In a heartwarming gesture to prevent wastage, the authorities of the renowned Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada have initiated the free distribution of laddus to devotees. This decision comes in the wake of a significant surplus of the sacred prasadam remaining after the conclusion of the major Bhavani Deeksha Viramana celebrations.
A Surplus of Sanctity After Grand Celebrations
The Bhavani Deeksha Viramana, which marks the relinquishment of Deeksha, stands as the most pivotal event at the temple following the grand Dussehra festivities. This year, the ritual witnessed an enormous turnout, with approximately 6 lakh devotees participating in the sacred proceedings. As per tradition, purchasing the goddess's laddu prasadam is considered highly auspicious for pilgrims visiting the temple.
Anticipating this heavy demand, the temple administration had made elaborate preparations, commissioning the creation of nearly 28 lakh laddus for the devotees. However, despite the massive footfall, only about 24.5 lakh laddus were sold by the time the celebrations concluded. Official estimates revealed that a substantial stock of 4 to 4.2 lakh laddus remained unsold.
Temple's Proactive Steps to Avoid Wastage
Faced with the challenge of managing a large quantity of perishable prasadam, the temple management swiftly reviewed its options. Officials noted that under normal daily circumstances, the temple sells close to 50,000 laddus. They calculated that over the coming days, around 3 lakh of the surplus laddus could still be sold through regular channels.
As an immediate and compassionate measure, the authorities decided to distribute about 1.20 lakh laddus free of cost to the devotees waiting in the temple's queue lines. This initiative ensures the prasadam is consumed fresh and its sanctity is maintained.
Official Statement on the Initiative
Temple Executive Officer V K Seena Nayak explained the rationale behind the move. He stated that instead of the usual free prasadam offerings like pulihora and daddojanam, laddus were being distributed to ensure the timely and optimal utilization of the surplus stock. "These laddus cannot be stored for long. Distributing them to devotees is the best way to avoid spoilage," he affirmed.
Nayak also clarified that there was no shortage or inconvenience faced by devotees during the Bhavani Deeksha itself. Each devotee was ensured a box containing six laddus, and pilgrims departed the temple premises satisfied. He emphasized that preparing laddus in large numbers was a deliberate policy to prevent any shortage, adding that while an excess occurred this time, the prasadam is now being put to meaningful use for the benefit of the devotees.
This thoughtful action by the Kanakadurga temple authorities has not only averted potential wastage of sacred offerings but has also extended an unexpected blessing to countless devotees, turning a logistical challenge into an opportunity for divine generosity.
