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{{Short description|Hindu festival held every 144 years}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = Godavari Maha Pushkaram
| logo = Godavari river maha pushkaram logo.png
| logo_alt = Godavari river maha pushkaram logo
| logo_caption =
| logo_size = 100px
| image = Sunset at Godavri.JPG
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption = Godavari River at sunset at [[Rajamahendravaram]]
| status =
| genre = [[Hindu festivals]]
| begins =
| ends =
| frequency = {{unbulleted list|every 12 years|every 144 years <small>(Maha Pushkaram)</small>}}
| venue = {{Collapsible list
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0; 
|title=List of major ghats
|1=[[Kotilingala]]
|2=[[Kaleshwaram]]
|3=[[Bhadrachalam]]
|4=[[Dowleswaram]]
|5=[[Rajahmundry]]
|6=[[Kovvur]]
|7=[[Narsapuram]]
|8=[[Antarvedi]]
}}
| location = [[Godavari River]]
| country = India
| prev = {{start date|df=yes|2015|08|14}}
| next = 2027
| participants = 110 million (64 million in Andhra Pradesh and 46 million in Telangana) (official)<ref name="IANS & Business Standard">{{Cite news
|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/over-11-crore-took-dip-in-godavari-during-12-days-115072600384_1.html
|title=Over 11 crore took dip in Godavari during 12 days
|access-date=2015-07-26
|publisher=IANS.in
|newspaper=Business Standard India
|date=26 July 2015
}}</ref>
| attendance =
| capacity =
| area = [[Maharashtra]], [[Telangana]], Chhattisgarh, [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| budget = INR 23 billion (in 2015)
| activity = Holy river dip and worship at the temples on the banks of the river
| leader_name =
| patron =
| organised = 
| people =
| member =
| website = {{URL|www.godavarimahapushkaram.org/|godavarimahapushkaram.org}}
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:Godavari River.png|thumb|right|260px|Course of the Godavari River through the [[South Indian]] Peninsula]]
{{Hinduism}}
'''Godavari Maha Pushkaram''' ({{Lit|Great Worship of the [[Godavari River]]}}) was a [[List of Hindu festivals|Hindu festival]] held from 14 July to 25 July 2015. This festival occurs once every 144 years, corresponding to the 12th recurrence of the 12-year Godavari [[Pushkaram]] cycle.<ref name=Maha>{{Cite web|url=http://www.godavarimahapushkaram.org/2015/06/22/godavari-maha-pushkaram-2015/|title=Godavari Maha Pushkaram 2015|access-date=3 June 2015|publisher=Official website of Godavari Mahapushkaram Organization|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702134335/http://www.godavarimahapushkaram.org/2015/06/22/godavari-maha-pushkaram-2015/|archive-date=2 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The festival starts from the [[Ashadha]] (June/July in the [[Gregorian calendar]]) month on the [[Chaturdashi]] [[thithi]] (14th day), when planet [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]] enters the zodiac sign [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]].<ref name=Maha/>{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=921}} The festival is "theoretically" observed throughout the twelve months that the planet remains in that sign, but the first 12 days are considered most sacred.<ref name="Eenadu">{{Cite web |url=http://www.eenaduindia.com/State/AndhraPradhesh/2015/06/11160715/Chandrababu-reviews-Godavari-Maha-Pushkaram.vpf |title=CM Chandrababu reviews Godavari 'Maha Pushkaram' |access-date=2015-06-11 |publisher=Eenadu India.com |archive-date=2 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702123812/http://www.eenaduindia.com/State/AndhraPradhesh/2015/06/11160715/Chandrababu-reviews-Godavari-Maha-Pushkaram.vpf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Maha/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/07/26/stories/2003072601020300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724102437/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/07/26/stories/2003072601020300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-07-24 |title=Holy Dip |author=Ranee Kumar |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=2003-07-26 }}</ref>{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=921}} The first 12 days of the Godavari Pushkaram are known as "Aadhi Pushkaram" and the last 12 days are titled "Anthya Pushkaralu".{{Sfn|Pillai|1996|p=14}} The next Maha Pushkaram will be celebrated in 2159.<ref name=Maha/>

