Tamirabharani mahapushkaram concludes

The 12-day Tamirabharani river "Mahapushkaram" festival, held after 144 years based on unique planetary positions as per the Hindu almanac, concluded Tuesday.

Special pujas, yagnas and homams apart from "Mangala Harthi" marked the grand finale to the festival which drew over 50 lakh people from different parts of the state and country in the past 12 days, officials said.

Though pushkaram was celebrated every 12 years, the maha pushkaram at Tamirabharani occurs after a gap of 144 years based on a unique combination of planetary positions, signifying the transit of Jupiter to the next zodiac sign, organisers said.

Organisers had made elaborate arrangements including setting up of 149 bathing ghats along the course of the Tamirabharani river in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts in southern Tamil Nadu.