Pushkaram

2025-11-04T03:49:35Z

2405:201:C00D:214A:50AD:2778:57C1:37E2: /* Tradition */

{{Short description|Indian river worship festival}}
{{Distinguish|Pushkar Fair}}
[[File:River Godavari at Bhadrachalam during Pushkaram in 2015.JPG|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 language|Telugu]]), ''Pushkara'' (in [[Kannada language|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 [[Hindu astrology#Zodiac|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.<ref name="Roshen2014">{{cite book |author=Roshen Dalal |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT921 |date=18 April 2014 |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |isbn=978-81-8475-277-9 |pages=921–}}</ref>

== Tradition ==

According to a legend mentioned in astrology treatises such as ''[[Jataka Parijata]]'' (1426), a [[Brahmin]] was granted a boon by [[Shiva]] after severe [[tapas (Sanskrit)|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.<ref name="Shrikala_2014">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qNhiCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA25 |title=Kamandalu: The Seven Sacred Rivers of Hinduism |year=2014 |author=Shrikala Warrier |publisher=Mayur |isbn=9780953567973 |pages=25–26 }}</ref>

== The rivers ==

Each river is associated with a zodiac sign, and the river for each year's festival is based on which [[Hindu astrology#Rāśi – zodiacal signs|zodiac sign]] the planet [[Jupiter]] ([[Bṛhaspati]]) is in at that time.<ref name="LDS1996">{{cite book |author=L.D.S. Pillai |title=Panchang and Horoscope |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vV1s4T8y8J8C&pg=PA14 |date=1 December 1996 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0258-8 |page=14 }}</ref> There are periods when Jupiter is in [[apparent retrograde motion|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.<ref>{{cite book |last= Pillai |first=L.D.S. |title=Panchang and Horoscope |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vV1s4T8y8J8C&pg=PA14|date=1 December 1996 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0258-8 |page=14 }}</ref>

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 River|Bhima]] is associated with Scorpio sign, while in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Thamirabarani River|Tamraparni]] is associated with it. The sacred rivers include:<ref name="Roshen2014"/><ref name="Shrikala_2014"/>{{rp|32}}

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Rashi ([[Hindu zodiac]] sign) || Corresponding [[Western zodiac]] sign || River !! Next Pushkaram
|-
| 1 || [[Mesha (Indian astrology)|Mesha]] || [[Aries (astrology)|Aries]] || [[Ganga]]; [[Ganga Pushkaram]]|| April 22 - May 5, 2023
|-
| 2 || Vrishabha|| [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]] || [[Narmada River|Narmada]]; [[Narmada Pushkaram]] || May 1-13, 2024
|-
| 3 || Mithuna || [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]] || [[Sarasvati River|Saraswati]]; [[Sarasvati Pushkaram]] || May 15–26, 2025
|-
| 4 || [[Karkata (astrology)|Karka]] || [[Cancer (astrology)|Cancer]] || [[Yamuna]]; [[Yamuna Pushkaram]] || June 2–13, 2026
|-
| 5 || Simha || [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]] || [[Godavari River|Godavari]]; [[Godavari Pushkaram]]|| July 27 - August 03, 2027
|-
| 6 || Kanya || [[Virgo (astrology)|Virgo]] || [[Krishna River|Krishna]], Krishna in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh; [[Krishna Pushkaralu]]
In [[Tamil Nadu]], the festival is celebrated at the ''Sangu Theertham'' tank at [[Vedagiriswarar temple]].
| August 12–23, 2028
|-
| 7 || Tula || [[Libra (astrology)|Libra]] || [[Kaveri River|Kaveri]]; [[Kaveri Pushkaram]] || September 12–23, 2029
|-
| 8 || Vrishchika || [[Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio]] || [[Bhima River|Bhima]], Bhima in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana; [[Bhima Pushkaram]] and
[[Thamirabarani River|Tamraparni]] river in Tamil Nadu.
| October 12–23, 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2018/may/22/tamil-nadu-thamirabarani-maha-pushkaram-in-october-1817839.html|title = Tamil Nadu: Thamirabarani Maha Pushkaram in October| date=22 May 2018 }}</ref>
|-
| 9 || Dhanus || [[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]] || [[Tapti River|Tapti]], (Pushkaravahini); Tapti Pushkaravahini
In [[Assam]], the festival is celebrated on the banks of [[Brahmaputra River|Brahmaputra river]].
| March 29 - April 9, 2019
|-
| 10 || [[Maraka (Hindu astrology)|Makara]] || [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]] || [[Tungabhadra]]; [[Tungabhadra Pushkaralu]] || November 20 - December 1, 2020
|-
| 11 || Kumbha || [[Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius]] || [[Sindhu]] (Indus); Sindhu Pushkaram || April 6–17, 2021
|-
| 12 || Mina || [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]] || [[Pranhita River|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 (Hinduism)|archana]]'' and ''[[dhyana in Hinduism|dhyana]]'' (meditation).<ref name="Shrikala_2014"/>

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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/07/26/stories/2003072601020300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724102437/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/07/26/stories/2003072601020300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-07-24 |title=Holy Dip |author=Ranee Kumar |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=2003-07-26 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Shrikala_2014"/> 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|date=December 2014}}

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: Kaleshwaram-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. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Pranahita-Pushkaram-from-today/articleshow/7049961.cms |title=Pranahita Pushkaram from today |date=2015-12-06 |newspaper=The Times of India }}</ref>

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==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Pushkaram}}
* [http://pushkaralu.telangana.gov.in/ Telangana Pushkaralu]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160911150140/http://www.lakshadeepam-vedhagiriswarartemple.thirukalukundram.in/pushkaramela.html Thirulalukundram temple pushkaramela]

[[Tungabhadra Pushkaralu|Tungabhdra Pushkatalu]]

[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Water and Hinduism]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]

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Pushkaram