In an atmosphere charged with devotion, a few dozen sadhus from north India consisting of Naga Sadhus took a holy dip in the Godavari, popularly known as south Ganga, in Bhadrachalam on the 11th day of the Godavari Pushkaralu on Friday.
Soaked in spiritual fervour, the sadhus, smeared with ash and a few carrying tridents (trishuls), arrived in the temple town for ‘Shahi Snan’ (holy royal bath) amid tight security by the police.
The sadhus performed some traditional rituals before taking the holy bath in the river.
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They took a holy dip in the Godavari chanting ‘Jai Sri Ram’ slogans.
Thousands of pilgrims, who streamed into Bhadrachalam for a holy bath, watched the event with rapt attention even as a drone deployed by the police for aerial surveillance hovered over the temple town. Later, the sadhus offered prayers at Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple.
Talking to media persons, Navalkishore Das from Ayodhya of Uttar Pradesh said a holy bath in the Godavari in Bhadrachalam leads to ‘divine salvation’.
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He said the Vishwa Shanti Maha Yagnam is being held in Sarapaka near Bhadrachalam as part of the Godavari Pushkaralu for unity and well-being of mankind.