Thousands of devotees took a holy dip in the Godavari River on Sunday, February 15, to celebrate Mahasivaratri. The event drew massive crowds at the Akhanda Godavari area between Polavaram and Dowleswaram. Ghats on both banks, which are being renovated for Godavari Pushkarams 2027, saw heavy footfall. East Godavari District Collector Cherukuri Keerthi and Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation Commissioner Rahul Meena said the Sivaratri dip was held like the upcoming Pushkarams to check readiness. Security was tight with a large deployment of police, CCTV cameras, and drones monitoring the area. Management of crowd, vehicle routes, bus services, and online tracking of devotees were tested successfully. Popular spots like Pushkar Ghat, Kotilingala Ghat, and Saraswathi Ghats had devotees from early morning. Near the Polavaram irrigation project, many crossed the river to visit temples in the Chintoor area. Famous temples such as Kukkuteswara Swamy temple in Pithapuram, Chaluklya Kumara Rama Bheemeswara Swamy temple in Samarlakota, and Bheemeswara Swamy temple in Draksharama also welcomed large numbers of worshippers. The event showcased strong community devotion and efficient administration ahead of the grand Godavari Pushkarams due in 2027.