Hundreds and thousands of devotees thronged different bathing ghats along the river Godavari in both East and West Godavari districts on Sunday as the spiritual fervour gripped the banks of the river Godavari marking the commencement of ‘antya pushkaralu’, particularly in the historical town of Rajamahendravaram.
Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinarajappa inaugurated the religious event by taking a holy dip at Saraswathi ghat amidst recital hymns by Vedic pandits. Mayor Pantam Rajani Sesha Sai, ZP Chairman Namana Rambabu, MP M. Muralimohan, MLC Adireddi Appa Rao and MLAs Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary and othes took holy dip along with Mr. Chinarajappa.
Pilgrims in large numbers started arriving at pushkara ghat from morning and rush was continued till afternoon. Only a few hundreds took bath in the Kotilingala ghat where officials made elaborate arrangements along with other ghats.
Most of the pilgrims took a holy dip at Pushkar ghat as expected. The authorities have been keeping a strict vigil on the level of the Godavari as water level increasing in the catchments area.
‘Good yield’
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the event, Mr. Chinarajappa said that both Godavari districts got good agriculture yield this year because of pushkaralu and expressed the hope that by conducting the Krishna pushkralu in next 20 days the delta are would also get good crop. He further said that the Krishna pushkaralu would be conducted in a grand manner. As many as 175 ghats were set up in Krishna, Guntur and Kurnool districts. Answering a question, he said the Centre must grant special category for the state. He maintained that the Chief Minister was making efforts to get required funds for the State. In West Godavari, Minister Peetala Sujatha took a holy dip at Goshpadala Revu in Kovvuru. At Narasapuram and Tadepalligudem Minister for Endowments Pydikondala Manikyala Rao, MP Gokaraju Gangaraju, MLA Madhava Naidu, ZP Chairman Ratnamala took a holy dip.
At Yanam, Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao took a holy dip in the Godavari.
Municipal Corporation of Rajamahendravaram arranged control room at its office to monitor the rush of pilgrims as well as the situation in different ghats.
