15-05-2025
Saraswati Pushkaralu-2025: CM promises huge funding to develop Kaleshwaram
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has vowed to develop the historic Kaleshwaram temple in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district as a major pilgrim centre with improved pilgrim amenities, keeping in view the next Godavari Pushkaralu slated to be held in 2027.
Funds to the tune of ₹100 crore to ₹200 crore would be spent to transform Kaleshwaram, the abode of Sri Kaleshwara Sri Mukteshwara Swamy temple, into a major pilgrim destination, he said after attending the rituals on the inaugural day of the 12-day Saraswati Pushkaralu in Kaleshwaram on Thursday (May 15, 2025) evening.
The Chief Minister took a holy dip at the 'Triveni Sangamam', the confluence of the Godavari, the Pranahita and the subterranean Saraswati rivers in Kaleshwaram, revered as 'Trilinga Kshetram'. He offered special prayers at the historic temple in the pilgrim centre.
He unveiled a 17-foot-tall statue of the Goddess Saraswati and watched the 'Saraswati Nava Ratnamala Harathi' at the brightly illuminated Saraswati Ghat. Ministers D. Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Konda Surekha among others were present.
The once-in-12-year event began at 5.44 a.m. with Ganapathi puja, ankurarpana, and other holy rituals amid chanting of Vedic hymns by the priests of the historic Sri Kaleshwara Sri Mukteshwara Swamy temple.
Madhavananda Saraswati Swamy of Sri Gurumadananda Saraswati Peetham performed special rituals marking the commencement of the holy event.
Addressing the gathering at the Saraswati Ghat late on Thursday evening, the Chief Minister said the age-old tradition of celebrating Pushkaralu, dedicated to worshipping rivers, holds immense cultural significance to carry forward the holy ritual for posterity. The next Godavari and Krishna Pushkaralu as well as the historic Sammakka Saralamma jatara in Medaram will be conducted in a grand manner, he said.
Appreciating the official machinery for making elaborate arrangements for the Saraswati Pushkaralu, he said taking a holy dip during the Pushkaralu holds immense spiritual significance.
He asked the officials to prepare a master plan for the comprehensive development of Kaleshwaram.
The Chief Minister said, 'Manthani Assembly constituency was represented by stalwarts like the former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao and former Assembly speaker D Sripada Rao, who endeared themselves with people and contributed immensely for the betterment of the society and the nation as a whole.'
He praised IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, who is presently representing the Manthani Constituency, for his pivotal role in attracting huge investments both foreign and domestic for the accelerated development of the State and employment generation.
