Cauvery Pushkaram is a festival of River Cauvery which comes once in 12 years. It is celebrated when Jupiter transits through Tula Rashi (Guru Peyarchi in Thula Rashi).
In 2017, Cauvery Pushkaram begins on September 12 and ends on September 23. This time it is even more significant as it falls during Dasara Navaratri. According to Tamil Calendar, Kaveri Pushkaram begins on 27th of Avani month, Hevilambi year and ends on Sunday, 8th of Purattasi month.
Cauvery Pushkaram is celebrated mainly in two states – Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Tamil Nadu is considered very significant since Kaveri River covers more area in Tamil Nadu than any other state.
The origin of the river is at Talakaveri, Kodagu in Karnataka, flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern Deccan plateau through the southeastern lowlands, emptying into the Bay of Bengal through two principal mouths in Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu.
List of Kaveri Pushkara Ghats and the holy places for Pushkara Snanam in Tamil Nadu
Six of these kshetras are noted in Puranas as being equivalent to Kashi in merit.
- Mayavaram (Gowri Mayuram)
- Tiruvenkadu (Svetaranyam)
- Tiruvaiyaru (Panchanadam)
- Tiruvidaimarudur (Madhyarjunam)
- Chayavanam
- Srivanchiyam
Other prominent kshetras include Srirangam, Thiruveengoimalai (near Tiruchi), Tiruvarur, Kodumudi, Karur, Swamimalai, Tiruvisainalloor, Kumbakonam, etc. Of these, Mayiladuthurai (Mayavaram) has been specially chosen for this observance on a grand scale.