Like many individuals and organisations which are helping pilgrims heading to Godavari Pushkarams by supplying water, buttermilk and food packets, a rickshaw puller also wants to do his bit by ferrying pilgrims for free on his tricycle.
Fifty one-year-old, P. Padmavathi alias ‘Nizam’, a resident of Tenali, commenced his journey from Vijayawada on Monday night and en route he would ferry pilgrims. “Many pilgrims are facing problems in reaching bathing ghats and railway and bus stations in Rajahmundry. Hence, I wanted to help such hapless people,” said Mr. Nizam.
Equipped with battery-operated head and tail lights to his tri-cycle, he will be reaching Rajahmundry by Tuesday evening.
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“After taking rest for a while, I will start helping pilgrims and their children at the ghats. I know it is a difficult task because of the heavy rush and will make every effort to help them,” he said.
“I start my journey at midnight and continue till morning as traffic will be less on the roads. I will sleep at nearby petrol pump or shopping complexes,” he said adding that he would have food with the donations given by people.
After Pushkaram, he will proceed to Kolkata next month to participate in 105{+t}{+h}birth anniversary celebrations of Mother Teresa. “As it’s my dream to take part in the celebrations, I am making all efforts to accomplish it,” he said.
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On returning from Kolkata, Mr. Padmavathi will visit Sabarimala to interpret the local language for pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh.
Hailing from Palakkad in Kerala, Padmavathi came to Tenali at the age of eight and settled in Kollipara village. Since then he has been visiting several places on his tricycle.
He visited Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal covering as many as 1.60 lakh kilometres till now.
P. Padmavathi, 51, wants to help pilgrims facing problems in reaching bathing ghats, railway and bus stations