Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Priest Performs Puja Before Crocodile At Telangana's Beechupally Pushkar Ghat
One Sunday afternoon, people visiting a riverside temple in India saw a big crocodile come out of the water.
Everyone was scared when the crocodile walked toward the crowd and even went into a building.
A priest named Anil Sharma was not scared, though.
He sat down in front of the crocodile and sang special prayers, a custom called puja.
He even poured water over it as part of the ritual.
The priest explained that in Hindu belief, the crocodile carries the rain god Varuna.
He hoped the prayers would bring lots of rain and good fortune.
Police had already told people to watch out for crocodiles after heavy rains.
Later, forest officials and local fishermen caught the crocodile with ropes.
They let it go back into the Krishna River, safe and sound.
A crocodile emerged from the Krishna River and moved toward the crowded Pushkar Ghat in Beechupally, Telangana, startling devotees on Sunday afternoon.
Temple priest Anil Sharma performed puja rituals, including abhishekam and mantra chanting, while seated before the crocodile, and a video of the act went viral on social media.
Sharma, who usually conducts rituals for deceased Hindu ancestors, said the crocodile is the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Varuna, the rain god, and prayed for abundant rainfall and prosperity.
Police had earlier cautioned visitors about crocodile movement in the Krishna River, which is believed to have increased after recent rains.
Forest officials, with assistance from local fishermen, captured the crocodile using ropes and later released it back into the Krishna River.
- Who
- Temple priest Anil Sharma, devotees at the ghat, and forest officials with local fishermen who captured the crocodile.
- What
- A crocodile emerged from the Krishna River and approached the ghat; priest Anil Sharma performed puja before it, and forest officials later captured and released the reptile back into the river.
- When
- Sunday afternoon, during a holiday period after recent rains.
- Where
- Krishna River Pushkar Ghat in Beechupally, Telangana, near the Anjaneya Swamy temple.
- Why
- Sharma performed the rituals because the crocodile is considered the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Varuna, the rain god, and he prayed for abundant rainfall and prosperity; recent rains are believed to have increased crocodile movement in the river.
- Location
- Krishna River Pushkar Ghat, Beechupally, Telangana
- Nearby Temple
- Anjaneya Swamy temple
- Priest
- Anil Sharma
- Incident
- Crocodile emerged from the river and entered a nearby building
- Ritual Performed
- Puja with mantras and abhishekam before the crocodile
- Religious Reason
- Crocodile is the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Varuna, the rain god; prayers sought rainfall and prosperity
- Prior Warning
- Police had cautioned visitors about crocodile movement after recent rains
- Outcome
- Crocodile captured with ropes by forest officials and fishermen, then released into the Krishna River