Saraswati Pushkaralu Begins In Kaleshwaram

Warangal:Amid Vedic chants, the Saraswati Pushkaralu began with religious fervour and gaiety at 5.44 am on Thursday at the Triveni Sangamam in Kaleshwaram of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. IT minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu and his wife and endowments principal secretary Shailaja Ramayier participated in the inaugural ceremony.

The ritual of inviting the Pushkaralu to the Saraswati River was conducted on a grand scale, with temple priests offering special prayers. Traditionally observed for 12 days, the Saraswati Pushkaralu is being officially organised with state support for the first time, with the Congress government making elaborate arrangements to mark the occasion on a prestigious note.

Kaleshwaram is the only sacred site in South India where three rivers — Godavari, Pranahita and the subterranean Saraswati — converge and flow together. The revered Mukteswara Swamy temple on the banks of this confluence has a history spanning over a thousand years. It is architecturally unique, housing two Shiva Lingas—one representing Lord Shiva and the other Yama, the god of death.

The rituals commenced with an offering of the first prayers to Lord Ganapathi Deva at Saraswati Ghat, located near the VIP ghat, formally launching the 12-day Pushkaralu festivities. The Pushkara Snanam (ritual bath) began with a sacred dip led by Sri Sri Sri Madhavananda Saraswati Swami, Peetadhipati of Sri Gurumadanananda Saraswati Peetham. Vedic scholars and temple priests performed special prayers in honour of Goddess Saraswati, revered as the embodiment of knowledge and wisdom.

Speaking on the occasion, Sridhar Babu said that following the state government’s directives, the district administration and endowments department officials had worked tirelessly in recent days to make comprehensive arrangements for the convenience of devotees. He urged devotees to visit Kaleshwaram during the Pushkaralu and take a holy dip in the sacred river to seek the blessings of Goddess Saraswati.

High Court Justice Surapalli Nanda, MLA Gandra Satyanarayana Rao, district collector Rahul Sharma and Trading Corporation chairman Aitha Prakash Reddy were among those who attended the ceremony.