Pushkaram
Pushkaram is an Indian festival dedicated to worshiping of rivers. It is also known as Pushkaralu (in
It is celebrated at shrines along the banks of 12 major sacred rivers in India, in the form of
Tradition
According to a legend mentioned in astrology treatises such as
The rivers
Each river is associated with a zodiac sign, and the river for each year's festival is based on which
The Pushkaram tradition is not mentioned in the early Hindu texts; it is part of the medieval Hindu astrological lore. Therefore, the names of 12 rivers may vary depending on the regional traditions. For example, in Maharashtra, Bhima is associated with Scorpio sign, while in Tamil Nadu, Tamraparni is associated with it. The sacred rivers include:[1][2]: 32
| # | Rashi ( Hindu zodiac sign) |
Corresponding Western zodiac sign |
River | Next Pushkaram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesha |
Aries | Ganga; Ganga Pushkaram |
April 22 - May 5, 2023 |
| 2 | Vrishabha | Taurus | Narmada; Narmada Pushkaram | May 1-13, 2024 |
| 3 | Mithuna | Gemini | Saraswati; Sarasvati Pushkaram | May 15–26, 2025 |
| 4 | Karka |
Cancer | Yamuna; Yamuna Pushkaram | June 2–13, 2026 |
| 5 | Simha | Leo | Godavari Pushkaram |
June 26 - July 7, 2027 |
| 6 | Kanya | Virgo | Krishna Pushkaralu
In Vedagiriswarar temple .
|
August 12–23, 2028 |
| 7 | Tula | Libra | Kaveri; Kaveri Pushkaram |
September 12–23, 2029 |
| 8 | Vrishchika | Scorpio | Bhima, Bhima in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana; Bhima Pushkaram and
Tamraparni river in Tamil Nadu. |
October 12–23, 2018[5] |
| 9 | Dhanus | Sagittarius | Tapti, (Pushkaravahini); Tapti Pushkaravahini
In Assam, the festival is celebrated on the banks of Brahmaputra river. |
March 29 - April 9, 2019 |
| 10 | Makara | Capricorn | Tungabhadra; Tungabhadra Pushkaralu |
November 20 - December 1, 2020 |
| 11 | Kumbha | Aquarius | Sindhu (Indus); Sindhu Pushkaram |
April 6–17, 2021 |
| 12 | Mina | Pisces | Pranhita (Parineeta); Pranahita Pushkaralu |
April 13–24, 2022 |
Celebrations
Pushkaram celebrations include reverence of ancestors, spiritual discourses, devotional music and cultural programmes. The devotees engage in activities such as snana (bath in the river),
Theoretically, the festival lasts as long as Jupiter remains in the corresponding zodiac sign (generally, for one year). However, it draws major crowds only during the first 12 days.[6] The first 12 days when the Jupiter enters the zodiac sign and the last 12 days when it exits the zodiac sign are considered as most auspicious. A dip in the sacred river is believed to erase all sins.[2] The first twelve days are known as Adi Pushkaram, and the last twelve days are called Anthya Pushkaram. It is believed that during the above period of twenty-four days, "Pushkar", imbued with the power to make any river holy, will travel with Jupiter as Jupiter moves from one Zodiac house to another. Planets that fall in the "Pushkara navamsa" or "Puskara bhaga" of a birthchart are considered to be very beneficial and auspicious in jyotish astrology. [citation needed]
In Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Pushkaralu are celebrated for Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Pranahita and Bhima (near Bhima-Krishna Sangam) rivers. The major towns and cities to easily reach out by train and extensive bus services for pushkaralu in Telugu states are Godavari: Rajahmundry (Airport also), Bhadrachalam, Mancherial, Basara; Krishna: Vijayawada/Amaravati (Airport also), Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam, Beechupalli, Repalle; Tungabhadra: Mantralayam, Kurnool, Alampur; Pranahita: Kaleswaram-Sironcha (of Maharashtra), Korisini, and Vemanpally; Bhima: Khalhalli. All these places can be reached by direct bus services from Hyderabad and all local district headquarters. [7]
In Tamil Nadu, Pushkaram is celebrated in Tamraparni River when Jupiter is in Scorpio. In the four places where River Tamraparni flows from south to north, Banathirtham, Papanasam, Thirupudaimaruthur and Sinthupoondurai, the festival is celebrated in accordance with tradition. The Tamraparni temple at Suthamalli is also a place of religious celebration during the Pushkaram year.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9.
- ^ ISBN 9780953567973.
- ISBN 978-81-206-0258-8.
- ISBN 978-81-206-0258-8.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu: Thamirabarani Maha Pushkaram in October".
- ^ Ranee Kumar (2003-07-26). "Holy Dip". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2016-07-24.
- ^ "Pranahita Pushkaram from today". The Times of India. 2015-12-06.
External links
