Bhadrachalam, the abode of Lord Sitaramachandra Swamy, situated on the banks of the Godavari is all set to host Godavari Pushkaralu.
Bhadrachalam is one among the six places in the district where the river festival is set to be celebrated on a grand scale for the next 12-days starting from Tuesday. The temple town, popularly known as south Ayodhya, is likely to witness massive turnout of pilgrims.
Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Chinna Jeeyar Swamy will take the holy dip in the Godavari at 6.26 a.m. on Tuesday marking the formal commencement of the river fete in the temple town. The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the river festival at nine bathing ghats at six different places in Bhadrachalam and Palvancha divisions. Meanwhile, pilgrims from far-off places started arriving in the temple town hours before the formal start of the fete. Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamy offered prayers at the historic Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam on Monday.
The temple priests welcomed him with the traditional temple honours. He presented pattu vastram (silk clothes) to the temple deity, according to temple sources. He also gave upadesam (sermon) to the devotees on the occasion.
The seer dwelt on the significance of Godavari Pushkaralu, sources added.
Senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar, who is the special officer for Godavari Pushkaralu, Warangal range IG V Naveen Chand, Khammam district Collector K Ilambarithi, Superintendent of Police Shahnawaz Qasim, Bhadrachalam ASP R Bhaskaran and others inspected the arrangements at the pushkar bathing ghats in Bhadrachalam on Monday evening.
