
Temple authorities said the success of the festival and the growing number of devotees have underscored the need for a robust digital system, which they hope to roll out in phases in the coming months.