At least 27 pilgrims, 13 of them women, died and 20 others were injured in a stampede at a major bathing spot on the banks of the Godavari river where a huge crowd of devotees had gathered on the opening day of 'Pushkaram' festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-07-14/news/64405897_1_holy-dip-godavari-river-pushkaram|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729212354/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-07-14/news/64405897_1_holy-dip-godavari-river-pushkaram|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 July 2015|title=Business News Today: Read Latest Business news, India Business News Live, Share Market & Economy News}}</ref>

==Etymology==
"Maha" means "great" and [[Pushkaram]] refers to the worship of the river in which the god Pushkar appears every 12 years.<ref name=Time/> Pushakaram is spelled Pushkaralu in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], Pushkaram in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], Pushkara in [[Kannada language|Kannada]], and Pushkar in [[Hindi language|Hindi]].

==Background==

{{main|Pushkaram}}
[[Pushkaram]] is an [[Hindu]] festival dedicated to worshiping of 12 sacred rivers. 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 Bruhaspathi ([[Planets in astrology#Jupiter|Jupiter]]) is in at the time.{{sfn|Dalal|2014|pp=921–}} It is believed that bathing in the sacred river during Pushkaram cleanses the devotees of their sins.<ref name=Time/>

Godavari is one of the 12 sacred rivers, and the ''Godavari Pushkaram'' takes place once every 12 years, when the Jupiter is in the [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]] sign. The ''Maha Pushkaram'' ("Great Pushkaram") takes place once every 144 years.

==Festival dates==
The 2015 Godavari Pushkaram is believed to be a ''Maha Pushkaram'', which happens once in 144 years. In 2015, Jupiter enters Leo on 14 July 2015 (Tuesday) at 6.26 am [[Indian Standard Time|IST]], when the Maha Pushkaram begins, and ends after 12 days on 25 July 2015 (Saturday).<ref name=Time>{{cite news |url=http://www.news19.in/godavari-pushkaralu-2015-schedule-pushkar-ghat-details/|title=Godavari Pushkaralu 2015 schedule Pushkar Ghat Details |access-date=4 July 2015 |date=9 June 2015 |publisher=News19}}</ref>

Multiple [[almanac]] writers and other skeptics have disputed that the 2015 Godavari Pushkaram was a "Maha Pushkaram". According to Hanmanthavajjula Subrahmanya Sarma, the president of State Drukghanitha Almanac Writers’ Association, the "theory of 144 years is a myth", and nobody knows "who calculated it and how they calculated it".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140718/nation-current-affairs/article/%E2%80%98144-yr%E2%80%99-confusion-grips-pushkaram |title=Confusion over '144 Year' old Godavari Kumba Mela grips Pushkaram |date=2014-07-18 |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle }}</ref>

==Details of locations==
The places on the banks of the [[Godavari River]] where pilgrims visit famous temples are in the five districts of [[Telangana]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]]. The notable places are Manthani, [[Basar, Telangana|Basar]], [[Dharmapuri, Telangana|Dharmapuri]], [[Koti Lingala]], [[Kaleshwaram]] and [[Bhadrachalam]]<ref name=Rama>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/bhadrachalam-readies-for-pushkaralu/article7419571.ece|title=Bhadrachalam readies for Pushkaralu|access-date=14 July 2015|date=14 July 2015|work=The Hindu}}</ref> in Telangana and [[Rajahmundry]],<ref name=Raj>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/volunteers-flocking-to-rajahmundry/article7409400.ece|title= Volunteers flocking to Rajahmundry|access-date=14 July 2015|date=14 July 2015|work=The Hindu}}</ref> [[Kovvur]], [[Narasapuram]], [[Antarvedi]] in Andhra Pradesh.

