Pushkaralu festival returns to the Ganga
- Category
Art and culture
- Published
28th Apr, 2023
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Context
The 12-day Pushkaralu festival of Telugu-speaking people commenced recently in Varanasi.
About the festival
- The festival is being organised in Kashi this year after a gap of 12 years due to a special combination of planetary transits.
- Godavari Pushkaralu is celebrated once in every 12 years when Brihaspati enters Simha Raasi.
- In this festival, pilgrims worship their ancestors and the river Ganga.
It is the second event of the recent past to be organised in Varanasi, after the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam.
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The story behind
- As per the legend, after severe penance, the devotee Pushkara was blessed by Lord Shiva with the ability to live in water, and purify holy rivers.
- On a request from B?haspati (Jupiter), Pushkara decided to enter one of the 12 sacred rivers — Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Bhima, Tapti, Narmada, Saraswati, Tungbhadra, Sindhu, and Pranhita.
- Each river has its zodiac sign.
- The river for each year’s festival is decided in accordance with Brihaspati travel from one zodiac sign to another.
Pushakaram of these rivers is celebrated when Jupiter / Brihaspati transits from one Raasi (zodiac sign) to the other:
- The cycle of Pushkaraulu begins with River Ganga when Brihaspati enters Mesha Raasi (Aries). It is celebrated as Ganga Pushkaram.
- Narmada Pushkaram when Jupiter enters Vrishabha Raasi (Taurus).
- Saraswati Pushkaram when Brihaspati enters Mithuna Raasi (Gemini).
- Yamuna Pushkaram is celebrated when Jupiter enters Karkataka Raasi (Cancer).
- Godavari Pushkaram when Brihaspati enters Simha Raasi (Leo).
- Krishna Pushkaram when Jupiter enters Kanya Raasi (Virgo).
- Kaveri Pushkaram when Brihaspati enters Thula Raasi (Libra).
- Bheema Pushkaram when Jupiter enters Thula Raasi (Libra).
- Pushkara Vahini when Brihaspati enters Dhanur Raasi (Sagittarius).
- Tungabhadra Pushkaram when Jupiter enters Makara Raasi (Capricorn).
- Sindhu Pushkaram when Brihaspati enters Kumbha Raasi (Aquarius).
- And when Jupiter enters Meena Raasi (Pisces), Pranahita Pushkaram is celebrated.
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