Godavari pushkaram

Godavari pushkaram is a festival of River Godavari which occurs once in 12 years.The pushkaram festival last held in the year 2003.
The next festival,Godavari  Pushkaram is in 2015.
During Godavari pushkaram pilgrims from all over the country will have a holy dip with  the  belief that they would be relieved from all sins,
and perform rituals to departed souls.It is believed that during pushkaram all deities and rishies take holy dip,
a holy dip in Godavari which will enhance one's spritual,mental and physical abilities.

  Pushkaram is a festival of rivers pertains to 12 important rivers in India  which occurs once in 12 years for each river.
The river for each year festival is  based on the presence of Jupiter on which Zodiac sign by that time.
The pushkaram lasts  for a period as long as the Jupiter remains in that particular Zodiac sign 

 Name of the river         Zodiac sign  

    Ganges                                  Aries
   Narmada                                Taurus
   Saraswathi                             Gemini
   Yamuna                                 Cancer
   Godavari                                Leo         
   Krishna                                  Virgo       
   Kaveri                                    libra
   Tambrapani                           Scorpio 
   Brahmaputhra                       Sagittarius
   Tungabhadra                         Capricom   
   Indus                                     Aquarius  

   Pranahita                               Pisces 


          It is believed that Pushkarudu, also known as pushkar God  who is powerful to make any river holy will travel with Jupiter,
as Jupiter travels from one Zodiac sign to another Zodiac sign.
 The first 12 days of Godavari pushkaram is called Aadhi pushkaram and the last 12 days of Godavari pushkaram is called Anthya pushkaram.
 These 24 days are very pious to devotees,as pushkaradu travels during these days.

 Godavari originates at Triumbakam, Nasik district of Maharastra
  State and flows through southern state of Andhra Pradesh and reaches the Bay of Bengal.

        Andhra pradesh state has many temple towns on the banks of river Godavari.Basara in Adilabad district, kalaiswaram, Dharmapuri in karimnagar district,Badrachalam in khammam district, Rajahmundry, Antervedi in East godavari district, kovvur,pattiseema in west godavari district are some  places prominently connected with river Godavari in Andhra pradesh.
 A large number of piligrims throng in to these places during pushkarams.
        Government make arrangements for piligrims during pushkarams.In the year 2003 above two crores pilgrims have attended the festival in Rajahmundry. 

In Basara Gnana sarasavathi temple of Goddess saravathi loacated on the banks of river Godavari .

      A giant size Sivalingam is    special  attraction in  Rajahmundry .

  Water is drawn from Godavari  to Sivalingam and facilitate the    Piligrims to take bath under showers.

         Since  INDIA has the people of different languages with different cultures and traditions, 

Pushkaram make all the people gather at one place,shows the unity in diversity.

Godavari  is also having other name called Gowthami.

             The South central Railway in India has introduced two trains,namely "Godavari Express" and "Gowthami Express" and they will travel acoss Godavari river,crossing the river between Rajahmundry and Kuvvuru.

There are two railway bridges,one road cum rail bridge and the other only railway bridge and these two bridges are built over river  GODAVARI, connecting  RAJAHMUNDRY  AND  KOVVURU.                             

          
        There is also a Railway Station Named "Godavari Railway Station " in Rajahmundry, which is existing in the proximity of River Godavari.  During pushkaram's, south central railway will make special arrangements at Godavari railway station so as to deal with heavy rush of pilgrims.