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 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.
On the occasion of the Godavari Pushkaralu at Basar, Telangana ‘Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’ will undertake activities of Dharmashikshan & Dharma-jagruti from 14th July to 25th July 2015.
Three easy ways to donate
All donations to ‘Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’ are exempt from Income Tax under The Income Tax Act 1961 Section 80G. Also we accept donation from Indian citizens only. (As we are not registered with FCRA, we do not accept foreign donations.)
In case you choose to donate through option 2 or 3, in order to receive the receipt of the donation kindly mail us your full name and address with transaction details. Our email address for communication is : [email protected]
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1. Electronic Donation
2. Direct transfer
To donate using direct transfer please email us with the subject “Donation for Godavari Pushkaralu 2015” on the email [email protected] for the suitable process.
3. By Cheque / DD
Please note that the cheque / demand draft (DD) should be drawn on the name of ‘Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’.
You may send the cheques/DD to below address
C/o Sanatan Ashram
24/B, Ramnathi
Bandivade, Ponda
GOA – 403 401
India
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.
The Pushkaram is part of the Hindu . 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:
| River | Rashi (Hindu zodiac sign) | Corresponding Western zodiac sign |
|---|---|---|
| Ganges | Mesha | Aries |
| Narmada | Vrishabha | Taurus |
| Saraswati | Mithuna | Gemini |
| Yamuna | Karka | Cancer |
| Godavari | Simha | Leo |
| Krishna | Kanya | Virgo |
| Sangu Theertham tank at Vedagiriswarar temple | Kanya | Virgo |
| Kaveri | Tula | Libra |
| Bhima | Vrishchika | Scorpio |
| Tamraparni (Thamirabarani) | Vrishchika | Scorpio |
| Tapti (Pushkaravahini) | Dhanus | Sagittarius |
| Tungabhadra | Makara | Capricorn |
| Sindhu (Indus) | Kumbha | Aquarius |
| Pranhita (Parineeta) | Mina | Pisces |
Celebration of Godavari Pushkaralu
Pushkaram celebrations include reverence of ancestors, spiritual discourses, devotional music and cultural programmes. 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. 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 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.
