Special trains from Visakhapatnam to Varanasi for Ganga Pushkaralu Festival from April 19

Ganga Pushkaralu, a festival that is celebrated once every 12 years in India, mainly in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is going to take place this year from April 22 to May 3. Indian Railways is going to launch special trains between Varanasi and Visakhapatnam for this festival.

Also read: Ajmer-Delhi Vande Bharat Express starts, better connectivity to Rajasthan’s tourist hubs The special train service will also be extended for the summer season, so you can plan your summer trips accordingly.

As per reports, special trains will depart from Visakhapatnam for Varanasi on April 19 and 26 for the Ganga Pushkaralu Festival. The return journey will be on April 20 and 27. For the summer season specially, there will be train services in May and June as well.

If reports are to go by, Varanasi is all geared up to host devotees, who will be mostly from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, for this 12-day grand festival. During the festival, devotees throng the Ganga river banks in Varanasi and Haridwar.

As per legends, a devotee named Pushkara, after being blessed by the Hindu deity Shiva to have the power to purify holy rivers, decided to enter 12 sacred rivers. These rivers are Ganga, Narmada, Saraswati, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Bhima, Tapti, Tungabhadra, Sindhu and Pranhita.

During the festival, people take a dip in the sacred river Ganges (Ganga) to purify themselves of sins and gain blessings. Ganga Pushkaralu is considered to be a very auspicious time for performing rituals and ceremonies related to ancestors. The festival also involves the offering of prayers, devotional music, and cultural activities.