The State government is billing the Godavari Maha Pushkaram as India's biggest religious gathering after Kumbh Mela.
The government is also coming up with the mind boggling figures that claiming that so many lakhs of devout took a dip.
According to a report released by the government, 1,09,42,217 pilgrims took a dip in the river in East Godavari district from July 14 to 22. Likewise, 97,31,031 devotees took a dip in West Godavari district up to 10 a.m.on July 22. As many as 3.20 crore people took a dip in the river in last nine days in both districts.
In other words, nearly one-third of the population was in Godavari districts to participate in the river festival.
Talk to any official, they admit in private that the estimates for far from reality if the total population of the State 4.93 crore were to be considered. Even if entire population of Godavari districts turned up at the river fete, it would be difficult to match that magic figure by July 25.
The population of East and West Godavari districts is 51.51 lakhs and 39.34 lakhs respectively.
The government claims that the pilgrims from neighbouring states and abroad also turned up for the river festival. But, there is no estimate how many people from neighbouring states or abroad have visited the Godavari districts.
The officials said that they were using different techniques for counting but agree method was neither scientific nor water tight. They said the estimates were being made based on various methods: Closed Circuit (CC) TV footages and photographs taken at different times of day; head count by security personnel at the ghats. The policemen and volunteers, who were managing the queue lines count the pilgrims passing through their gates; vehicles entering the city and other places.
According to information, 2,400 RTC buses were operated from the city to various destinations from the city during peak rush on Saturday and Sunday. The railway is also running special trains. Going by their capacities, the total passengers visiting the city may not match the figures quoted by officials.
