Octogenarians score a sixer!

Many of them take holy dip for the sixth time at various ghats in Vijayawada

For 85-year-old Bachu Annapurnamma this was the sixth ‘pushkara snanam’ in the Krishna River. She took the holy dip along with her family members on Saturday.

“It is my responsibility to fulfil my mother’s desire and help to take holy bath in Krishna River. I have seen the happiness in my mother’s face after completing the rituals,” says 65-year-old Bachu Gopala Krishna, who accompanied his mother to the bathing ghat.

A native of Manikonda in Krishna district, Ms. Annapurnamma was seen taking bath at the Padmavati Ghat. Her sons Gopala Krishna and Nagabushanam assisted her in reaching the Ghat.

So much for public awareness

“I attended five Krishna Pushkarams so far and took the sixth bath today. Comparing to the previous pushkarams, the awareness among the public is good and the government is giving wide publicity. I want to take one more ‘pushkara snanam,” Ms. Annapurnamma told The Hindu . Eighty eight-year-old Ravuru Nagamani also took sixth ‘pushkara snanam’ at the Krishnaveni Ghat. She came along with her son-in-law Gurujada Poorna Anjaneya Sharma and grandson, G. Hari Raghava Shanmuka Sharma.“Though she had blurred vision, she wanted to take holy bath. She kept requesting us to take her to the bathing ghat since the first day of Pushkarams. I will offer ‘Pinda Pradanam’ to my uncle, Ravuru Narasimha Rao (husband of Nagamani), after the bath,” said Mr. Anjaneya Sharma. At Punnami Ghat, 90-year-old Tammana Padmavati took the sixth holy dip with the help of her granddaughters – Saranya and Samhita. “I could not come out alone and thought that I could not make it this time. But my granddaughters helped me and fulfilled my desire. I am very happy. As I am a native of Vijayawada, I celebrated the five pushkarams earlier,” said Ms. Padmavati. Many octogenarians were seen taking holy dip at the Ghats on Saturday. At some places, police and volunteers helped the aged devotees reach the Ghats.

“My grandmother feels that she is healthy and happy as she took the holy bath for the sixth time. She performs pujas regularly,” said Mr. Shanmukha Sharma.