The Godavari pushkarams may have taken off in Andhra Pradesh with Madhura Krishnamurthy Sastry Siddhanti and his followers taking the holy dip in the river at Rajahmundry on Sunday but his contemporary astrologers in Telangana have different reasons for the launch of the rituals only on July 14. They point out that the planet, Jupiter, will make its entry into the water of Godavari on July 14.
Khammam Staff Reporter adds: A plan is on the anvil to deploy as many as 255 fishermen at nine pushkar bathing ghats in the district to harness their expertise in swimming for ensuring the safety of pilgrims during the Godavari Pushkarams.
Almost all the fishermen identified for this purpose hail from the villages situated along the river course in Bhadrachalam and Palvancha divisions.
The Fisheries Department has handpicked a select group of fishermen who are familiar with the Godavari’s topography for the crucial task of preventing drowning incidents during the ensuing 12-day river festival. Five fishermen from Bhadrachalam are presently undergoing training in operating power boats at Hussainsagar lake in Hyderabad.
As many as five power boats in addition to adequate number of country boats are expected to be pressed into service at the nine pushkar bathing ghats in the district as a safety precaution during the Godavari Pushkarams.
The government has allocated Rs. 22 lakh to the Fisheries Department for making adequate arrangements for deployment of swimmers and boats along the pushkar bathing ghats in the district next month, sources said.
As many as five fishermen belonging to Bhadrachalam are being trained in operating power boats by the personnel of the Fire and Emergency Services Department in Hyderabad, said V. Srinivas, Assistant Director, Fisheries, Khammam.
The services of the trained fishermen will be utilised at the three bathing ghats in Bhadrachalam town during the 12-day Godavari Pushkaralu next month, he said, adding that over 250 fishermen will render their services as swimmers during the mega event. They will be paid an honorarium of Rs. 350 per day.
