Godavari Pushkaram: 3.85 cr devotees took holy dip in AP

As many as 3.85 crore pilgrims have taken holy dip in the ongoing Godavari 'Maha Pushkaram' since the festival began in Andhra Pradesh on July 14, a state minister said today.
"3.85 crore devotees have taken the holy dip till 4 PM on Thursday at the bathing ghats in East and West Godavari districts in the Godavari Pushkaram," an official release quoted state Information Minister Palle Raghunath Reddy as saying.
He said 3.12 lakh people were provided medical care at the 365 medical camps organised on the occasion.
The State Road Transport Corporation ran 300 free bus services to ferry the pilgrims, the minister added.

The last two-days of 'Pushkaram' on July 24 and 25 are likely to witness heavy rush of pilgrims, he said.
According to him, the state government has also been organising cultural and religious programmes during the Pushkaram.
On July 14, the first day of Godavari Pushkaram, 27 pilgrims had died in a stampede on the banks of the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh.