The Hindu : All set for Godavari 'pushkaram'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

All set for Godavari 'pushkaram'

By Dasu Kesava Rao

A woman letting a lamp float in the Godavari on the eve of the Pushkaram at Rajahmundry on Tuesday. — Photo: Satish . H.

HYDERABAD July 29. The stage is set for the Godavari pushkarams — the eagerly awaited event of immense religious significance for Hindus — at 12.59 tomorrow.

About 30 million people are expected to take a holy dip during the 12-day pushkarams in the Godavari along its meandering course in Andhra Pradesh, from Kaaleswaram in Karimnagar district to Antervedi in East Godavari, where it joins the Bay of Bengal. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, will take a dip in the river at Rajahmundry, where most pilgrims are expected, at 12.59 p.m., the precise moment when Jupiter (Brihaspathi) enters Leo (Simha). The Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, will participate at Bhadrachalam, the abode of Lord Rama.

Conducting the once-in-12-years mega event smoothly is the major preoccupation of the State administration. Rajahmundry town, the age-old seat of Telugu culture, literature and fine arts, and Basar, which houses a unique shrine of Goddess Saraswati, have been decked up for the occasion.

The swirling Godavari, which is quite turbulent at Nasik in Maharashtra, is much subdued in downstream Telangana centres such as Dharmapuri, where the levels are too low for the comfort of pilgrims. Further down, the river is in near spate at Bhadrachalam and Rajahmundry, endangering the prospects of a safe dip for the tens of thousands of pilgrims who have already reached the place. However, the levels are falling `by the hour'. `Pushkarams' have a deep spiritual significance for the Hindus, who have an abiding tradition of worshipping rivers. They believe that on occasions like the pushkarams, the rivers are invested with divinity.

A holy dip in the hallowed waters of the Godavari, it is believed, will enhance one's spiritual, mental and physical abilities. The Godavari `pushkarams' are also unique that `Antya Pushkaram' follows the 12-day event during the last 12 days of the year.

The star attraction at Rajahmundry is the giant-sized Sivalinga. Water from the Godavari is drawn to the lingam and the pilgrims can take bath under its showers. For the benefit of pilgrims, replicas of important shrines in Andhra Pradesh have been built in the town. An exquisitely sculpted image of Pushkarudi flanked by Godavari matha and Simha, brought from Chennai, will be unveiled at Rajahmundry tomorrow.

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