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Krishna Pushkaram: the Krishna river's festival once in 12 years
Twelve years of waiting for twelve days on the river steps
Krishna Pushkaram (Krishna Pushkaralu in Telugu) is the festival of the Krishna river, held once every twelve years for twelve days from the moment Jupiter enters Virgo (Kanya rasi). Pilgrims bathe from ghats along the river, above all in Vijayawada, Amaravati and Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, and perform rites for their ancestors. The last one was held from 12 to 23 August 2016; the Andhra Pradesh government fixes the days of the next one by official order.
The Andhra Pradesh endowments department fixes the twelve days by a government order; for the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu the order came about 18 months ahead.
The legend
Legend says Shiva granted a Brahmin ascetic the power to live in water and purify rivers. He became known as Pushkara, "the one who nourishes".
At the request of Brihaspati, Jupiter, Pushkara enters one of twelve sacred rivers as the planet changes sign. He enters the Krishna when Jupiter is in Virgo.
So each river's festival comes once in twelve years. The first twelve days, the Adi Pushkaram, are held the most sacred.
Customs
Bathing in the Krishna
Pilgrims bathe from ghats along the Krishna, from Vijayawada and Amaravati to Srisailam, believing a dip in these days washes away sins.
Honouring ancestors
On the banks people perform rites for their ancestors, give alms, recite mantras and listen to discourses and devotional music.
Where to celebrate
Vijayawada
Once in twelve years, when Jupiter enters Virgo, Vijayawada's Krishna ghats below the Kanaka Durga hill fill for twelve days of bathing, ancestral rites and evening river worship.
What Pushkaram means
Pushkaram is a cycle of river festivals across twelve sacred rivers of India. Each river is linked to a sign of the zodiac, and its festival comes when Jupiter (Brihaspati) enters that sign, so each river's turn comes round once in twelve years. The Krishna's sign is Virgo. Its festival follows the Godavari Pushkaralu by about a year, as Jupiter moves on from Leo.
The legend, found in medieval astrological texts such as the Jataka Parijata, tells of a Brahmin ascetic to whom Shiva granted the power to live in water and purify rivers. He became known as Pushkara, 'the one who nourishes', and at Jupiter's request enters each river in turn as the planet changes sign. Wikipedia notes that the tradition belongs to medieval astrological lore rather than the early Hindu texts.
In theory the festival lasts the whole year Jupiter spends in Virgo, but the crowds come for the first twelve days, the Adi Pushkaram, held the most sacred. The last twelve days, the Antya Pushkaram, are also considered auspicious.
What people do
The heart of the festival is the holy dip: pilgrims bathe in the Krishna in the belief that a dip in these days washes away sins. On the river banks families perform rites for their ancestors, give alms (dana), recite mantras (japa) and listen to discourses and devotional music, and evening harathi, the river aarti with lamps, is offered on the main ghats.
Where to go
The Krishna Pushkaram is held in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. The Andhra Pradesh ghats below are those used in 2016.
Durga Ghat, Vijayawada
Below the Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri hill: the most crowded ghat, especially on the first day.
Other Vijayawada ghats
Krishnaveni, Padmavathi, Punnami, Bhavani and Sithanagaram ghats. The crowd thins away from Durga Ghat; Punnami and Bhavani are calmer after day 1.
Pavithra Sangamam, Ferry (Ibrahimpatnam)
North-west of Vijayawada, where Godavari water brought by canal joins the Krishna. The 2016 festival opened here with an evening harathi.
Amaravati and Srisailam
Upstream ghats for a quieter dip: Shivalayam and Dhyana Buddha at Amaravati, Patala Ganga at Srisailam.
Telangana
Wikipedia lists Jurala and Beechupally in the Gadwal area (Telangana), and Chikodi and Raichur in Karnataka.
Plan your visit
Pushkaram is a mass gathering, and room prices rise sharply around it.
- Book as soon as the dates are out
Book about nine months ahead, as soon as the government notifies the dates. Vijayawada is a large city and absorbs more pilgrims than Rajahmundry does for the Godavari, but it still fills; Guntur and Amaravati take the overflow.
- Trains
Vijayawada Junction is one of the busiest in the country, and trains sell out when the 60-day booking window opens.
- Avoid day 1
The first day is the peak. Days 3 to 10 make for a more manageable visit.
- Two or three nights
Two nights allow a dawn dip and the evening harathi; a third adds the Kanaka Durga temple and Amaravati.
- Stay safe in the crowd
FCDO notes that stampedes have occurred during events with large crowds in India. Follow police and ghat volunteers, keep to the edges and watch your belongings; respect the dress code at the ghats and temples.
FAQ
What is meant by Pushkaram?
A river festival held once in twelve years on each of twelve sacred rivers, when Jupiter enters the zodiac sign linked to that river. Its first twelve days are the most sacred.
When is the next Krishna Pushkaram?
When Jupiter next enters Virgo, about a year after the Godavari Pushkaralu. The Andhra Pradesh government fixes the twelve days by official order; for the Godavari festival the order came about 18 months ahead.
When was the last Krishna Pushkaram?
From 12 to 23 August 2016, in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.
Where is Krishna Pushkaram celebrated?
On ghats along the Krishna river, above all in Vijayawada, Amaravati and Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, and at places such as Jurala and Beechupally in Telangana.
Which is the most crowded ghat?
Durga Ghat in Vijayawada, below the Kanaka Durga temple, especially on the first day.
Is the festival named after Lord Krishna?
It is named after the Krishna river, one of the twelve Pushkaram rivers; the river is worshipped during the festival.
Sources (4)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.