Flow of pilgrims continues to pushkar ghats in Telangana

Steady flow of pilgrims to the pushkar ghats in Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts continued on Monday, the fourth day of Krishna Pushkaralu, for taking a holy dip in the Krishna river and offering prayers in the nearby temples.

Officials in-charge of the pushkar ghats were left disappointed with very thin flow of pilgrims in the early hours on Monday since there was heavy rush from the dawn itself on Sunday.

However, the flow of visitors picked up after a couple of hours and soon the pushkar ghats were bustling with pilgrims.

Restrictions relaxed

Spread of information about improved amenities in the pushkar ghats and relaxation in restrictions on the fourth day helped steady flow of pilgrims from within the State and outside.

Participation of employees and children in the Independence Day programmes might have also delayed the flow of local visitors to the pushkar ghats, officials of Nalgonda district said.

Beechupalli (Mahabubnagar) and Nagarjunasagar Dam site (Nalgonda) pushkar ghats remained top drawers of pilgrims on the fourth day too with other ghats such as Gondimalla, Somasila, Rangapur, Wadapalli, Mattapalli, Darveshipuram, Chayasomeshwaram, Azmapur, Peddamunigal, Kacharajupalli also getting a large number of visitors.

Long wait

The pilgrims had to wait for more than two hours in queues for offering prayers in temples of Jogulamba and Bala Brahmeshwara Swamy (Alampur), Laxminarasimha Swamy (Mattpalli) and a few others. Kodad Legislator N. Padmavathi who visited Mattapalli ghat suggested the officials to allow private vehicles and the RTC buses till the temple.

Endowments Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy and Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy examined the arrangements at various ghats in Mahabubnagar district by flying in a chopper.

They visited Beechupalli ghat and enquired with pilgrims about the arrangements.