Nellore: The five-day Bara Shaheed Dargah Rottela Panduga festival is a symbol of communal harmony began in Nellore on Thursday. Thousands of pilgrims seeking the fulfillment of their wishes through the traditional exchange of rotis throng at the Swarnala Cheruvu.

Officials made elaborate arrangements for the event, which attracts devotees from across the country and abroad. Separate shelters for devotees, medical camps, VIP reception facilities, police control rooms, police outposts; free meal distribution centres, drinking water, and free toilets and help desks have been established across different zones.

Officials have also arranged 52 shower facilities for women, 32 for men, changing rooms and 120 toilets. More than 6,000 sanitation workers were deployed to keep the premises litter-free. Around 1,600 police personnel have been deployed for bandobast duties, and traffic is being streamlined. CCTVs and drones will monitor the event from the control room.

Ten transformers have been set up to ensure uninterrupted power supply. Trained swimmers have been deployed along with 15 boats for the safety of pilgrims. A total of 125 fire personnel from Prakasam, Bapatla, Palnadu, Annamayya, Tirupati and Kadapa districts have been deployed.