Sri Durga Malleswara Swamivarla Devasthanam revenues scaled new heights this Dasara. The temple netted a total revenue of Rs. 3.14 crore during the nine-day festival. The figure excludes hundi collections. As the hundies are scheduled to be opened on Wednesday, another Rs. 4 crore will be added to the revenue.
The temple received Rs. 2.30 crore during the 2013 Dasara, less than Rs. 2.54 crore collected in 2012. The management then attributed the decline in collection to the bifurcation agitation.
The devotee turnout this year was far beyond expectations. While officials expected around 5 lakh devotees, more than 10.5 lakh thronged the hill shrine. If the Bhavani rush is also taken into account, close to 12 lakh devotees visited the temple from September 25 to October 5.
Kanaka Durga Temple executive officer Trinadh Rao says the sale of laddu fetched Rs. 1.30 crore as against Rs. 85 lakh last year. The temple, however, received Rs.1.03 crore through laddu sale in 2012.
Interestingly, devotees bought 13.06 lakh laddus during the festivities. However, the sale of ‘pulihora prasadam’, which has less shelf life, stood at 4 lakh units.
The sale of alankara darshan tickets fell this year compared to 2012. As many as 1,045 tickets, each worth Rs. 1,000, were sold in 2012, while it was just 946 this year.
The temple also received income under various heads that include, Ubhayam, Satachandi yagam, VIP dashan, Seegra darshan, Mukha Mandapa darshan, Sri Cahakra laddu, free bus donations, flower decoration, and Kesakhandana.
