Odisha Channel Bureau
Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh): The Tungabhadra Pushkaralu (pushkar) began near here on Friday with a sea of humanity thronging the riverbed.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the popular religious festival at Sankal Bagh Ghat near here and performed special puja and rituals in traditional attire at the designated muhurat to herald 12-year event.
The Chief Minister offered flowers, silk robes and arati to Tungabhadra river, performed pujas, yagnam and took part in other traditional rituals.
The Tungabhadra pushkaralu will take place for 12 days starting from Friday to December 1 and the State Government arranged 23 pushkar ghats in Kurnool, Kodumur, Emmiganur, Nandikotkur and Mantralayam mandals.
Apart from special teams with nodal officers, 23 in-charges were also assigned, one for each ghat to monitor the situation. All arrangements have been made with special care to ensure the complete safety of pilgrims.