PM expected to take holy dip at the brand new Saraswati ghat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Rajahmundry: Three crore devotees are expected to take part in the ensuig Godavari Pushkaralu scheduled to be held from July 14 onwards in Godavari districts. The state government is making elaborate arrangements on the lines of Kumbh Mela. More number of devotees are likely to visit the main centre of the fete Rajahmundry located on one side of the river and Kovvur on other end of the river.
The authorities have made arrangements such that nearly one lakh devotees can take a holy dip in the river in an hour and over 12 lakhs in a day at the bathing ghats spread over 3,000 meter length on either side of the river. Kotilingala ghat is being expanded to become the longest ghat in the country measuring 1,200 meter.
A new ghat for VVIPs named Saraswati Ghat is coming up at a cost of Rs 9.45 crore where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take a holy dip in the river during inauguration of the fete in city. The ghats will remain open from 4.00 am to 8.00 pm. However, the security personnel, wimmers and sanitation staff will be posted at the important ghats to be on the call round-the-clock in three shifts throughout the day for the12-day fete.
With regard to availability of adequate water in the river for the devotees to take a holy dip and perform rituals, the irrigation authorities maintain that the river witnesses floods normally during July-August following rainfall in its catchment area. However, they have come up with an alternate plan in case of shortage of water in the river.
Accordingly, the irrigation authorities will closethe gates at Sir Arthur Cotton barrage at Dowle-swaram and store the water in the reservoir. As many as 6,000 purohits are going to be pressed into service to help the devotees to perform rituals and they will be issued identity cards and allotted to specific ghats.
Tenders will be called for procuring puja material including coconuts, bananas, beetel leaves and nuts, turmeric powder, kumkuma, gingelly and others and they will be sold at nominal rates. The rates for various services of priests will also be fixed. As ban is imposed on usage of plastic material, devotees are advised to bring the tumblers and bring only puja material in cloth bags. East Godavari Collector H. Arun Kumar inspected the progress of works at the ghats and felt the need to complete them by June 15th.
( Source : dc )
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