Yanira D. Kivi 
Vijayawada: The state government will host an augmented reality show of goddess Kanaka Durga and present the story at Durga Temple located in the Indrakeeladri Hills for the ensuing Dasara festival here.
Endowment department officials are setting up nearly 20 augmented reality broadcast panels at the temple premises with a QR code to allow worshipers to scan it and download the nearly 30-second video.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is due to open the show on October 12. Officials said it was the first time that such a performance had been staged at the PA temple; this had already been done on an experimental basis about two years ago at the Padmavathi Ammavari temple in Tiruchanur, Tirupati.
Dr G. Vani Mohan, Senior Secretary of Income (Endowments), “We are hosting an augmented reality show of Goddess Durga in her temple for Dasara for the benefit of devotees to learn her story.”
Endowment officials said they are making all necessary arrangements ahead of the Dasara festivities by undertaking repair work, re-painting temples, performing maintenance on sanitary facilities, repairing camera cameras. faulty video surveillance and installing lighting, among others.
Officials will also install information boards, giving details about the temples, including the significance of the architecture and wall carvings and the deities who preside over them.
Several services are taken online for devotees who cannot visit the temples and the “prasadam” will be mailed to them.
Endowment authorities intend to closely monitor the number of worshipers visiting temples daily during Dasara festivities due to the coronavirus pandemic. They will find a balance between allowing large numbers of pilgrims and maintaining Covid-19 protocols.
Dr Vani Mohan said: “We call on all devotees who intend to visit temples to offer special prayers during the ensuing Dasara festivities in order to maintain appropriate Covid-19 behavior while wearing a mask facial, maintaining social distancing and washing their hands frequently throughout their trip from home until their return, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. ”
She said the department was taking the necessary measures to maintain sanitation at all temples to ensure that no worshipers fell victim to the virus.
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