People Throng Pushkaralu Despite Heavy Rains
Temporary sheds, tents and pandals erected for the event were either flattened or blown away. Welcome arches and flex boards also collapsed, some falling onto roads, leading to severe traffic congestion.
Warangal: Unseasonal rain and strong winds that lashed Kaleshwaram from late Friday night to early Saturday morning caused widespread disruption to arrangements made for devotees on the third day of Saraswati Pushkaralu in Mahadevpur mandal of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district.
Temporary sheds, tents and pandals erected for the event were either flattened or blown away. Welcome arches and flex boards also collapsed, some falling onto roads, leading to severe traffic congestion. Muddy and slippery conditions added to the chaos.
Officials from various departments responded swiftly, taking up repair works and clearing debris to restore access. They re-erected the sheds and tents to minimise inconvenience to pilgrims. Despite the heavy rains, a large number of devotees arrived at Kaleshwaram to take a holy dip at the Triveni Sangamam and offer prayers to Goddess Saraswati Devi and Lord Sri Mukteshwara Swamy.
The heavy rush led to a traffic jam stretching up to five kilometres between Mahadevpur and Kaleshwaram. District collector Rahul Sharma and superintendent of police Kiran Khare reached the area on motorbikes and personally monitored efforts to ease the congestion.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, accompanied by his brother Mallu Prasad, visited Kaleshwaram and performed special prayers. He also offered pinda pradhanam to his forefathers on the occasion.
Agriculture minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao took a holy dip in the Saraswati River and offered prayers. Speaking on the occasion, he said this was the first Pushkaralu being organised under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in the newly formed Congress government. He affirmed the government’s commitment to organising future events, including the Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara and the upcoming Godavari Pushkaralu, on an even grander scale.
The minister lauded IT minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu and the district administration for their dedicated efforts and elaborate arrangements that ensured the smooth conduct of Saraswati Pushkaralu.