Godavari Pushkaram: Telangana making elaborate arrangements

The Telangana government is making arrangements for the 12-day Godavari 'Pushkaram', the first since the formation of the new state, beginning July 14. The 'Pushkaram' in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is similar to the 'Kumbh Mela' celebrated vis--vis rivers across the country with taking holy dip in river being the main ritual.

Rituals for departed family elders are also performed during 'Pushkaram' in the two Telugu states. As Jupiter enters the zodiac sign Leo, the Godavari Pushkaram 2015 begins on July 14. Jupiter will be in one zodiac sign or other every year. But when he enters and joins Pushkarudu, river Godavari gets Pushkaram, says V Jwala Narasimha Rao, Chief Public Relations Officer to the Telangana Chief Minister.

This year's 'Pushkaram' is referred as 'Maha kumbhamela' as this category occur once in every 144 years, he said. Taking holy dip in the river during 'Pushkaralu' is believed to free one from sins, K V Ramana Chary, Advisor to the Telangana government on Endowment and Media Affairs told.

Quoting from the scriptures, he said: Gautami snanamkotijanma agha nasanam (taking bath in the river frees one from sins). Godavari, which originates near Nasik in Maharashtra, travels 136 kilometres in Maharashtra and enters Telangana at Kandakurthi in Nizambad district.

The river merges with the sea at Antarvedi in East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. Important temples are situated along side Godavari in Telangana at Basar, Dharmapuri, Kaleswaram and Bhadrachalam. A Saraswati temple (one of the two Saraswati temples in the country) is situated at Basar and a famous Shiva temple is situated at Kaleswaram, Ramana Chary said. A unique temple for Lord of death Yama exists at Dharmapuri and the Ram temple at Bhadrachalam is hailed as Ayodhya of the south, he said.

The other important places where 'Pushkaram' will be held in Telangana include Kandakurti, Pochampadu, Manchiryal, Goodem, Ramannagudem and Parnasala. Chief Minister Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who himself is deeply devoted and also has knowledge of the rituals, has asked Ramanachary to invite the venerated 'Peetadhipatis of Kanchi, Sringeri, Humpy, Pushpagiri, Mantralayam and Kurtalam, among others for the 'Pushkaram'.

The spiritual gurus would take holy bath at different ghats in the state, Ramana Chary said. Expecting that crores of people are expected to converge for the Pushkaram, the state government has constructed about 106 ghats along the river in the five districts in Telangana, he said. The Chief Minister initiated preparation for the 'Pushkaram' almost one year ago, Jwala Narasimha Rao said. Review meetings were held on a regular basis and a cabinet sub-committee has been constituted to oversee the arrangements.

Accordingly, all facilities for the devotees, including infrastructure amenities like improvement of flood banks, bund beautification, widening of roads, improving bathing ghats, development of parking areas, sanitation, toilets, drinking water facilities, temporary accommodation, first aid, have been made, Jwala Narasimha Rao added.