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Now
turn to details, and a little probe will be quite rewarding.
Legends speak that Brihaspathi - the Devaguru enters into each of
the twelve rasis and lives in it for one full year. Just at this
auspicious moment, Pushkar along with his three and half crore
thirthas, and Maharshis join him and make the water holy. The
Ganga Pushkaram begins with the advent of Brihaspathi in the Mesha
rasi and he lives there for one full year. Like wise when he enters
in Vrishabharasi , Narmada Pushkaram; Saraswathi Pushkaram when in
Mithinarasi; Yamuna Pushkaram when in Karkatarasi, Godavari
Pushkaram when in Simharasi, Krishna Pushkaram when in Kanyarasi;
Kaveri Pushkaram
when in Tularasi; Bhimarathi Pushkaram when in Vrischika rasi;
Pushkara Pushkaram when in Dhanurasi; Tingabhadra Pushkaram when in
Makararasi; Sindhu Pushkaram when in Kumbharasi and Praneetha
Pushkaram when in Meenarasi are celebrated with all pomp and
splendour due. The first twelve days of the year of his entering are
held very sacred. Then the thirtha raj Pushkar and his horde of
three and half of crore thirthas dwell making the water sacred.
Along with the first 12 days of his entering, and twelve days before
his leaving are deemed very auspicious and so people in crores,
undergoing all hardships go to the rivers and follow scriptual
injuctions, like bathing, gifting, feeding etc. For twelve
days, the whole river banks reverberate with song and gaiety and it
becomes a Herculean task to the governments to regulate and look
after the visiting pious men for bath and other activities. Some
states spend crores of rupees to make elaborate preparations for the
successful conduct of these festivals to the comfort of
people. Religiosity reaches the apex and devotion enjoys its
heyday.
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