Pilgrim conduct
Bring your devotion. Leave a cleaner Godavari.
Make calm conduct, care for fellow pilgrims and respect for the river part of your Pushkaralu visit.
01
Sanctity in our conduct
- Wear clean clothing appropriate to local temple customs. Pray calmly, respect other traditions and protect privacy. Ask before photographing people bathing or performing family rites.
- Respect queues and assist children, older people and visitors with disabilities. Keep steps and exits clear and follow safety staff instructions.
- Avoid alcohol, intoxicants and smoking at pilgrimage sites. Refrain from abusive behaviour, disputes and pressured donations. Practise cleanliness, kindness and restraint as part of devotion.
02
Protect the river water
- Use permitted bathing ghats. Keep soap, shampoo and detergent out of the river; do not wash clothes or utensils in it. Use designated washing facilities where available.
- Use toilets, never the riverbank. Drink from designated safe drinking-water supplies; the river’s sacred status does not establish that its water is safe to drink.
- Do not pour oil, colours, leftover food or waste into the river. Report sewage or dumping to ghat staff; do not enter the water to remove it yourself.
03
Care for ritual materials
- Before the rite, agree with your priest and ghat staff how flowers, leaves, pindas, cloth and leftovers will be collected. Use their designated collection arrangements instead of leaving materials in the river.
- Use lamps and camphor only in permitted, safe places. Keep burning lamps, their containers, oil and ash out of the river. Follow local instructions when performing rites such as tarpanam.
- Prefer reusable bags, bottles and utensils. Separate wet, dry and ritual waste as bin labels direct. If you cannot find a collection point, ask staff and carry your waste until you reach one. Biodegradable material does not belong in the river either.
04
Cleaner air, quieter ghats
- Do not burn rubbish, plastic or leftover ritual materials. Avoid fireworks. Use incense and camphor sparingly; conduct homams only at permitted places under responsible supervision.
- Use public transport or official shuttles where available, and share journeys when practical. Avoid leaving engines running unnecessarily while parked; follow designated traffic routes.
- Keep prayer and music considerate of others. Avoid unnecessary horns and loud amplified sound; follow local permissions and timings for loudspeakers.
05
Leave with care
- Take only the prasadam and food you need. Keep leftovers off river steps and out of the water; follow the food organiser’s collection arrangements.
- Leave your space clean. Join organised clean-up work with the organisers’ guidance; report sharp objects or medical waste to staff without handling them. Encourage fellow pilgrims respectfully instead of arguing.
These are general environmental and visitor recommendations. Follow the 2027 rules issued for your ghat, temple and district on access, rituals, fire and waste collection.
Government references on river pollution, waste and air quality appear beside the relevant sections. The idol-immersion document supports separating ritual waste; it is not a local 2027 Pushkaralu rulebook. Conduct and sanctity guidance is our editorial advice.
Last reviewed: 13 September 2026
Choosing a priest
For puja, tarpanam, pindapradanam and shraddha, choose a priest whose identity, training, experience and knowledge of the relevant ritual you can check.
Choosing a priest