Pushkaram

Godavari Pushkaram at Bhadrachalam, 2015

Pushkaram is an Indian festival dedicated to worshiping of rivers. It is also known as Pushkaralu (in Telugu), Pushkara 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.[1]

Mythology

According to a legend mentioned in astrology treatises such as Jataka Parijata (1426), a Brahmin was granted a boon from 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

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,(Ganges)Ganga Pushkaram April 22 - May 5, 2023
2 Vrishabha Taurus Narmada, Narmada Pushkaram April 22 - May 5, 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, Godavari in Maharashtra Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.Godavari Maha Pushkaram 2027
6 Kanya Virgo Krishna, Krishna in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, the festival is celebrated at the Sangu Theertham tank at Vedagiriswarar temple.Krishna Pushkaralu August 12–23, 2016
7 Tula Libra Kaveri, Kaveri Pushkaram September 12–23, 2017
8 Vrishchika Scorpio Bhima, Bhima in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana. In Tamil Nadu, the festival is celebrated on the banks of Tamraparni (Thamirabarani) river.Bhima Pushkaram September 12–23, 2018
9 Dhanus Sagittarius Tapti, (Pushkaravahini). In Assam, the festival is celebrated on the banks of Brahmaputra river.Tapti Pushkaravahini March 29 - April 9, 2019
10 Makara Capricorn Tungabhadra, Tungabhadra Pushkaralu March 30 - April 10, 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), dāna (charity), japa (recitation of mantras), archana and dhyana (meditation).[2]

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.[5] 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" the person, who is imbued with the power to make any river holy, will travel with Jupiter as Jupiter moves from one Zodiac house to another.

In Telugu-speaking states, Pushkaram is celebrated across Godavari, Krishna, Pranhita[6] and Penna rivers.

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

  1. 1 2 Roshen Dalal (18 April 2014). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 921–. ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Shrikala Warrier (2014). Kamandalu: The Seven Sacred Rivers of Hinduism. Mayur. pp. 25–26. ISBN 9780953567973.
  3. ↑ L.D.S. Pillai (1 December 1996). Panchang and Horoscope. Asian Educational Services. p. 14. ISBN 978-81-206-0258-8.
  4. ↑ Pillai, L.D.S. (1 December 1996). Panchang and Horoscope. Asian Educational Services. p. 14. ISBN 978-81-206-0258-8.
  5. ↑ Ranee Kumar (2003-07-26). "Holy Dip". The Hindu.
  6. ↑ "Pranahita Pushkaram from today". The Times of India. 2015-12-06.
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