Saraswati Pushkaralu from May 15 in Telangana

Hyderabad: The sacred Saraswati Pushkaralu will be observed across Telangana from May 15 to 26. In preparation, Ministers Duddilla Sridhar Babu and Konda Surekha conducted a high-level review meeting with senior officials at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Chief Secretary, DGP, and other key department heads participated in the meeting, where instructions were issued to ensure smooth arrangements for devotees performing holy dips during the festival.

In a first for Saraswati Pushkaralu, helicopter joyrides will be introduced, offering pilgrims a unique aerial view of the Kaleshwaram temple, Pushkara ghats, and the surrounding greenery. The state government has finalized plans to use Airbus H-125 helicopters, each capable of carrying six passengers. The ride duration will be approximately 6–7 minutes, with each ticket priced at ₹4,500. Joyrides will operate from morning until sunset throughout the festival period.

All necessary technical clearances for the helicopter operations have been secured. A Bengaluru-based aviation company has been entrusted with managing the flights, including obtaining relevant permits. Special arrangements are being made near the Pushkara ghats to facilitate the service, with the Departments of Endowments, Tourism, and Civil Aviation overseeing operations.

Previously, helicopter rides organized during the Medaram fair received overwhelming response, prompting the government to extend a similar facility during Pushkaralu. The state will bear ₹20 lakh in expenses for ferrying the empty helicopter from Bengaluru to Kaleshwaram and back. Ambulances and fire services will also be stationed at the helipad for safety.

The aviation firm handling the operations disclosed that it has earlier provided joyrides to over 15,000 devotees. A toll-free number for ticket bookings will be announced shortly.