Srirangam geared up for Pushkaram festivities

SRIRANGAM is set to host the 144-old-year traditional event of Pushkaram festival in the Cauvery from September 12 to Sep-tember 23, said Sri Parasara Lakshmi Narasimha Shatter, one of the organisers of the Cauvery Pushkaram Festival. Addressing media persons, Shatter said, "Pushkaram festi-val is celebrated in shrines along the banks of 12 major rivers including the Ganga, Yamuna, Sindhu,Thamiraparani and Cauvery. Pushkaram celebration happens annually, but once in 12 years along with each river. Each river is associated with a zodiac sign with the river for each year's
festival based on which sign Jupiter is in at that time.

Due to regional variations, some of the zodiac signs are associated with multiple rivers. Libra is the zodiac sign for Cauvery" The last Pushkaram at Tiruchy was held in Srirangam in 2005. The organiser of the event said the celebrations would consist of ancestral worshipping, yagas, and poojas. Following this, devotees from various parts of the country shall take a holy dip in the rivers to wash their sins off. During the 12-day celebration senior pontiffs including the 46th Srimath Azhagiya Singar of Ahobilam and others from various parts of the country would be present to offer their blessings to the devotees. It may be noted that legal notices from Madras High Court Bench were issued to the Central and Sate governments for providing necessary arrangements for the forthcoming Cauvery Maha Pushkaram in Tiruchy.  The district administration and the city Corporation have started the preparatory work for conducting the traditional event in the city. Fol-lowing that as the dates have been nearing all the hotels near the Srirangam temple were get-ting booked by the devotees from different States. Compared to previous years, the footfalls for the auspicious event this year is expected to be over 50,000 per day during the festival.
Source: epaper.newindianexpress.com//c/21676342