Pushkaralu Festival : Varanasi
The 12-day Pushkaralu festival of Telugu-speaking people began on April 22 in Varanasi.
- Pushkaram is a festival celebrated in India once every 12 years, dedicated to worshipping the 12 sacred rivers.
- Each river is associated with a zodiac sign, and the festival is based on the position of Jupiter at the time Once in 12 years
- Associated Rivers are Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Bhima, Tapti, Narmada, Saraswati, Tungabhadra, Sindhu, Pranhita
- Festival Duration 12 days after Jupiter enters that particular zodiac sign
- Purpose is Ancestor worship; Bathing in the sacred river during Pushkaram is believed to cleanse the devotees of their sins
- The devotee Pushkara was blessed by Lord Shiva with the ability to live in water and purify holy rivers. On a request from Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Pushkara decided to enter one of the 12 sacred rivers
