Vijayawada: Officials of the Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanams, along with the district administration and police, made elaborate arrangements for the rituals to be performed to the goddess on Wednesday, when Moola Nakshatram sets in and she is worshipped in the Saraswati alankaram, which is considered the most auspicious day in the nine-day (Navaratri) celebrations. Officials are expecting that 2-3 lakh pilgrims would visit the temple on Wednesday and made arrangements as per the requirement, with regard to darshan and prasadam.

District collector B. Lakshmikantham, temple EO A. Suryakumari, DCP Kranti Rana Tata, municipal commissioner J. Nivas and others inspected the arrangements and stalled the VIP darshan at 8.30 pm on Tuesday and normal darshan at 9.00pm.

Considering the huge turnout of the pilgrims, the officials decided to provide darshan from 1.30 am on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Devotees were seen waiting in queue lines from Tuesday night.

VIP and ticket darshans were cancelled on Wednesday and officials urged the VIPs to cooperate with the temple management in this regard. Vehicles were prohibited from entering the ghat road. Only protocol vehicles will be allowed, said the temple EO.