From September 12 to 24, the ghats of the river Cauvery will wear a festive look, with arrangements in place to celebrate Maha Pushkaram.
The movement of Jupiter from one planet to another, also means that Pushkar, who resides in the kamandal of Brahma, moves to the river, to which the planet’s rasi belongs.
This year, Guru (Jupiter) shifts from Kanya to Thula, which is the rasi of Cauvery, and will be celebrated on a grand scale across the State, where the river flows. Since the phenomenon is happening after 144 years, it is called Maha Pushkar.
Although all the ghats are significant, the one at Mayiladuturai is singled out as special.
According to Cauvery Mahatmyam, bathing in the river here once during Thula is equivalent to 1,000 dips in the Ganges. Also all the rivers, including the Ganga, merge here to cleanse themselves. The heads of all the maths of Tamil Nadu, including Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, are guiding the Pushkar Committee and supervising the arrangements. All of them will be present during the 12 days of the festival.
The committee has been conducting pujas at various bathing ghats of the Cauvery to invoke rain. The festival was inaugurated on March 21, when Varuna Japam was performed in the river at Tiruvaiyaru.
Rituals on the banks
The State Government, which is coordinating with the organisers in the smooth conduct of the event, has taken steps to fill the ghats with water, if the Monsoon does not bring enough rain, for devotees to bathe. Several rituals and pujas will be conducted on the banks and in the temples around Mayiladuturai. Tirtavari and procession of deities are on the agenda. Homams and chanting of Vedas, Sahasranamam, cultural activities and Aarti in the evenings have been planned. A national conference of ascetics will take place at the Jain Hall. Contact the coordinator 044 2815 2533 and 9840053289.