Hyderabad: Saraswati Anthya Pushkaralu began on a grand note at Kaleshwaram with devotees taking holy dips at the sacred confluence.
The first ceremonial Pushkar bath took place at 5.43 am on the opening day of the festival.
The state government made elaborate arrangements for the Saraswati Anthya Pushkaralu scheduled from May 21 to June 1.
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham pontiff Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamy participated in the first holy dip. IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu and his wife also took part in the ritual.
Endowments Minister Konda Surekha, Endowments Commissioner Hanumantha Rao and District Collector Rahul Sharma participated in the holy bath. Religious adviser Govinda Hari also attended the programme.
Saraswati Anthya Pushkaralu attract devotees
Bhupalpally MLA Gandra Satyanarayana Rao and Rangareddy MLA Mal Reddy Rangareddy also took part in the Pushkar rituals.
Meanwhile, large numbers of devotees reached Kaleshwaram on the first day of the festival. Pilgrims performed holy dips at the sacred confluence.
District authorities arranged security, sanitation, drinking water, medical services and transport facilities for devotees.
District Collector Rahul Sharma said all departments were working in coordination to ensure safe and smooth arrangements for pilgrims during the auspicious period.
సరస్వతి అంత్య పుష్కరాలు అంగరంగ వైభవంగా ప్రారంభమయ్యాయి. పుష్కరాల తొలి రోజు ఉదయం 5.43 గంటలకు పవిత్ర సంగంలో తొలి పుష్కర స్నానం నిర్వహించబడింది.
ఈ పుణ్యస్నానాన్ని కంచి కామకోటి పీఠాధిపతి శ్రీ శంకర విజయేంద్ర సరస్వతి స్వాములు, ఐటి పరిశ్రమలు శాఖ మంత్రి దుద్దిళ్ల శ్రీధర్ బాబు… pic.twitter.com/4JyYzflhae
— IPRDepartment (@IPRTelangana) May 21, 2026