The Bhagya Lakshmi Temple at Hyderabad’s Charminar will remain open round-the-clock from November 8 to November 11 midnight, with temple authorities planning to distribute coins to devotees during the three-day Diwali period after crowds gathered for Dhanteras on Friday.
A large number of devotees visited the historic temple to seek blessings from Goddess Sri Bhagya Lakshmi. The temple was decorated with colourful flowers and LED lights for the festival. The crowd was described as normal after the 7 am maharathi, but visitor numbers increased through the day and rose sharply after 7 pm, continuing until midnight.
Temple trustees Surya Prakash and Shashikala told Deccan Chronicle that coin distribution would begin after the 7 pm maharathi on Diwali, identified in the report as Sunday. The temple will then operate continuously for three days to allow devotees to collect the coins.
The temple administration has provided four entry and exit points as part of the arrangements for the expected rush. The police department is assisting with the preparations and crowd management, according to the trustees. The arrangements are intended to help devotees access the temple and complete darshan during the extended opening period.
The Bhagya Lakshmi Temple draws visitors from several parts of Hyderabad and Secunderabad on Fridays and during major festivals. Its location beside the Charminar places the temple within one of the city’s most heavily visited historic and commercial areas, where festival footfall can affect pedestrian movement and access around the monument.
Several prominent people, including politicians and Union ministers, regularly visit the temple, the report said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited it a few days earlier to offer special prayers before participating in a political march from the Babu Jagjivan Ram statue in Basheerbagh to MJ Market.
Devotees also offered special prayers at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Kothapet, Sri Bhulaxmi Temple at Muslim Jung Bridge in Begum Bazaar and Sri Maha Laxmi Temple in West Marredpally. At the Bhagya Lakshmi Temple, the round-the-clock opening and coin distribution are scheduled to continue until midnight on November 11.
