GUNTUR: With applications piling up from priests from across the state offering their services during the 12-day Krishna Pushkarams, the officials are in a fix whether to allow priests from other districts or to requisition the services of priests from Guntur district. The officials are still unsure of how many priests are needed during the pushkarams which will be held from August 12 to 23.
During Pushkarams, tradition mandates that the devout make offerings to their forefathers and departed dear ones. This needs a large number of priests to officiate the rituals. To ensure that the priests do not fleece the devout, the officials are planning to issue identity cards to priests. The charges for different rituals would be fixed by the authorities.
Guntur district endowments deputy commissioner MV Suresh Babu said as many as 2700 applications, including 400 from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Prakasam and other districts. When asked about the exact requirement of priest, he admitted that there was no clarity as of now. He said a final decision would be taken on whether to allow priests from other districts or not once the requirement is decided.
He further said that as the emblem of the Krishna Pushkarams has not been finalised so far, they will have to wait for some time for giving identity cards to the select priests. Stating that funds to a tune of Rs 16.95 crore have been allocated to the endowments department for taking up as many as 248 works, he said they are using these funds to develop the temples located on the banks of the Krishna river in Guntur district.
Prepping up for River fete