Vedic Chants and Holy Dips Mark Grand Opening of Saraswati Anthya Pushkaralu

The sacred Saraswati Anthya Pushkaralu began on a grand note at Kaleshwaram on Thursday, drawing thousands of devotees from the Telugu states and neighbouring regions to the holy river confluence. Amid the rhythmic chanting of Vedic hymns , priests conducted the first ceremonial Pushkar bath at the sacred Triveni Sangamam at 5:43 am following traditional rituals.

Long before sunrise, pilgrims started pouring into the Pushkar ghats, turning the temple town into a sea of devotion and spirituality. The ghats remained packed throughout the morning as devotees gathered to take the holy dip, believed to cleanse sins and bring spiritual merit during the auspicious Pushkar period.

Adding to the religious significance of the event, Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham pontiff Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamiji performed special prayers and harathi to the river goddess during the inaugural ceremony. Later, Telangana IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha participated in the sacred bath and offered special pujas.

Several senior officials and public representatives also attended the opening-day rituals, including Endowments Commissioner Hanumantha Rao , District Collector Rahul Sharma , and religious adviser Govinda Hari . MLAs Gandra Satyanarayana Rao and Mal Reddy Rangareddy were among the elected representatives who took part in the Pushkar snanam.

The district administration has made extensive arrangements in anticipation of heavy pilgrim turnout during the 12-day festival. Authorities have deployed tight security, sanitation teams, medical staff, and volunteers across all major ghats to ensure smooth crowd management and uninterrupted rituals.

With soaring summer temperatures continuing across the region, officials have also arranged drinking water facilities , emergency healthcare services , shaded waiting areas, and free transportation for devotees visiting the riverbanks.

Speaking on the arrangements, District Collector Rahul Sharma said all government departments were working in coordination to ensure devotees could perform the sacred rituals safely and comfortably. He appealed to pilgrims to follow official guidelines and cooperate with police and administration personnel to help maintain order during the festivities.

Celebrated once every 12 years based on the movement of Jupiter into Gemini , the Saraswati Pushkaralu hold immense spiritual significance in Hindu tradition. The final phase, known as Anthya Pushkaralu , is considered especially auspicious for holy baths, prayers, and charitable activities.