Stage set for Pranahita Puskharalu in Mancherial and Asifabad

Mancherial/Kumram Bheem Asifabad: The stage is set for the conduct of Pushkaralu, a mass holy bathing ritual in sacred Pranahita river, tributary of Godavari from April 13 to 24. Incidentally, it is the maiden event to be held following the formation of Telangana state. Elaborate arrangements were made for smooth conduct of the event. Officials […]

Mancherial/Kumram Bheem Asifabad: The stage is set for the conduct of Pushkaralu, a mass holy bathing ritual in sacred Pranahita river, tributary of Godavari from April 13 to 24. Incidentally, it is the maiden event to be held following the formation of Telangana state.

Elaborate arrangements were made for smooth conduct of the event. Officials concerned are racing against time to create bathing ghats, temporary toilets, parking lots and other amenities at the venues such as Arjunagutta, Devulawaa villages in Kotapalli, Vemanapalli mandal centre of Mancherial and Thummidihetti village in Koutala mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district.

In December, Forest Minister Allola Indrakaran Reddy convened a review meeting in Chennur and instructed the officials concerned to make elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the event. He said that the mass holy dip ceremony in Pranahitha would be held on a grand note. Government Whip Balka Suman too conducted review meetings and told the authorities to expedite the arrangements in March.

5 lakh devotees expected to take dip

Over 5 lakh devotees belonging to several parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are expected to take holy dip in the river during the 12-day long ceremony. About 6 lakh devotees of erstwhile Adilabad district and neighboring Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Warangal districts had dip in the river in 2010. On an average, 50,000 devotees visited the venues and took holy bath.

3 crore deities take dip in Pranahita

As per scriptures, it is believed that three crore deities would dip in the river and taking the dip would remove sins to humans. Dip is taken to worship the goddess of the river and to thank her. Various rituals such as Shraddam, Tarpanam are performed at the time of the dip. For instance, Tarpanam or offerings are made to elders and ancestors seeking heaven for them.

TSRTC to ply 44 special buses

Sudhaparimala, State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) Adilabad regional manager, told Telangana Today that 44 special buses would be plied from Mancherial, Chennur and Koutala to the venues from April 13 to 24. As many as 20 buses would be run from Mancherial to Arjunagutta, while 20 buses were going to be operated from Chennur to Arjunaguta. Four buses would ply from Koutala to Thummidihetti.

Venues

District: Mancherial

1. Arjunagutta village in Kotapalli mandal

2. Devulawaa village in Kotapalli mandal

3. Vemanapalli mandal centre

How to reach

By Bus

Hyderabad-Karimnagar-Peddapalli-Mancherial-Chennur-Arjunagutta

Hyderabad-Karimnagar-Peddapalli-Mancherial-Chennur-Vemanapalli

Distance: 285 kilometers from Hyderabad to Arjunagutta

By Train

Hyderabad-Warangal-Kazipet-Ramagundam-Mancherial

District: Kumram Bheem Asifabad

1. Thummidihetti village in Koutala mandal

How to reach

By bus

Hyderabad-Karimnagar-Mancherial-Bellampalli-Kaghaznagar-Koutala-Thummidihetti

Distance: 350 kilometers from Hyderabad to Thummidihetti

By Train

Hyderabad-Warangal-Kazipet-Ramagundam-Mancherial-Kaghaznagar

Popular pilgrim centres around venues

· Sri Kaleshwara-Muktheswara Swamy temple in Kaleshwaram of Prof Jayashankar Bhupalapalli

· 400-year old Sri Jagannatha Swamy temple in Chennur

· Vittaleshwara Swamy temple on the banks of Pranahita in Sironcha of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra

· Sri Kartheek Maharaj temple at Cheprala on the confluence of Pranahita and Vainganga in Bimragad Talk of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra

Devotees participated in Pranahita Pushkaralu held in 2010: 6 lakh

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