Vijayawada, Oct. 1 -- The boat raid, known locally as Teppotsavam, of the Goddess Durga temple here has been cancelled this year.

This event, usually held on the Krishna river as part of the annual Navaratri celebrations at the Kanaka Durga Temple, is an important tradition that draws thousands of devotees each year.

The temple authorities attributed the cancellation of the boat festival to heavy flood water in the river Krishna at Prakasam barrage. As per the tradition, processional deities of Goddess Durga and Mallikharjuna Swamy are taken on a decorated and illuminated boat on the river Krishna. Over one lakh people throng the Prakasam barrage and the embankment of the river to witness the event.

The Krishna is in spate with over 6.50...