Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Thursday declared holidays from August 12 to August 23 for schools and colleges in view of the Krishna Pushkarams.

There is a catch, however, in the government order. The holidays are applicable only to those educational institutions whose premises the district administration of Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar has taken over. The premises will be utilised to provide accomodation to government officials deputed for the Krishna Pushkarams. The educational institutes include, government, local body, aided and private un-aided schools, junior, degree and polytechnic colleges.

Also, according to the government order these institutions will have to make up for the lost days by conducting classes on second Saturdays and optional holidays in the following months.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the Krishna Pushkaralu.

Rituals, Chanting of Hymns Mark the Start of Pushkarams in AP: The Krishna Pushkarams in Krishna district got underway late on Thursday evening amid chanting of vedic hymns by priests. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, along with his wife Bhuvaneswari and legislator Nandamuri Balakrishna, joined scores of devotees for the ‘Nava Harathi’ to mark the beginning of the festivities.

Noted film director Boyapati Sreenu designed the grand show with special lighting and laser show for the ‘Nava Harathi’, which was performed exactly at 9.28 p.m the `muhurat’ that is presumed to be the time of entry of Pushkar into river Krishna.

Following traditions, priests offered nine rounds of Harathi to the sacred river on the occasion: They included: Omkara Harathi, Naga Harathi, Surya Harathi, Pancha Harathi, Simha Harathi, Kumbha Harathi, Nandi Harathi, Chandra Harathi and Nakshatra Harathi. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated replica temples of Kanipakam Vinayaka, Kanakadurgamma, Srisailam, Sree Kurmam, Subramanyeswara Swamy , Ramanatha Swamy and Kadiri Narasimha Swamy constructed along the river bank.