Goddess decked up in Rs 2cr worth cash, jewels

Visakhapatnam: Revered by the trading community of Visakhapatnam, Goddess

Kanyaka Parameswari Devi

’s idol was decked up with Rs 2 crore worth of notes and 4 kg jewellery on Sunday, the eighth day of Dasara.

The

goddess

is worshipped as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.

Secretary of the temple trust, D Venkata Balaji Kumar said, “Coins and notes of all denominations were used to decorate the mother goddess. The trading community of the city has been following this tradition for a long time. More than 200 people contributed.”

Temple sources said that the trading community believes that those who contribute to the temple on this auspicious day are blessed with profits.

The ‘asthana purohit’ BB Sarma officiated the special pujas. He also conducted the Astha Lakshmi Puja in which more than 200 women participated.

A special Kuchipudi performance was also staged at the temple.

According to sources, the trading community of the city has been observing this festival for more than 140 years now.