Navaratri 2026 Vijayawada: Durga Mandap Permission, Free Power and Indrakeeladri Dasara Arrangements

Quick answer: Dasara Navaratri 2026 begins on Sunday 11 October and Vijayadashami falls on Tuesday 20 October. Organisers of public Durga mandaps in Vijayawada need police permission first. Authorised mandaps then get free electricity from the AP government: up to 3 kW in rural areas and up to 5 kW in urban areas.

Last updated: 9 October 2026. NTR district police, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) and the power utility can change procedures. Confirm with your local police station before you build.

Vijayawada's Dasara is centred on Goddess Kanaka Durga atop Indrakeeladri, and hundreds of neighbourhood mandaps come up across the city as well. This guide covers mandap permission, free power, safety and immersion, and what devotees should know about the temple arrangements. For the temple's history and legends, see our Kanaka Durga temple Indrakeeladri guide. Organisers across the border can compare the Telangana process in our Hyderabad Durga Matha mandap permission guide.

Navaratri 2026 dates for Vijayawada

The temple publishes the order of the daily alankarams of Goddess Kanaka Durga. Check the devasthanam's official notices for each day's alankaram and special sevas.

Free electricity for Durga mandaps in Andhra Pradesh

Minister Nara Lokesh announced on X that the state will give free power supply to all permitted Durga Devi mandaps during the Dasara Navaratri festivities, according to Deccan Chronicle.

• The scheme is for authorised mandaps, so obtain police permission first.
• Then apply to your power distribution company for a temporary connection. In Vijayawada this is APCPDCL; ask at your local section office for the 2026 procedure.
• Any load above the free limit is normally charged.
• Use a licensed electrician, proper earthing, good cables and an ELCB or RCCB. Illegal hooking is dangerous and an offence.

This follows the same pattern as the free power the state gave Ganesh pandals during Vinayaka Chavithi.

How to get Durga mandap permission in Vijayawada

For Vinayaka Chavithi, Andhra Pradesh has used a single-window online system for pandal permission, with joint checks by the police, fire, municipal, electricity and revenue departments. For Durga mandaps in 2026, check with the NTR district police or your SHO which online link or office process applies, as no separate Durga-specific portal had been widely announced when we checked.

1. Contact your local police station (SHO) and ask for the 2026 application process.
2. Submit the applicant and committee details, mandap location with landmarks, idol size, dates of installation and immersion, and the volunteer list.
3. Attach the documents below.
4. Allow a site check by police and, where needed, fire, VMC and electricity staff.
5. Collect the permission (often a digital NOC) and display a copy at the mandap.
6. Apply for the free temporary power connection with the permission copy.

Documents to keep ready

• ID proof of the applicant and committee members
• NOC from the owner of the land or building
• Site plan or sketch of the mandap
• Fire safety arrangements
• Electrical declaration from a licensed electrician
• Volunteer names and phone numbers
• Undertaking to follow sound, traffic and safety conditions

Rules for Durga mandaps

Structure and location

• Temporary structures only, built strong enough for rain and wind.
• Do not block roads or footpaths; keep access for ambulances and fire engines.
• Extra conditions can apply in sensitive or crowded localities.

Sound

• Loudspeakers usually only until 10 PM, or as per the local order.
• No high-power DJ systems, especially near hospitals, schools, courts and places of worship.
• Keep volume within noise limits at all times.

Safety

• Fire extinguishers, sand buckets and water at the mandap.
• CCTV at larger mandaps, as police often require.
• Volunteers on duty round the clock, with their numbers displayed.
• Respect every community and keep celebrations peaceful.

Immersion

• Immerse only at points notified by VMC and the police, on the time slot given to you.
• Inform the police of the procession route and timing in advance.
• Choose clay idols and natural colours.

Indrakeeladri Dasara 2026: what devotees can expect

Dasara at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam runs from 11 to 20 October. Officials expect over 25 lakh devotees, according to The Hindu. Arrangements reported by The Hindu and The New Indian Express include:

• Planning focused on common devotees, with safe and easy darshan as the priority.
• Queue lines with shelters, drinking water and seating, and screens showing estimated waiting times.
• AI-enabled cameras, CCTV, crowd analytics and a 24x7 command and control centre.
• About 3,500 police personnel, boom barriers and access controllers.
• 22 parking points, with parking on the outskirts and free shuttle buses to the temple.
• Larger annadanam halls and new prasadam counters, with about 60 lakh laddus being prepared.
• Medical aid, sanitation by VMC under Swachh Dasara, and shower facilities at the ghats.

Moola Nakshatra day, when the Goddess is worshipped as Saraswati, draws the heaviest crowds. Check the devasthanam's official channels for seva tickets, darshan timings and any app or WhatsApp booking it announces.

Tips for organisers and devotees

• Apply early; Navaratri begins on 11 October.
• Keep 112, your SHO, VMC and the fire station numbers displayed at the mandap.
• Ticketed or commercial events, such as Dandiya nights, need additional permissions.
• Devotees heading to Indrakeeladri should use the designated parking and shuttles, carry water and avoid the peak days if travelling with elderly family.

For the nine forms of the Goddess, see the Navaratri 2026 dates and nine Devi names. Planning a trip south? Read the Mysore Dasara 2026 day-by-day guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do Durga mandaps in Vijayawada get free electricity in 2026?

Yes. The Andhra Pradesh government announced free power for all authorised Durga Devi mandaps during Dasara Navaratri: up to 3 kW in rural areas and up to 5 kW in urban areas, as reported by Deccan Chronicle. Vijayawada city mandaps fall in the urban category. Load above the limit is billed.

Do I need police permission for a Durga mandap in Vijayawada?

Yes. Public mandaps need prior permission from the NTR district police through the local police station, and the free power scheme applies only to authorised mandaps. Ask your SHO which online or offline system is being used for 2026.

When is Dasara 2026 at Kanaka Durga temple?

Dasara Navaratri at Indrakeeladri runs from Sunday 11 October to Tuesday 20 October 2026, with Vijayadashami on 20 October (Drik Panchang).

How many devotees are expected at Indrakeeladri for Dasara 2026?

Officials expect over 25 lakh devotees, according to The Hindu. The arrangements centre on common devotees, with queue shelters, waiting-time screens, AI-enabled cameras and free shuttle buses from outer parking areas.

Where should Durga idols be immersed in Vijayawada?

Only at the immersion points notified by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and the police. Do not immerse idols at unauthorised spots on the Krishna river or canals. Clay idols are strongly preferred.

Can a mandap play loudspeakers late at night?

Loudspeakers are usually restricted after 10 PM, with strict limits near hospitals, schools and courts. High-power DJ systems are generally not allowed. Follow the conditions on your permission letter.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

This guide uses the Andhra Pradesh free power announcement reported by Deccan Chronicle and the Indrakeeladri arrangements reported by The Hindu and The New Indian Express. We could not confirm a Durga-specific online permission portal or an official 'Dasara 2026' app, so we ask readers to check with their SHO and the devasthanam. Dates follow Drik Panchang.