Tungabhadra Pushkarams: Holy baths, pujas through e-tickets only

Vijayawada: Minister for endowments Velampalli Srinivas announced here on Thursday that the devotees could book their slots through e-ticket free of cost to take bath in the River Tungabhadra during the Pushkarams which would be inaugurated by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday at 1.21 pm.

The devotees through e-ticket booking would be informed the name of the ghat where they could take bath and worship and perform other rituals.

Addressing the media here, the minister said that all arrangements were in place for the successful conduct of Pushkarams for the River Tungabhadra from November 20 to December 1 with the cooperation and coordination of various departments.

Ministers who hail from Kurnool, Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, G Jayaram and Kurnool in-charge minister P Anil Kumar have been continuously conducting review meetings for the fool-proof arrangements.

All the roads in the district right from the village level to the city of Kurnool were developed and ghats were spruced up for the convenience of the devotees.

As per the guidelines issued by the Centre, shower baths were arranged at the ghats, the minister said and appealed to the devotees, religious organisations to cooperate with the officials in the smooth conduct of the Pushkarams.

The minister said that in all 23 ghats were set up with seven in Kurnool, eight in Mantralayam, five in Kodumuru, two in Yemmiganuru and one at Nandikotkuru. The services of 350 Purohits were pressed into service for the convenience of the devotees.

The minister said that the government had taken all the precautions for the safety of the devotees during Pushkarams. The devotees would be allowed near the ghats from 6 am to 6 pm keeping in view the Covid-19 guidelines.