30 lakh people take holy dip in Rajahmundry

Hyderabad:  As many as 30 lakh pilgrims have visited Rajahmundru for pushkarams in the first four days of Godavari Maha Pushkaralu a press release by the government read

Over 10 lakh people took the holy bath on the first day of Pushkaram on July 14 -- which, however, was marred by a stampede at a bathing ghat in Rajahmundry in which 27 people lost their lives , while more than eight lakh people had taken a dip here till this afternoon, it said in a release.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu took the holy dip in West Godavari district on July 17. Elaborate arrangements have been made for sanitation and to provide drinking water to pilgrims, the government said. Pushkaram , the ritual of taking a holy dip in the river in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana- is akin to the 'Kumbh Mela'.

The 12-day Pushkaram is celebrated once in 12 years. This year's event is being hailed as a 'Maha Pushkaram' because of an astronomical configuration that comes once in 144 years. Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister N Chinnarajappa said that 5,000 police personnel from other states will be deployed in the coming days, especially in view of tomorrow's EId holiday and the weekend.

 PTI