Hyderabad: The 12-day Ganga Pushkaralu commenced today, drawing lakhs of people to the holy city of Kashi and other pilgrimage sites along the Ganges. It is known that Pushkaralu will be conducted every 12 years to worship rivers and pay reverence to ancestors. As part of the pushkaralu, pilgrims take a dip in the sacred river and perform various rituals for their ancestors. Additionally, there are spiritual discourses, devotional music, and cultural programs to commemorate the occasion. According to legend, a devotee named Pushkara was blessed by Lord Shiva with the ability to live in water and purify holy rivers. Upon the request of Guru Brihaspati, Pushkara decided to enter 12 sacred rivers. In anticipation of the influx of devotees, the Indian Railways arranged special trains from Telugu states to Kashi to help facilitate travel to the pilgrimage site. The Ganga pushkaralu will conclude on May 3, 2023.
