Chandanotsavam to be held at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Simhachalam on April 30

Visakhapatnam: Chandanotsavam (Nijarupa Darshanam), the annual festival of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Simhachalam in Vizag city will be held on April 30.
The authorities are expecting around 1.8 lakh to 2 lakh devotees from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Odisha and Chhattisgarh .
The Chandantosavam turned out a huge success in 2024 as there was no political protocol following the enforcement of the election code.
Visakhapatnam district collector MN Harendhira Prasad asked the officials of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam at Simhachalam to make all the arrangements for the annual Chandanotsavam. He also instructed the officials to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience during the annual festivals.
The endowments department has designated D Bramarambha, joint commissioner, as chief festival officer for the ensuing Chandanotsavam-2025 for overall supervision and for smooth conduct of the festival. She will coordinate with all the officials of participating departments for conducting the festival in a smooth manner.
As per sources, a group of ministers will organize a meeting on April 15 in Vizag and announce key decisions for the smooth conduct of the festival.
The special darshan tickets for Chandanotsavam, priced at Rs1,500, Rs1,000 and Rs300, should bear the hologram and watermark. The authorities may minimize the number of personal vehicles to the hilltop of Simhachalam during the festival in view of overcrowding reported during the previous occasions.
The hereditary trustee of the Simhachalam temple and those bringing silk robes (pattu vastrams ) from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to be offered to the deity, judges of supreme court and high court, and donors would be allowed into the Antaralayam only for one hour between 3.30 am. and 4.30 am on April 30.
The officials will announce the sale of special darshan tickets and number of ticket counters after April 15. A decision would be taken on allowing VIPs and others coming after 4.30 am into the Antaralayam after holding discussions with the officials.