The Krishna pushkarams provide a good opportunity for priests from here to make a quick money.

The Endowments department has drafted the services of 80 priests from Prakasam district to join their counterparts in the riverine districts to perform various rituals associated with the river festival, says Endowments Assistant Commissioner V.Srinivasa Reddy while talking to The Hindu.

In all, 140 priests from the district had applied for performing pushkaram duties. Others would be provided a chance depending upon the demand as the river festival progresses, he adds before leaving for Dharanikota in neighbouring Guntur district to take charge of the bathing ghat there.

All the selected priests from here are provided with Identity cards by the Deputy Commissioner concerned at Kurnool and Guntur districts, he adds.

He suggests that the pilgrims from the southern districts prefer pushkar ghats either in Kurnool or Guntur districts instead of Vijayawada to avoid overcrowding.

“We expect to do make a good collection this time also like during Godavari Pushkaram last year,” hopes one of the selected priests Krishna Sastri before leaving for Srisailam.

In all, 100 endowment department staff from Prakasam district would join the staff members from Kurnool and Guntur districts in manning the ghats.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/pushkaram-priests-from-prakasam-expect-to-make-a-quick-buck/article8976687.ece