The Hindu : Karnataka News : 3,000 pilgrims take dip in Tungabhadra river

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Thursday, Dec 11, 2008
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Karnataka

3,000 pilgrims take dip in Tungabhadra river

Staff Correspondent

It has been given ‘pushkar’ status this year

Religious rites: Pilgrims on the banks of the Tungabhadra at Hampi on Wednesday.

HAMPI: Around 3,000 pilgrims from within and outside the district took a dip in the Tungabhadra as part of “pushkar” that began on Wednesday.

A large number of pilgrims took the dip in the river at the bathing ghat near the Virupaksha temple, and offered puja and “bagina” to Goddess Ganga.

People also offered oblations for the departed. Each river in the country gets “pushkar” status once in 12 years. This year, the Tungabhadra acquired that status. It will continue up to December 21. Later, the pilgrims visited the Virupaksha temple.

Minister for Tourism G. Janardhan Reddy also offered puja to the river near the Raghunandana Tirtha Vrindavana, behind the Vijaya Vittala temple complex. He, along with T.H. Sureshbabu, Kampli MLA, took a dip in the river and performed “ganga puja.”

First time

This is for the first time the district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the benefit of pilgrims.

Arrangements have been made at four places – near the bathing ghat near Virupaksha temple, near the Raghunandan Tirtha Vrindavana in Kampli town, in Hospet taluk, and at Kenchanagudda in Sirguppa town. The arrangements included construction of temporary rooms, makeshift toilets and concrete steps to the riverbank to enable pilgrims enter the river safely. Additional bus facilities from Hospet city to Hampi, emergency health services and expert swimmers positioned at strategic points with lifejackets and boats are among the facilities provided.

B.S. Anand Singh, Vijayanagar MLA; Suresh Babu, Kampli MLA; and M.S. Somalingappa, Sirguppa MLA, have offered to ensure food for pilgrims at all four points.

The police have tightened security especially on the riverbanks.

Regular announcements asking pilgrims to follow safety norms were also being made.

Mr. Reddy told presspersons here that the facilities were provided at an estimated cost of Rs. 13 lakh, of which the Hindu Religious Endowment Department had contributed Rs. 10 lakh.

He said Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would also take part in the pushkar.

Deputy Commissioner B. Shivappa, Superintendent of Police Seemant Kumar Singh and chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat S. Rajaram were present.

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