Tag Archives: Gujarat Festivals Legends & Stories

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South …

Margashirsha Purnima: According to the Hindu scriptures, Margashirsha is regarded as a month of dedication. The full moon day falling in this month is known as Margashirsha Purnima. Moon is worshiped on the day of Margashirsha Purnima because the moon was blessed with Amrit on this day. Margashirsha Purnima is also celebrated as Dattatreya Jayanti. Lord Dattatreya was born on …

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that occurs in December (the Hebrew month Kislev), also spelled Chanukah, (also called The Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, Feast of the Maccabees) marks the reconsecration of the Temple of Jerusalem (Israel) after its recapture from the Syrian Greeks c.165 BC. A miracle recorded in the Talmud – the burning of a day’s supply …

Kansa Vadh: Kansa was the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna and Balarama, and the King of Mathura (City in Uttar Pradesh, India). It was prophesied by the great saint Narada that he would be killed by Devaki’s (Kansa’s sister) eighth son. In spite of killing off all of Devaki’s sons right after birth, Lord Krishna and Balarama survived this fate …

Diwali Festival Information: is an important and popular festival celebrated throughout the country in one form or the other. It falls on the last day of the dark half of Kartika (October – November). As a matter of fact it is a five-day long festival, but the main celebrations are on Diwali. Diwali is associated with several legends. One myth says …

Hartalika Teej Festival: In the literal sense the word “teej” refers to “three”. Teej falls on the third day after a full and a new moon night. The important days of Teej are – Haryali, Kajari and Hartalika. Hartalika Teej is celebrated in the Northern part of India mainly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh. The …

Hariyali Teej Festival: Lush green surroundings and lively ambiance of the gardens come alive as groups of young women sing songs and sway on the jhoolas (swings) specially created for festivities. The occasion is Teej or popularly known as Hariyali Teej. Teej in its literal sense means ‘third’ and usually falls on third day after Amavasaya. The Teej festivities during …

Ramzan (Id-Ul-Fitr) – Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan The five basic tenets of Islam are: There is no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad is his messenger. Offering of five daily prayers. Fasting during Ramadan. Paying Zakat, a compulsory annual tax of 2.5 per cent on savings and assets that is distributed among the poor. The Haj, …

Dadu Dayal Jayanti is celebrated in honor of Dadu Dayal, a religious reformer from Rajasthan who was born in Ahmadabad in 1544. Though hailing from the lower rungs of society similar to Kabir, he was influential in creating a greater impact upon the society. Fostered by Lodhi Ram after he found Dayal floating in River Sabarmati, he went onto emerge …

During Kumbha Sankranti the Sun is in a transitory phase and is moving from Makar Rashi to Kumbha Rashi. Of the twelve Sankranti that occur during any given year, Kumbha Sankranti is the eleventh in the year. Many communities across Eastern India celebrate Kumbha Sankranti with full religious fervor. It is also closely associated with Kumbh Mela which is considered to be …