Godavari Antya Pushkaralu conclude on a grand note

Eluru: The 12-day Godavari Antya Pushkaralu ended in a brilliant display of fireworks and laser show with thousands witnessing the grand event from the pushkar ghats of the river here on Thursday. For 12 days, a sea of humanity engulfed the river banks and bathed in its waters rendered sacred by the entry of divine entities.

The river waters were also enriched by thousands of sages, officials and celebrities taking the holy dip along with lakhs of devotees that flocked to the banks of the river from all over the country.

While some were satisfied with getting drenched by the showers arranged on the ghats, others took a dip in the river. Some others stood in the water and offered prayers to their hearts content.

The State government made arrangements on a scale never done before to provide transport and other facilities like water, food and medication for those who needed them. Volunteers were seen helping the aged in reaching bathing ghats.

The pilgrims have done “pinda pradanam” rituals to their elders in all the ghats. The APSRTC ran special services to ferry devotees from various parts of the State. Sources revealed that the rush at the ghats and in the city was far from the estimates of the government.

MLA K S Jawahar and RDO B Srinivasa Rao took holy dip at Goshpada Kshetram in Kovvuru. MLA Bandaru Madhava Naidu and Sub-Collector A S DineshKumar performed harathi to the river in Narsapur. Achanta MLA Pitani Satyanarayana along with his family members performed the Nadi Pooja at Sidhantham.