# Actress Jaya Prada takes holy dip at Godavari Pushkar Ghat in Rajahmundry

# Chiranjeevi takes Holy Dip in Godavari Pushkaralu | Rajahmundry (22-07-2015)

# Minister Ganta takes pushkar bath at Rajahmundry (22-07-2015)

# CM Chandrababu Naidu responds on Fire Accident near Godavari Pushkaralu | Rajahmundry

# Fire Accident In Jagadamba Restaurant at Gokavaram Bus Stand

# Gas Leakage in Rajahmundry is reason for Fire Accident 

Fire broke at Jagadamba Restaurant near Gokavaram Bus Stand today evening due to Gas Leakage in Rajahmundry.The fire brigade is trying to blow out the spreading fire.Two cars,Two jeeps and One Auto were damaged so far.The fire officials have reached the spot and trying their level best to control fire.

The CM of AP Shri Nara ChandraBabu Naidu has reached the spot and said the things will come in to normalcy and asked pushkara piligrims not to panic.Chandrababu said that there are no casualties in this mishap and expressed that it has happened due to gas leakage in a small hotel.

# Godavari Pushkaralu 2015 | LIVE

# Cultural Events in Anam Kalakendram, Rajahmundry

Anam Kalakendram

# Godavari Harathi,Rajahmundry 16-07-2015

# witnesses greater rush, government to ensure smooth fest

Two days after the deadly stampede in which 27 pilgrims were killed, the Godavari 'Pushkaram' witnessed huge rush of devotees on Thursday on the occasion of 'Amavasya' even as officials said the 12-day religious event was going on without any hitch. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also said the government will ensure that such tragedies do not recur and that pilgrims don't face further trouble during the festival.

"Absolutely normal. Today it has exceeded the first day's footfall. First day, we had around 6.4 lakh (pilgrims) by noon (in six bathing ghats here). Today, we had seven lakh odd. We are expecting it will cross 10 lakh," East Godavari district Collector H Arun Kumar told PTI.

'Amavasya' is considered auspicious for performing rituals for departed elders as lakhs of people on Thursday took holy dip and performed puja. The number of pilgrims is expected to further rise over the weekend and also towards end of the event on July 25.

Earlier, addressing a gathering after distributing ex-gratia cheques to stampede victims at Anam Kalkendram here last night, Naidu said, "Our government commenced the work (on arrangements for the holy dip) four months ahead with an aim to provide all facilities to pilgrims but unfortunately many of them swarmed to one bathing ghat and this happened."

"Now, queue management has been introduced for smooth movement of pilgrims to various ghats while they proceed to take a dip and vice-versa on their return. Elaborate arrangements have been made for accommodation, drinking water, food packets and sanitation too," he said.

"In view of the incident, we are monitoring the situation at various ghats including pilgrim rush, bathing and other facilities through CCTVs, which are kept at ghats and linked with the Control Room," Naidu added.

The 'Pushkaram' (the ritual of taking holy dip in rivers which is celebrated once in 12 years) began in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on July 14. This year's event "Maha Pushkaram" is even more special for its astronomical significance as it comes once in 144 years.

The event had a tragic start with 27 people losing their lives in a stampede at a Pushkar bathing ghat in Rajahmundry, the main venue of the event in AP, when waiting pilgrims were suddenly let out into the banks of the river. The East Godavari district administration has sent a preliminary report on the stampede to the government, and also the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as per procedures.

"We have written how the situation developed. People from all over the districts and neighbouring states turned up for the event. Suddenly, there was a surge of the crowd and everybody started breaching the barricade and the police could not control this surging crowd. In the melee, the stampede had taken place," the District Collector said. 

# Naga Sadhus seen in ghats of Godavari on occasion of Pushkaralu

Aghoris and Naga Sadhus, who are usually seen in Kumbh Melas and North Indian festivals, were seen for the first time at the Godavari Pushkaralu. Six Aghoris and six Naga Sadhus took holy dips at Narasapuram’s Valandara Revu.

According to sources, they were invited by some local youths and were put up at the PSTN Club at Narasapuram. The arrival of the sadhus surprised the pilgrims and devotees at the ghats and the purohits performing rituals enlightened them about Aghoris and Naga Sadhus.

# AP CM Chandrababu Naidu Full Speech about Stampede at Godavari maha Pushkaralu 2015

# Pawan Kalyan Tweeted about stampede at godavari pusharalu

Rajahmundry Pushkar Ghat Incident | AP CM announces Rs. 10 lakhs Ex Gratia

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has expressed his deep condolences at the loss of lives due to stampede that took place at Kotagummam pushkar ghat in Rajahmundry. The chief minister has announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia each for the families of those killed in the stampede during Godavari pushkaram in Rajahmundry. He said that more security measures will be arranged and told reporters that a thorough probe would be conducted over it

# Godavari Pushkaralu Tragedy | Death Toll Climbs following Pushkara Ghat incident

# Chiranjeevi fire on Chandrababu over Godhavari Pushkaram Arrangements

 Chiranjeevi breaks down over death of  pilgrims

Actor and politician Chiranjeevi began crying during a press meet after 27 pilgrims died in a stampede at a major bathing spot on the banks of the Godavari river on the opening day of 'Pushkaram' festival in Andhra Pradesh.

