YERU, the river festival, began with energy as students, NCC cadets, and NSS volunteers joined a forest walk at Bendalapadu village in Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Monday. This event is a lead-up to the teppotsavam, the annual float festival planned on the Godavari river in Bhadrachalam on December 29, just before the Mukkoti (Vaikunta) Ekadasi festival. Young nature lovers took part in the 'Kanagiri Forest Walk' early Monday. Collector Jitesh V. Patil and many district officials also attended. The forest walk aimed to raise environmental awareness and protect biodiversity. It ended at a historic Kakatiya-era temple near Bendalapadu. Organisers said the walk gave youngsters a perfect chance to explore and appreciate nature. YERU will continue with more exciting events like the 'Kinnerasani River Walk' on December 23 and the 'Palvancha Hill Trek' on December 24.