The Godavari is the only river in the country where
‘aadi’ and ‘antya’ (starting and ending) pushkaralu are conducted and
people who have not taken a holy dip or done rituals to their elders
during the ‘aadi’ (starting) pushkaralu can have the same during the
‘antya pushkaralu’ and perform rituals.
Though only
six days are left from now, the State government is not taking any
interest in conducting the ‘antya’ pushkaralu which is scheduled from
July 31 to August 12. It seems the government is silent due to the last
year’s stampede on the first day of the Godavari Pushkaralu which
claimed 29 lives.
Keeping this in view, the
government may decide not to give much publicity to it. “Why should we
take risk when the people slowly started forgetting the stampede
incident? Generally, ‘antya’ pushkaralu means people from neighbouring
states like Orissa and Bengal will come and take a holy dip and perform
rituals,” comments a senior police officer.
As per
astrology, the first 12 days of Jupiter entering into Leo is treated as
‘aadi’ pushkaralu and Jupiter entering Virgo is called ‘antya’
pushkaralu.
“Both days, as per the Hindu mythology
and astronomy, are most important. That is why ‘aadi’ and ‘antya’
pushkaralu are important and only the river Godavari is having both,”
says Sannidhanam Sastry, senior editor of
Sri Sannidhanam
, spiritual magazine.
According
to N.V. Ramana, corporator, the municipal corporation as well as the
district administration, conducted ‘antya’ pushkaralu in 2004 in a big
way and gave huge publicity. But, this time the government is afraid of
giving due publicity to it.
No funds
On
the other hand, neither the Municipal Corporation of Rajamahendravaram
nor the East Godavari district administration got funds from the
government to spend on ‘antya’ Pushkaralu.
The urban
police have geared up for the event in advance and drawn forces from
neighbouring districts. About 3,000 police personnel are expected to be
deployed at various ghats under the supervision of Urban SP B.
Rajakumari.
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