The newly-formed state of Telangana will host its first pushkarams, starting Tuesday.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will take a holy dip at Dharmapuri at 6.21 am to mark the beginning of the Godavari pushkarams.
Godavari, which originates in Triambakeswar in Nasik of Maharashtra, enters into the state at Kandakurthi in Nizamabad and snakes its way through Adilabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and Khammam district before flowing into Andhra Pradesh and finally merging into the sea at Antarvedi.
The Telangana government is leaving no stone unturned to make the once-in-12-year festival a grand success. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who went to Dharmapuri on Monday, reviewed the arrangements. “We are into our first year of statehood and are celebrating the Maha Pushkarams, which come once in 144 years. This is a good omen for us,” he said.
Meanwhile, with water released from various projects, the water level is being maintained at various ghats in Karimnagar and other districts to facilitate pilgrims. The water level at the famous pilgrim towns of Dharmapuri and Kaleswaram has increased. “Except for Basara, all the ghats have sufficient water,” the Chief Minister said. He instructed the officials to make proper arrangements at parking places and ensure 24 hours power supply.
“Devotees will throng the temples on the banks of Godavari and proper queue arrangements should be made,” he stressed. Festive atmosphere gripped Basara (Adilabad), Dharmapuri, Kaleswaram and Kotilingal (all in Karimnagar) and Bhadrachalam in Khammam.
Police have made foolproof arrangements, more particularly at ghats in districts which used to have some presence of Maoists, in view of visits of VIPs. Apart from civil police, the Special Protection Force, Armed Reserve and Greyhounds would be deployed to manage crowds at the various ghats and temples.
Source: The New Indian Express