■   Saraswati Pushkaralu begins at Triveni Sangam, Kaleshwaram; to continue till May 26

■   Holy dip led by Sri Sri Sri Madhavananda Saraswati, followed by Minister Sridhar Babu, top officials and thousands of devotees

■   CM Revanth Reddy takes a holy dip, unveiled a 17-ft monolithic Saraswati statue

■   Evening Harathi performed daily by Varanasi priests at Saraswati Ghat, echoing the Ganga Aarti tradition

■   Massive arrangements with 3,500 police, 200 CCTVs, drones & rescue teams to ensure safety for pilgrims

metro india news  I hyderabad

The sacred Saraswati Pushkaralu, a once-in-12-years river festival dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, commenced with great spiritual fervour and elaborate arrangements at Triveni Sangam in Kaleshwaram here on Thursday, where the rivers Godavari, Pranahita, and the subterranean Saraswati converge.

The 12-day holy celebration, taking place from May 15 to May 26, began at dawn with a Ganapati Puja and the Pushkara Snanam (holy dip) at 5:44 AM, led by His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Madhavananda Saraswati. Devotees and dignitaries from across the state gathered for the ceremonial bath, marking the beginning of the auspicious event.

Among those who took part in the sacred ritual were Telangana State IT & Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu, his spouse, Principal Secretary (Endowments) Shailaja Ramaiyer (IAS), District Collector Rahul Sharma, Bhupalpally MLA Gandra Satyanarayana Rao, Justice Surapalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court, and other notable figures.

Later in the evening, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy arrived via helicopter from Hyderabad, accompanied by Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, and Government Advisor Vem Narender Reddy. They were received at Kaleshwaram by Ministers Sridhar Babu and Konda Surekha.

After taking the holy dip in the Triveni Sangam, CM Revanth Reddy unveiled a 17-feet monolithic statue of Goddess Saraswati, specially commissioned for this Pushkaralu. The Chief Minister later performed prayers at the Sri Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy Temple and Devi Maha Saraswati Temple.

In a significant spiritual addition, CM Revanth Reddy performed the Saraswati Nava Ratnamala Harathi, a first-of-its-kind ceremony in Telangana, organized under the direct supervision of Minister Sridhar Babu. Every evening, the Saraswati Nava Ratnamala Harathi will be performed at Saraswati Ghat by priests flown in from Varanasi who also perform the Ganga Harathi at Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Sharing his spiritual experience on social media platform X, Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu wrote:

"I feel truly blessed to have taken part in the sacred Saraswati Pushkaralu at the Triveni Sangamam in Kaleshwaram early this morning. As the holy rivers Godavari, Pranahita & the subterranean Saraswati converge at this divine site, it's a profoundly spiritual moment for all of us. Witnessing thousands of devotees gather with such unwavering faith was a humbling and sacred experience. The first holy dip by His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Madhavananda Saraswati ji added immense sanctity to the occasion."

He further added, "These 12 days of Pushkaralu, from the 15th to the 26th, are not just a ritual but a chance for every soul to reconnect with the divine, and I invite everyone to come, reflect, and receive the blessings of Maa Saraswati."

"I warmly invite you and your families to take part in the sacred Saraswati Pushkaralu this May 15–26, a rare and divine event that comes once in 12 years. As we gather on the banks of the holy river to offer prayers and take the ceremonial dip, we come together in the spirit of devotion, tradition and unity." The temple town of Kaleshwaram, located in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, has been fully transformed for the event.

 A tent city, decorated bathing ghats, showers, and a newly laid road between the VIP and Godavari ghats ensure smooth movement for pilgrims. Over 3,500 police personnel, 200 CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, and NDRF, SDRF, and Singareni rescue teams have been deployed to maintain security and safety. Additionally, 50 sanitation officers, ace swimmers, and traditional boats have been stationed along the river.

Devotees and pilgrims are expected to gather in large numbers during this spiritually significant festival that combines tradition, devotion, and elaborate planning for a safe and meaningful experience. This is the first time Saraswati Pushkaralu is happening in the state of Telangana. The last Pushkaralu were held in 2013 in the combined Andhra Pradesh state.