India is a country of innumerable sacred rivers and rivulets. Such rivers have become Thirthas. The Thirthas have the reputation of washing away the sins of the sinners.
The most important sacred rivers of North India are the Ganga, the Yamuna, the mythical Saraswathi and the Brahamaputra. The notable rivers flowing in the South India are the Godavari, the Krishna, the Narmada, the Tungabahdra, the Tambrapani and the Cauveri.
The rivers that flow into the Sea have the distinction of being called the Mahanadis. The Godavari is Mahanadi and it has a sacred history in the Puranas. It has also got the fame of being called the Saptha Godavari as it merges with the sea in seven streams. In the Telengana region the Godavari is considered as the Ganga. The Skanda Purana contains an elaborate account of the holiness of the Godavari.
From the Heaven to the Earth
The great sage Gouthama who was an ardent Shiva Bhaktha performed a rigorous penance in South India and brought down to the earth the Tripadaga lodged in the tresses of Lord Shiva. This spot on earth is called Triambaka which is the source of the Godavari. It is a pilgrim center and is in Nasik district of Maharastra. From here, the Godavari menders into Andhra Pradesh.
“Saptha Godavari Thirtham Sarva Thirthotham”
Renowned sages have opined that among all the Thirthams the saptha Godavari Thirtham is the best. The Godavari after leaving the territory of Maharastra flows through the Districts of Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Khammam, Warangal, Wets& East Godavari Districts of Andhra Pradesh. The river branches into seven streams at Rajamahendravaram in East Godavari District and merges with the Eastern Sea at Antharvedi. The Manjira and the Sabiri are the tributaries of the Godavari.
The importance of Pushkarams
Though there are innumerable rives in India only twelve of them have a unique stature of their own, the celebration of the Pushkarams. The Pushkarams occur according o the transit of the planet Brihaspathi into various Rasis.
| 1. The Ganga | Mesha Rasi |
| 2. The Narmada | Vrishaba Rasi |
| 3. The Saraswathi | Mithunam Rasi |
| 4. The Yamuna | Karkataka Rasi |
| 5. The Godavari | Simham Rasi |
| 6. The Krishna | Kanya Rasi |
| 7. The Cauveri | Tula Rasi |
| 8. The Bhimarathi | Vrischikam Rasi |
| 9. The Brahamaputra | Dhanus Rasi |
| 10.The Tungabhadra | Makaram Rasi |
| 11. The Sindhu | Khumbham Rasi |
| 12. The Pranitha | Minam Rasi |
When the twelve Mahanadi thirthas and the benevolent Pushakra are present in the Godavari, it is called the Pushkaram. The sacred time comes once in twelve years. Of this time twelve days after Brihaspathi enters Simha Rasi are called Pushkaram, Twelve days before Brihaspathi enters Kanya Rasi are called he Final Pushkaram. During the first twelve days the Godavari shrines in all its glory in the presence of Pushkara and followed by is retinue.
Pushkara Snana Mahima
“Janma Pabrithi yatpapam striya purusheva
pushkara snath matrasya sarvameva pranashyathi”
The Puranas enjoin that the people should bathe, do charity, offer oblations to the gods to the memory of the ancestors and thus reap rich results and souls satisfaction
Pushkarams of 2025
From May 15 to May 26, the sacred Godavari Pushkarams occur. In this connection, pilgrims from throughout India in large numbers perform holy dip, charity and oblations, and worship and offer Abhishekam in temples in various places on the banks of the river in the East & West Godavari districts in A.P., besides some parts in Telangana like Bhadrachalam, Kaleswaram, Dharma puri in Basar. Elaborate arrangements have to be made for the stay, worship, etc of the pilgrims as was done in connection with Kumbhamela at Allahabad; the charitable institutions (under the Endowments Department) have got to make arrangements for free supply of food, Pulihora packets, butter milk, drinking water, medical aid etc.,
The temples require repairs, painting, and electric illumination. Queue lines have to be erected. Bathing ghats have got to be built. Some of these temples, the financial position of which is not sound, require grants from the General Welfare Fund.
Further, the Government of Andhra Pradesh have constituted the following committees to have effective coordination and systematic arrangements to facilitate the visiting public in connection with Godavari Pushkarams, 2002.
1) Cabinet Sub-Committee
2) Committee of Secretaries to Government.
3) Non- Official and Official Committees at District Level.
A survey has been taken up along with river bund Godavari for identifying the places where the construction of bathing ghats renovation of temples and strengthening river bund are to be taken up wherever necessary.
The major Department have submitted their plan of action and estimated cost keeping in view the experiences during the last Pushakarams in this connection, is annexed as annexure – I.
The total estimated expenditure is 8847.58 Lakhs for making elaborate arrangements in connection with Godavari Pushkarams besides some other expenditure in various normal Department schemes.