RAJAHMUNDRY: Touted as the largest religious congregation in the country, next only to the mighty Kumbha Mela, the Godavari Maha Pushkarams are all set to take off on Tuesday. The major pushkar ghat towns in AP like Rajahmundry and Kovvuru are already choking due to the massive influx of pilgrims since Sunday. The Andhra Pradesh government is expecting two crore people to take the holy dip over the next 12 days.
Though about 263 bathing ghats have been readied in East and West Godavari districts, Rajahmundry and Kovvuru remain the major centres for the event.
The steady influx of the pilgrims into the city, has left all lodges, guest houses and hotels full to their capacity. Many unlucky people who could not get accommodation were seen resting in railway stations, bus stations and even at Pushkaram ghats on Monday. The ghats at Kovvuru, Narsapuram and Antarvedi witnessed a gradual increase in the flow of pilgrims since Sunday.
AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu arrived in Rajahmundry on Monday. He will take a holy dip in Godavari at the Pushkaram ghat in Rajahmundry at 6.26 am Tuesday, marking the official commencement of the Pushkarams.