Krishna Pushkaram – Time for the holy dip in holy rivers

Pushkaram is an Indian festival dedicated to worshiping of rivers. 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 programs. 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 that time.

The Zodiac signs, Rivers and the next Pushkaram date are as follows

Pushkaram celebrations include the reverence of ancestors, spiritual discourses, devotional music and cultural programs. The devotees engage in activities such as snana (bath in the river), dana (charity), japa (recitation of mantras), archana and dhyana (meditation).

The Krishna river is the fourth largest river, which is about 1,300 kilometers long. It originates from Mahabaleswar of Maharashtra and exits into the Bay of Bengal at Hamsaladeevi. The river flows through Karnataka and ends its journey in Andhra Pradesh before reaching its final destination of Bay of Bengal. Most of the Krishna River is connected with Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.

Krishna Pushkaralu is a festival of River Krishna, which normally occurs once in 12 years. The Pushkaralu is observed for a period of 12 days from the time of entry of Jupiter into Virgo (Kanya rasi).

Vijayawada is located on the banks of the Krishna River. The Krishna Pushkaralu will be held from August 12th to 23rd. During the celebrations, devotees will take a dip in the sacred Krishna River to wash away their sins.

The legend says, there lived a Brahmin in a village, who has done severe penance towards Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva got pleased with his devotion and dedication and granted a boon, with a power to purify the holy rivers. Thenceforth he was known as Pushkar (the one who nourishes). While traveling from one zodiac sign to another, Brihaspati aka Jupiter requested Pushkar to make the 12 sacred rivers holy.

The festival lasts as long as Jupiter remains in the corresponding zodiac sign. Major crowds will throng during the first 12 days. The first 12 days when the Jupiter enters the zodiac sign and the last 12 days when it exits the zodiac sign are considered to be most auspicious. 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 will be traveling to Jupiter as it moves from one Zodiac sign to another and will be making any river holy.

By Premji