Stampede kills 9 during religious festival in India

The tragedy occurred when a large number of pilgrims rushed towards one of the gates at Kotagummam pushkar ghat on the banks of Godavari river to take the holy dip.

Rajahmundry: Pushkaram happens once every 12 years and is based on the zodiac signs, This year the “Pushkaram” is being held at “Godavari” river, The event host numerous activities that include cultural and spiritual.

“This is very significant from the astronomical point of view”. The AP government is spending about Rs 1,600 crore for the mega event, and Telanagana is spending an equal amount.

He said the bridge across the river Manjeera between Kandakurthy and Dharmabad would be closed to control the vehicular traffic.

Combining both, there are 263 bathing ghats in East and West Godavari districts. The state is also offering helicopter rides and several entertainment programmes along the Godavari. People can also share their experience of the event by hashtagging their posts on Twitter or Facebook with #MahaPushkaram2015.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by his wife and son, took the holy dip in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh, where the Godavari river is full in its expanse. Maharashtra’s gesture in arranging for the release of some water has come as a saving grace for the state. The larger congregations are expected at Basar in Adilabad, near the only Saraswathi temple in south India, Dharmapuri and Vemulawada in Karimnagar and Bhadrachalam in Khammam.

The once-in-12-years festival is finally going to be launched from tomorrow, where a few crores of pilgrims across the country take part in it. They say pilgrims face the threat of waterborne diseases.

Godavari ghats will reverberate with music, thearter art and other cultural events, Reddy said.