Krishna Pushkaram concludes with 'Pavitra Harathi'

Vijayawada, Aug 24: The 12-day Krishna Pushkaram ended with a grand 'Harathi' (aarti) at the Pavitra Sangamam, the confluence of Godavari and Krishna rivers at Ferry near here, in the presence of thousands of pilgrims yesterday.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Suresh Prabhu, ace shuttler P V Sindhu, her coach Pullela Gopichand were among those who attended the 'Pavitra Harathi'.

The 'Pavitra Harathi', conducted on all 12 days of the river festival, had been the biggest draw of the Pushkaram that comes once in 12 years. Close to two crore pilgrims took a holy dip in Krishna river at various bathing ghats during the 12-day event in Kurnool, Guntur and Krishna districts of AP with a vast majority of them taking part in the rituals in Vijayawada city.

Naidu and Prabhu took a holy dip at the VIP bathing ghat here this evening. Chandrababu held a meeting with his ministers and legislators and announced that just two per cent of the entire pilgrims had some complaints or dissatisfaction over the conduct of the Pushkaram.

"But we came out in flying colours by organising the event so smoothly and efficiently with the help of technology," the Chief Minister claimed.

PTI