Krishna Pushkaram Cell set up

Vijayawada: District Collector Babu A inaugurated Krishna Pushkaram Cell at the Collector’s camp office here on Friday. Later, addressing a review meeting, he appealed to the people to come forward to serve the devotees during the Krishna Pushkarams.

He said 30 pushkaranagars would be set up to accommodate 10,000 devotees. Drinking water and food would be served to the devotees, including milk to children. Medical camps will be conducted in each Pushkarnagar.

The Collector said mini-bus services would be introduced from railway station and bus stand to various Pushkar Ghats. He said as many as 90 per cent devotees take a holy dip in Krishna river in Vijayawada. He said that arrangements have been made to accommodate 1.6 lakh devotees in various bathing ghats.

The Collector said so far 11 voluntary organisations came forward to serve the devotees and distribute food. He said one Pushkarnagar each would be allotted to each organisation to distribute food and milk to devotees.

The volunteers should help the elderly and physically challenged in taking a holy dip in Krishna river. Joint Collector G Chandrudu would supervise the arrangements at Pushkarnagars. The members of Ramakrishna Mission came forward to distribute food to devotees during the Krishna Pushkarams and milk to 2,000 children per day. The mission members said that they would organise medical camps and accommodation facility for devotees.

The Satya Sai Seva Samsta, Vasavi and Iskon also came forward to serve the devotees. They said 1,300 volunteers would be pressed into service at the Pushkar Ghats to help devotees. Krishna teachers trust, Hemasairam Annapurna seva samsta, Viswa Hindu Parishat, Kalki seva trust and Ayyappa Swamy seva samsta came forward to distribute food and offer volunteer services.