The 12-day Saraswati Pushkarams, which began on May 30 at Kaleshwaram temple in the district, started gaining momentum with the arrival of hordes of devotees from various parts of the state and neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
Though the district administration erected some shamiyanas and dressing rooms on the banks of river, the facilities are still inadequate.
An approach road was laid to reach the water point and temporary toilets were erected to meet the demand of the growing devotees, temple executive officer D Hari Prakash said and added that one lakh pilgrims took a holy dip in the river so far. ‘’We are expecting more pilgrims in the last two days,’’ he said.
Civil supplies minister D Sridhar Babu on Wednesday visited Kaleshwaram and took a holy dip in Saraswati river and performed the traditional ritual --‘shraadh’ (pinda pradanam). Later he offered prayers at the temple on the banks of river Godavari. He was received with a traditional welcome by temple priests. He performed special poojas in the Kaleshwara Mukteshwara swamy temple.
Later, the minister inaugurated a mechanized boat which was sanctioned under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP). Later while speaking to newsmen, the minister promised to provide adequate facilities for visiting pilgrims like bathing ghats and clean drinking water.