A major religious event held once in 12 years, hundreds of people drawn from different parts of the state had converged on the river bank to take dip in the river on the auspicious occasion.

The tragedy struck between 7.30 am and 8 am and most of the victims were elderly people.

The victims had been waiting since early hours and some of them were tired as they had travelled long distances to reach here.

The official said there is a possibility that the deaths were caused due to suffocation.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who was on the spot to take the holy dip, expressed profound grief at the tragedy and is personally monitoring relief and rescue operations.

The Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the family of the deceased and said, if necessary, he would would remain in Rajahmundry for the next 11 days.

Earlier in the day, Naidu, accompanied by his wife and son, had taken the holy dip, where the river is full in its expanse.

Godavari 'Pushkaram', the ritual of taking holy dip in the river, is observed once in 12 years, but this time it is considered auspicious from astronomical point of view as it is 'Maha Pushkaralu' which comes once in 144 years.

Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayandra Sarswathi was among the spiritual leaders who took the sacred bath.

The 'Pushakaram' is a similar to the 'Kumbh Mela' performed alongside rivers elsewhere in the country and taking holy dip is the main ritual of the religious event.

Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi also expressed shock over the stampede.

Rahul Gandhi said on micro-blogging site Twitter, "Extremely sad to hear of the stampede in Rajahmundry that led to the death of several devotees. My deepest condolences to the families.

Chiranjeevi Emotional On Pushkara Ghat incident | Serious Comments On Chandrababu and Media | HMTV

# Terrible stampede at Godavari Pushkaram in Andhra

29 killed in stampede at Godavari Pushkaram in Andhra

At least 29 people were killed and over 60 injured on Tuesday in a stampede during the mahapushkaram, a Hindu religious bathing festival on the Godavari river bank, in Andhra Pradesh.
The incident happened around 8am at Rajahmundry soon after chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and his family took the holy dip and left the place.
Some pilgrims trying to retrieve their shoes which had fallen off in the rush triggered the stampede as tens of thousands of people pushed forward

to bathe in the Godavari on the first day of the festival, police said.
Some witnesses said several devotees tried to climb a wall along the popular pushkar ghat while others pushed forward, triggering a stampede.
Naidu who has been camping in the town from Monday to inspect the arrangements, visited the mishap site and the hospitals.
“It is unfortunate that such loss of life occurred even after taking all precautions. The situation is because of people thronging one ghat. We request people not to panic and use other ghats to avoid overcrowding. Safety of pilgrims is top priority for us and we will provide all possible

assistance,” Naidu said.
A visibly shaken Naidu also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased. "We will probe how the incident occurred and necessary action will be taken against those responsible," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Naidu over the phone and later tweeted - "Deeply pained at the loss of lives. My condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured. I spoke to AP CM Naidu and discussed the situation with him. State government is working to restore normalcy." 
Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao, who took the pushkaram dip in the Godavari at Dharmapuri in Telangana, also expressed shock over the tragedy.
About 24 million people are expected to take part in the festival at varying points along the Godavari, which flows through the recently-bifurcated states of Andhra Pradesh and  Telangana.
About 275 ghats have been developed by AP in the twin districts of East and West Godavari but the rush is at the pushkar ghats in Rajahmundry, where the government also arranged various events like fireworks.

Officials said a small place like Rajahmundry could not cope with the rush and the situation became almost unmanageable. Some pilgrims said ambulances took time to reach the site because the roads were overcrowded with people.
Devotees believe a dip in the river can rid them of their sins and thousands of them, riding in buses, trains and other vehicles, started reaching the pilgrimage centre two days ahead of festival.
“There is a false belief that taking a holy dip in the river on the first day of the festival will be more auspicious,” said Swamy Swaroopanand, a holy man. V Satyanarayana, a pilgrim who was at the site, said the stampede lasted nearly 20 minutes.
“It was a frightening situation, with women and children crying for help," he said. “The policemen on

duty were helpless and it took more than an hour to bring the situation under control.”
With the bodies of victims lying around, relatives wailed and cried for help.
“This is an unfortunate incident even after all the precautions taken and monitored by the CM himself. We are rushing medical teams to help the victims,” health minister Kamineni Srinivas Rao said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, took to Twitter to express his pain at the loss of lives. “My condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured.”
Telangana chief minister Chandrasekhar Rao, a bitter political rival of Naidu, said he was shocked and hoped there would be no more untoward incident during the rest of the 12-day festival.

Deadly stampedes are fairly common during Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with few safety or crowd control measures. In October 2013, a stampede in Madhya Pradesh killed more than 110 people, mostly women and children.

# Must chanted Stotram at Pushkara Snanam

# Special Trains For Godavari Pushkaralu 2015

# Godavari Pushkaralu 2015 | LIVE

# South Central Railway welcomes one and all Pilgrims for Godavari Maha Pushkaralu

Pushkaralu Special Booklet Eng

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