Hyderabad, May 21 : Saraswati Antya Pushkaralu began at Kaleshwaram in Jayashankar Bhupalapally district of Telangana on Thursday with Kanchi Math pontiff Sri Shankar Vijayendra Saraswati taking the first holy dip.

State Endowments Minister Konda Surekha, IT and Industries Minister Dudilla Sridhar Babu and his wife, and others also took the first sacred bath at 5.43 a.m.

Authorities expect about 20-30 lakh devotees to take part in the 12-day holy event, being held in Telangana for the first time.

Saraswati River is a mystical, subterranean stream that merges with the Godavari and Pranahita rivers at Kaleshwaram, forming the sacred Triveni Sangam at Kaleshwaram. It is one of the only two places in India -- along with Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh -- where this confluence occurs

Taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam is believed to wash away sins and free devotees from the cycle of rebirth.

MLAs Gandra Satyanarayana Rao and Malreddy Rangareddy, Endowments Department Commissioner Hanumantha Rao, District Collector Rahul Sharma, religious advisor Govinda Hari, and others also participated in the sacred bath.

A large number of devotees from various Telangana and other states are taking the holy dip.

According to an official release, the district administration has made all arrangements to ensure devotees face no inconvenience. All facilities, such as security, cleanliness, drinking water, medical services, transportation, and more, have been provided.

District Collector Rahul Sharma stated that all departments are working in coordination to ensure devotees can perform their Pushkara Snanams comfortably and safely during this auspicious period.

Earlier, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy called for the Saraswati Antya Pushkaralu to be observed with devotion and grandeur. He stated that the state government has made extensive arrangements for the Saraswati Antya Pushkaralu to be held from May 21 to June 1.

The CM has directed officials to ensure that devotees arriving for the Pushkara baths face no difficulties. He instructed that traffic control be implemented without hindrance to the devotees' movement.

Given the intense heat, he advised devotees to take necessary precautions to protect their health.

/IANS