The Godavari River will be a silent witness to a spectacle of arathi to Godavari Matha
AP CM N. Chandrabababu Naidu reviews the preparations at Kotilingala on Thursday. (Photo: DC)
Rajahmundry: The Godavari River will be a silent witness to a spectacle of arathi to Godavari Matha, a laser show and a spectacular display of fireworks during the 12 days of Godavari Pushkaralu in the city.
AP Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, inspected Kotilingala, Pushkar and Saraswathi (VIP) bathing ghats during his visit here on Thursday. He asked officials to arrange a harathi in between the rail-cum-road-bridge and third rail bridge in the middle of the river with the support of punts. Accordingly, the punts will be anchored in the middle of the river between two bridges and the priests will offer arathi to Godavari Matha. Devotees who take the holy dip in the river at Pushkar ghat, VIP ghat and other ghats will see the arathi.
As the Pushkar ghat is the main centre of attraction where a large number of devotees arrive, the CM asked officials to develop an ambience at the temple, ghat and the premises. He directed them to set up signage boards giving details of amenities like place to perform rituals, women’s dress changing rooms, toilets and others. An islet located a few meters deep into the river in front of the Pushkar ghat is to be developed to conduct a laser show and a water fountain to be set up as part of its beautification.
At VIP ghat, the CM directed officials to install the statues of Bharata Matha, Telugu Thalli and Godavari Matha on pedestals arranged on three arms of the ghat. At the longest Kotilingala ghat, the CM inquired about the water levels in case the river witnesses floods during that time and the levels of barricades and fencing arranged to ensure security and safety of the devotees. He inquired about the quality of works being taken up at the ghat and instructed officials to complete installation of lighting and remaining works by June 30. He felt the need to beautify the Havelock Bridge and Godavari railway station.
While taking part in the review meeting with officials at R and B guest house, the CM directed the police and R and B authorities to minimize barricading at the ghats. He said, the devotees should visit the ghats, take a holy dip in the river, perform rituals, visit temples and offer puja in a hassle free atmosphere. At no point, they should be subjected to unnecessary inconvenience forcing them to walk long distances to reach the ghats. Barricades can be set up at ghats and temples only to the extent required to avoid a stampede like situation and ensure safety.
The CM directed the police to divert vehicular traffic wherever necessary and install surveillance cameras to keep a tab on movement of devotees and asked officials to operate RTC services only in the city, according to demand. He asked the railway officials to run special trains along with scheduled trains to transport devotees for the fete.
Endowments principal secretary J.S.V. Prasad said that they were making arrangements to organise Godavari Maha Harathi on the punts in the middle of Godavari from July 1 onwards in addition to conduct of Pushkar Maha Sobha Yatra.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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