Historic Saraswati Pushkaralu Concludes at Kaleshwaram
The festival’s highlight was the Saraswati Navaratna Mala Aarti conducted by Kashi Pandits at the Triveni Sangam
Warangal: The devotees who thronged in large numbers not only from Telangana state but also from neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, have carried home lasting memories of the 12-day Saraswati Pushkaralu, which were concluded at Kaleshwaram in Mahadevpur mandal of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district on Monday.
Traditionally observed only at Prayagraj in North India, the Saraswati Pushkaralu was for the first time celebrated in South India at Kaleshwaram, where the subterranean Saraswati meets the Godavari and Pranahita rivers in the sacred Triveni Sangamam. Recognising this spiritual confluence, the Telangana government, led by IT minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu, organised the festival on a grand scale.
With extensive arrangements in place, Kaleshwaram emerged as the second major location in India to host the Saraswati Pushkaralu. Devotees experienced moments they captured on their mobiles—travelling in bullock carts, walking along sandy banks, taking holy dips in the Triveni Sangam, offering prayers, standing in long queues for darshan of Sri Mukteshwara Swamy, enjoying meals under trees, shopping at stalls and availing of free bus transport arranged by the government.
From the opening day on May 15, lakhs of devotees arrived with their families for the Punya Snanam and offered Cheerey and Saarey—sarees, bangles, turmeric, kumkum and flowers—to the Triveni Sangam amid Vedic chanting.
Many also performed Pitru Tharpanam and Pinda Pradhanam at the riverbank in remembrance of their ancestors. While annual tithi ceremonies typically honour three generations, during Pushkaralu, devotees extend Pinda Pradhanam to include departed relatives and friends.
The festival’s highlight was the Saraswati Navaratna Mala Aarti conducted by Kashi Pandits at the Triveni Sangam. The daily rituals, blending age-old Vedic chants with traditional elements like conch shells, incense and multi-tiered lamps, drew large crowds. Both Saraswati and Godavari Aartis were performed with meticulous precision.
On Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s instructions, district collector Rahul Sharma arranged a special venue with seating and live telecast facilities, ensuring devotees could comfortably witness the aarti. Unlike Kashi, where aartis are viewed from boats, Kaleshwaram’s 3–4 km wide sandbanks allowed devotees to witness the Navaratna Mala Aarti up close, creating a uniquely immersive experience.