Kaleshwaram ready for Grand Saraswati Pushkaralu

■   Water depth at Triveni Sangham rose from 94.36m on April 28 to 94.57m by May 5 — a 21 cm increase in one week.

■   Water levels rise at Triveni Sangham, easing concerns for Saraswati Pushkaralu.

■   No external water needed as rainfall in upstream areas boosts Godavari flow.

■   Tent City, ghats, and sanitation work in full swing to welcome thousands of pilgrims.

■   17-ft Saraswati idol and daily Godavari Harathi to be major spiritual highlights.

■   The 12-day Pushkaralu festival will begin on May 14 at 10:35 PM, coinciding with Jupiter's entry into Mithuna Rashi,

■   Transport & Facilities: Bathing ghats are being expanded and new ones added.

■   Permanent toilets, drinking water stations, and waste management systems are being set up.

■   Additional TSRTC buses will be deployed under the free travel scheme to ease pilgrim movement.

■   First-aid centers, on-site medical teams, and special care zones for children, pregnant women, and senior citizens are being arranged to avoid inconvenience.

■   A dedicated Pushkaralu portal and mobile app, launched by the Ministers, will provide pilgrims with live updates, maps of ghats, emergency contact details, and other important information. A toll-free helpline is also operational for public assistance.

MAHESH AVADHUTHA I hyderabad

In a welcome development for the Telangana government, water levels at the Triveni Sangham in Kaleshwaram have seen a steady rise ahead of the Saraswati Pushkaralu, scheduled from May 15 to May 26. Concerns had mounted over dwindling water flow in the Godavari during this peak summer season, prompting IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha to explore alternate measures, including requesting water release from Maharashtra if required.

However, unexpected downpours in upstream regions including  Madhya Pradesh state and the erstwhile Adilabad area have led to a notable increase in water depth — from 94.36 meters on April 28 to 94.57 meters by May 5, a rise of 21 centimeters within a week.

Irrigation department officials noted that this boost in water levels has significantly improved the flow, alleviating earlier concerns. With major reservoirs like Sriramsagar and Sripada Yellampalli holding just enough for drinking water supply, the current flow at Kaleshwaram is considered sufficient to conduct the 12-day spiritual event without external water support. Authorities are optimistic that devotees will be able to take ritual dips across a one-kilometer wide stretch, even if footfalls are high.

Collector details preparations and special arrangements

Jayashankar Bhupalpally District Collector Rahul Sharma has confirmed that preparations for the festival are progressing rapidly. Infrastructure work includes the construction of bathing ghats, changing rooms, and a “Tent City” modeled after the Mahakumbh Mela, featuring 16 individual rooms and two large dormitories with 100 beds each. Temporary and permanent toilets, guest house renovations, and accommodations are being set up to welcome thousands of pilgrims.

Two key highlights of the Pushkaralu will be the unveiling of a grand 17-foot monolithic idol of Goddess Saraswati at the newly built Saraswati Ghat on May 13, and the daily Godavari Harathi, for which priests from Kashi are being brought in. Additional features such as annadanam, designated parking zones on temporarily allocated farmland, help desks, and drinking water stations are also being arranged. Emphasizing public health, Sharma said 500 sanitation workers will be deployed to maintain cleanliness and hygiene throughout the festival premises.