Andhra Pradesh Magazine English June 2016 | Page 53

Two Years of Accomplishments
The extravagant display of fireworks , sky lanterns and dance shows , besides a host of seminars , religious and spiritual discourses during the event was painstakingly planned and executed under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister .

The Godavari Maha Pushkaralu , held last year on a grand scale , attested to the personal touch that the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu brought to the cultural fete .

All roads led to Rajahmundry , the 1,000-year-old historical place as well as modern town in Andhra Pradesh , for the grand celebration of Godavari Pushkaralu in July , 2015 for twelve days .
The Andhra Pradesh Government made elaborate arrangements in both East and West Godavari districts for the holy event that saw an average of 60 lakh pilgrims pouring in to the banks of Godavari . making it one of the largest congregations in recent times across the country .
The CM , the force behind the gala event , lodged himself in Rajahmundry for the next 12 days and monitored the arrangements with minute care . He was everywhere , conducting aerial surveys , making midnight inspections , giving suggestions on easing traffic , observing from police control room , issuing directions on preventing health hazards and ensuring that the congregation is facilitated in taking the holy dip in all comfort and peace .
Besides conducting aerial surveys and frequent field visits , the CM moved on a river cruise and inspected all the ghats around Rajahmundry . While sitting in the control room , he personally reviewed the situation at various ghats and instructed the officials | accordingly . He took utmost care for providing basic amenities like sanitation , drinking water , to the pilgrims and engaged the Fire Services to continuously clean up the ghats with huge water pipes . His personal involvement and initiatives ensured that the devotees had a memorable spiritual and cultural experience .
The State government of Andhra Pradesh made an array of arrangements on an unprecedented scale , spending nearly Rs 2000 crore for this humungous event . Be it free transport in Rajahmundry , or facilities like water , food and medication – they were all made available in plenty . About 275 ghats in the twin districts were made ready , the most prominent one being the 1.5 km long ghat at Kotilingala in Rajahmundry . Pushkar Nagars with amenities for pilgrim stay were built at several places in the city . Pushkaram Highlights in a nutshell :
w A whopping 4.9 crore pilgrims took holy dip in river Godavari in
both districts
w As many as 287 bathing ghats served on both sides of the river
w 6.65 crore drinking water packets were distributed
w 1,927 APSRTC buses made 4,098 trips
w 300 City buses operated
w 60.85 lakh Passengers availed RTC services
w 15 lakh travelled on trains w 650 Cultural programmes w Number of pilgrims w Godavari Harati The Godavari Harati , on the lines of Ganga Arti , initiated by the State Government on the eve of Godavari
Pushkaralu , has turned out to be the highlight of the 12-day event . The light and sound show conducted at the inaugural event , too , was much appreciated for its creativity .
It is to the credit of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu that millions of believers and nature lovers poured into East and West Godavari even after the first day ’ s unfortunate incident . The CM ’ s strenuous efforts in containing the damage and standing steadfast to repair the damage and provide the best care for the pilgrims was appreciated by one and all . His staying put at Rajahmundry all through the Pushkaralu , along with many of his cabinet colleagues , instilled a sense of confidence among the devotees who made a beeline to the ghat from across the state and the country .
Those who took the holy dip did not fail to mention their appreciation at the fool-proof arrangements made and facilities provided to the surging crowds . While the administration took every care for the smooth conduct of the Pushkaralu , the Chief Minister has to be credited with making the event a grand cultural and social affair .
The extravagant display of fireworks , sky lanterns and dance shows , besides a host of seminars , religious and spiritual discourses during the event was painstakingly planned and executed under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister .
Godavari Pushkaralu have not only been an enormous success but also turned out to be a scintillating example of leading from the front in times of crisis . v JUNE 2016 ANDHRAPRADESHMAGAZINE . ORG 53