President Murmu offers prayers at Vijayawada's Kanaka Durga temple

President Murmu paid her respects at the ancient Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada, one of the most revered religious sites in Andhra Pradesh. The temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga, holds considerable spiritual significance for devotees across the region.

The presidential visit forms part of a broader engagement with grassroots economic initiatives in the state. On October 15, President Murmu is scheduled to formally inaugurate the SARAS Mela in Vijayawada, a platform designed to showcase and promote products created by self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs across India.

As part of the inauguration programme, the President is expected to interact with members of self-help groups (SHGs) and Lakhpati Didis—women beneficiaries of the government's scheme to support female entrepreneurs. A working lunch has been arranged to facilitate direct engagement between the President and these women entrepreneurs, providing an opportunity to recognize their contributions to rural economic development.

The SARAS Mela represents a key initiative under the government's broader push to empower rural communities and promote sustainable livelihoods through collective entrepreneurship and skill development programmes.