Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Curtains down on Pushkarams

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, SEPT. 8. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, formally brought down the curtains on the 12-day Krishna Pushkara Mahotavam with the offering of a traditional `harathi' at the VIP-Punnami ghat here on Wednesday. The Chief Minister, who came here an hour and 45 minutes behind schedule, cut short some of the programmes from his itinerary.

Visit cut short

Though elaborate arrangements were made for his interaction with pilgrims at the Durga ghat, it was cut short for want of time. Pilgrims at Durga ghat were slightly disappointed when Dr. Reddy, who came there by the Bodhisiri Luxury Cruise, announced that he would not alight from the boat, but would interact with them through the public address system.

"I have come here to extend Krishna Puskara greetings directly to you. Happy Pushkarams," said the Chief Minister speaking from the luxury cruise into a cordless microphone. He said a microphone would be given to pilgrims to express their opinions about arrangements were made by the Government and if the services provided to them were good. A teenage girl, who was given the microphone first, said the arrangements were excellent and that sanitation was being very well maintained.

Scramble for phone

The interaction between the Chief Minister and the pilgrims at the Durga ghat could not be continued because there was a mad scramble for the cordless microphone. Admirers of Dr. Reddy got hold of the microphone and used it to shower praises on him. The luxury cruise began its return journey to the jetty even while the Chief Minister was greeting pilgrims.

After the boat trip to the Durga ghat, Dr. Reddy went straight to the VIP ghat for the `harathi'. Before the `harathi', the Chief Minister took a lot of trouble to shake hands with scores of pilgrims who came to see him. His security men had a difficult time getting pilgrims to leave Dr. Reddy's hand.

Photo exhibition

Earlier, the Chief Minister spent some time looking at a photo exhibition organised by the district administration. Ministers, MPs, MLAs and officials accompanied Dr. Reddy on the luxury cruise. The Minister for Roads and Buildings, Jakkampudi Ramamohan Rao, helped a troupe of child dancers give a performance in front of the Chief Minster.

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