'Antya Pushkaralu' of Saraswati river begins at Kaleshwaram in Telangana

The Antya Pushkaralu of the mystical Saraswati river at the temple town of Kaleshwaram in Bhupalpally district of Telangana began on Thursday with Kanchi Math pontiff Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swami taking the first holy dip.State IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, Endowments Minister Konda Surekha and several other leaders also took the first sacred bath in the early hours of the day.With about 20-30 lakh devotees expected to participate in the 12-day holy event, the state government has made elaborate arrangements for its smooth conduct, an official release said.

The ''Antya Pushkaralu'' of the mystical Saraswati river at the temple town of Kaleshwaram in Bhupalpally district of Telangana began on Thursday with Kanchi Math pontiff Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swami taking the first holy dip.

State IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, Endowments Minister Konda Surekha and several other leaders also took the first sacred bath in the early hours of the day.

With about 20-30 lakh devotees expected to participate in the 12-day holy event, the state government has made elaborate arrangements for its smooth conduct, an official release said. The state government had sanctioned Rs 30.63 crore for arrangements for the event.

The release said work was taken up for sanitation, drinking water supply, security, roads, vehicle parking and others.

The ''Aadhi Pushkaralu'' (beginning) of the Saraswati was held last year and the ''Antya Pushkaralu'' (closing) is being held from May 21 to June 1.

''Pushkaralu'' is dedicated to worship of the rivers, celebrated once in 12 years.

In Kaleshwaram, Saraswati is revered as ''Antarvahini'' (invisible). It joins the Godavari and Pranahita rivers at Kaleshwaram to form a ''Sangamam'' (confluence).

Kaleshwaram is renowned for the ancient Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy (Lord Shiva) temple.