The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Devotees put to hardship at Basar

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Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Devotees put to hardship at Basar

P. Ram Mohan

Crowds throng shrine on Vasantha Panchami day

Lack of planning led to failure in providing basic amenities for pilgrimsLodge-owners, vendors had a field day jacking up prices capitalising on the rush

Myth and faith: Devotees waiting patiently for the “Aksharabhyasam” of their wards in Basar, in Nizambad on Monday.

BASAR: Devotees arriving from all parts of the State and neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka to this holy abode of Goddess Gnana Saraswathi, on the banks of Godavari on the occasion of Vasantha Panchami on Monday, faced difficulties as the authorities failed to provide basic amenities.

An estimated one lakh people were reported to have visited the place to have darshan of the deity and for “aksharabhyasam” to their children to be put in schools in coming academic year. Devotees were seen everywhere at bathing ghats by the riverside and also in the vicinity of the temple.

Depression impact

There were serpentine queues since early morning at the entrance of the temple. Devotees started thronging the temple after having bath in the river from the midnight. Children suffered from cold and chill as night temperatures dipped due to the impact of depression in the Bay of Bengal.

Many people had to go without accommodation as all lodges and choultries were full for the past two days. Taking advantage of this, lodge-owners charged from Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000 for a room which was actually Rs.500 per day on normal days. Coconut and pooja goods merchants sold their ware at double and triple the price, said a devotee from Srikakulam.

“This year the number of devotees has touched one lakh, which is almost double the previous year Since lodges and choultries are very few, many stayed outside wherever they could find a shade”, said Mr. Sadanandam, a local resident.

E.O. faulted

According to Basar Sarpanch M. Ramesh there was a glaring lacunae in the arrangements and it was due to the negligence of temple Executive Officer Bhadrinath. “The E.O. failed to make arrangements and did not call for a meeting with the police, Endowment, Revenue and local body authorities for coordination”, he said.

At one stage, the milling crowd turned into an unrest as the arrangements were poor. They expressed strong protest standing in queues for longer hours. Parents came along with children suffered more. Even Rs.500 ticket-holders could not get entry for “aksharabhyasam”, but those who could influence were lucky, lamented a devotee from Karimnagar.

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