Mon Aug 18 09:49:32 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam temple in Vijayawada is offering both paid and free mass Varalakshmi Vratham ceremonies on August 22, 2025, as part of the Shravanamasa celebrations. The paid session costs ₹1,500 and provides access to a faster darshan line. Applications for the free session are being accepted starting Monday at a dedicated counter, with white ration card verification required. Participants in the free session will receive a prasadam kit and access to a slightly slower darshan line.
**News Article:**
**Vijayawada Temple Announces Free Mass Varalakshmi Vratham**
**Vijayawada, August 18, 2025:** Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam temple in Vijayawada has announced details for its upcoming Varalakshmi Vratham celebrations, scheduled for August 22, 2025, as part of the auspicious Shravanamasa festivities.
The temple will host two sessions of the Varalakshmi Vratham at Sri Mallikarjuna Maha Mandapam, 6th floor. The first session, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., carries a participation fee of ₹1,500. Participants in this session will be granted access to the ₹300 special queue line for darshan of Sri Ammavaru after the ritual’s completion.
A free mass Varalakshmi Vratham will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the same day. Applications for the free vratham will be accepted starting Monday, August 18th, at the toll-free counter located on the ground floor of the Maha Mandapam office, beginning at 12 noon. Each application is valid for one woman, and applicants must present their white ration card at the time of registration.
Participants in the free session will receive a prasadam kit containing kumkum (150 grams), a blouse piece, bangles, Sri Ammavaru prasadam, and a Shakti kankanam. Temple authorities have also announced that women participating in the free vratham will be permitted darshan of Sri Ammavaru through the ₹100 queue line.
Devotees are encouraged to apply promptly for the free session due to anticipated high demand.
First Piper 