==Facilities==
The Maha Pushkaram festival in 2015 attracted 48.1 million people in Andhra Pradesh and 57 million people in the Telangana state link from all parts of India.<ref name="th2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/481-cr-pilgrims-in-pushkaram-event/article7464734.ece|title=4.81 cr. pilgrims took holy dip in Godavari Pushkaram: AP Minister|access-date=2015-07-25|newspaper=The Hindu|date=25 July 2015|last1=Bureau|first1=Andhra Pradesh}}</ref> On this occasion, it is essential to take a holy dip in the Godavari River to get the supposed benefits of better physical and mental abilities.<ref name="thehindu1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/godavari-pushkaralu/article7363185.ece|title=Godavari Pushkaralu|access-date=2015-06-28|newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 June 2015}}</ref> The Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have made all arrangements for this event in their respective states by constructing [[ghat]]s for bathing and improving roadways, basic amenities of water supply and sanitation, and security. In Andhra Pradesh. the budget allocated for improvement of infrastructure facilities was INR 12.95 billion.<ref name="Eenadu"/>

==Symbolism==
[[File:Godavari pushkaralu 2015 at Rajamandry-7.jpg|thumb|left|Stage of Godavari Harathi in Rajamundry]]
[[File:River Godavari at Bhadrachalam during Pushkaram in 2015.JPG|thumb|Devotees taking a holy dip at [[Bhadrachalam]] during Maha Pushkaram in 2015]]
An emblem titled "Godavari Maha Pushkaram 2015" and "Godavari Pushkaramalu" has been adopted by the state governments for this festival, and a special organization under the same name has also been instituted to address all issues related to the smooth functioning of the festive event. The emblem or logo with a simple design has lines to denote the rapid flow conditions of the Godavari River, a "jyoti" a glowing light, and the representation of offering oblation, called "Arghyam", to [[Surya]], the Sun god.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/andhra-pradesh-govt-chalks-out-grand-plans-for-godavari-maha-pushkaram/ | title=Andhra Pradesh govt chalks out grand plans for Godavari 'Maha Pushkaram|date=20 May 2015|author=PTI|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>

Another symbolic event<ref name="BridgeCounty">{{Cite web|url=http://bridgecounty.com/wordpress/2015/07/21/godavari-mahpushkaram-recap-of-last-7-days |access-date=22 July 2015 |url-status=dead |title=Godavari Mahpushkaram Recap of last 7 days |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723044419/http://bridgecounty.com/wordpress/2015/07/21/godavari-mahpushkaram-recap-of-last-7-days/ |archive-date=23 July 2015}}</ref> proposed during the festival is to hold "Sobha Yatra", a procession carrying the [[sacred waters]] of the Godavari River to be mixed with water bodies in all the villages in the 13 districts which lie within the ambit of the Godavari River.<ref name="BridgeCounty"/>

A religious symbolic performance called the "Godavari Arathi", a ritual of worship with a number of lamps is also proposed to be held at Rajahmundry where the river flows out to the sea.<ref name=Maha/>

== See also ==

*[[List of largest gatherings in history]]
*[[Pushkaram]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last= Dalal |first=Roshen |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT921 |date=18 April 2014 |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |isbn=978-81-8475-277-9 }}
*{{cite book |last= Pillai |first=L.D.S. |title=Panchang and Horoscope |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vV1s4T8y8J8C&pg=PA14|date=1 December 1996 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0258-8 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Godavari Pushkaram}}
{{Wikivoyage|Rajahmundry}}
* [http://pushkaralu.telangana.gov.in/ Godavari Pushkaralu Telangana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108141939/https://pushkaralu.telangana.gov.in/ |date=8 January 2023 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160911150140/http://www.lakshadeepam-vedhagiriswarartemple.thirukalukundram.in/pushkaramela.html thirukalukundram temple pushkaramela ]

{{Pushkaram}}
{{HinduFestivals|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Festivals in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Festivals in Telangana]]
[[Category:Cultural festivals in India]]
[[Category:Godavari River]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimages]]
[[Category:Human stampedes in 2015]]
[[Category:Human stampedes in India]]
[[Category:Rajahmundry]]
[[Category:Religious tourism in India]]
[[Category:Water and Hinduism]]
[[Category:1991 in India]]
[[Category:2003 in India]]
[[Category:2015 in India]]
[[Category:June observances]]
[[Category:July observances]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]

Godavari Maha Pushkaram - Revision history

Associatedin21 at 04:08, 9 February 2026