Hyderabad: Godavari Pushkarams would start at 6.26 am on July 14 and two head seers from Kanchi and Sringeri would formally launch them by taking holy dip at Rajahmundry and Kovvur in East Godavari district. An estimated seven crore people would take pushkar bath in the river, according to Pydikondala Manikyala Rao, minister for endowments in AP.

Around Rs 1,500 crore is being spent for all the works in AP and 10 Union ministers would participate, he said. “We sent invitations to all of them,” he said.

And many prominent people have already confirmed their participation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be attending due to other preoccupations, he disclosed. These pushkarams will no way inferior to that of Ganga Pushkarams or Kumbh Mela, he stated.

More than 90 percent of works at ghats were over and renovation of temples and arrangement of make-shift rest rooms have been going on, he said. Even the NGOs have been coming forward to provide meals and other eateries, he added.

Refuting the observation that he was sidelined during pushkar works, Mr Manikyala Rao said this is a huge exercise and every department has to work in cooperation with others.