thumb|right|[[Godavari Pushkaram at Bhadrachalam, 2015]]

Pushkaram is an Indian festival dedicated to worshiping of rivers. It is also known as Pushkaralu (in Telugu), Pushkara (in Kannada) or Pushkar.

It is celebrated at shrines along the banks of 12 major sacred rivers in India, in the form of ancestor worship, spiritual discourses, devotional music and cultural programmes. The celebration happens annually, once in 12 years along each river. Each river is associated with a zodiac sign, and the river for each year's festival is based on which sign Jupiter is in at the time. Due to regional variations, some of the zodiac signs are associated with multiple rivers.

Tradition

According to a legend mentioned in astrology treatises such as Jataka Parijata (1426), a Brahmin was granted a boon by Shiva after severe penance. The boon was that he would be able to live in water and purify the holy rivers. The Brahmin came to be known as Pushkara ("the one who nourishes"). On a request from Bṛhaspati (Jupiter), he decided to enter one of the 12 sacred rivers when Bṛhaspati traveled from one zodiac sign to another.

The rivers

Each river is associated with a zodiac sign, and the river for each year's festival is based on which zodiac sign the planet Jupiter (Bṛhaspati) is in at that time. There are periods when Jupiter is in retrograde motion, resulting in entry into the same Zodiac sign twice in a year. On such occasions, the second entry of Jupiter is reckoned for celebrating the first part of the festival.

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:

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| 9 || Dhanus || Sagittarius || Tapti, (Pushkaravahini); Tapti Pushkaravahini

In Assam, the festival is celebrated on the banks of Brahmaputra river.

| March 29 - April 9, 2019

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| 10 || Makara || Capricorn || Tungabhadra; Tungabhadra Pushkaralu || November 20 - December 1, 2020

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| 11 || Kumbha || Aquarius || Sindhu (Indus); Sindhu Pushkaram || April 6–17, 2021

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| 12 || Mina || Pisces || Pranhita (Parineeta); Pranahita Pushkaralu || April 13–24, 2022

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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), dāna (charity), japa (recitation of mantras), archana and dhyana (meditation). 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.

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

  • Kumbh Mela
  • Godavari Maha Pushkaram
  • Krishna Pushkaram

References

  • Telangana Pushkaralu
  • Thirulalukundram temple pushkaramela

Tungabhdra Pushkatalu