Tungabhadra Pushkarams from today

Express News Service

KURNOOL/MAHBOOBNAGAR, December 9: Thousands of pilgrims have started thronging Mantralayam and other places along the course of Tungabhadra river to take part in the 12-day Tungabhadra Pushkarams beginning tomorrow.

The State Government has released Rs 23 crore for making all arrangements, including construction of 23 bathing ghats - 18 in Kurnool and five in Mahboobnagar districts - for the convenience of the devotees. An estimated five lakh people are likely to attend the Pushkarams in both districts.

While Endowments Minister J Ratnakar Rao, Finance Minister K Rosaiah and district district in-charge and Civil Supplies Minister K Venkata Krishna Reddy would formally inaugurate the Pushkarams in Kurnool tomorrow, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and his wife would take the holy dip on Thursday.

Though the Pushkarams would begin at the auspicious time of 00.57 hours on Wednesday, the officials have decided not to allow people at that time. However, the bathing ghats would be thrown open in the morning. According to officials of the Endowments Department, 29 temples on either side on the river banks have been spruced up at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore.

Replicas of major temples, including Tirumala, are being put up in Kurnool. ``Cultural programmes will be held at places like Mantralayam and Kurnool as was done during Godavari and Krishna Pushkarams,’’ they told Express.

Facilities like safe drinking water, sanitation, medical camps, information centres, cloak rooms, control rooms and media centre have been opened for the benefit of the visitors. Besides, flood lights have been put up and street lights on the paths leading to the bathing ghats have been put up.

Allaying the fears of shortage of water, the organisers said that 1.5 TMC water has been stored in Sunkesula dam and the State Government has issued orders for utilising another 3 TMC water from the Tungabhadra reservoir for the purpose.

``We will maintain a minimum of four feet water at the bathing ghats during the 12-day event,’’ officials of the Irrigation department said.