Tag Archives: Hindu Culture and Traditions

Lohri History: The history of Lohri, a seasonal festival of North India is as old as that of story of Indus Valley civilization itself. The Festival of Lohri marks the beginning of the end of winter and the coming of spring and the new year. The fires lit at night, the hand warming, the song and dance and the coming …

Bonfires and Bonhomie: Creating an aura of warmth to ward off the winter chill, there are a host of harvest festivals lined up for mid-January. So while it’s Lohri in North India, it’s Uttarayan in Gujarat, Pongal and Tamil New Year in the South, Magha or Bhugali Bihu in Assam, and Makar Sankranti in the rest of the country to …

Lohri is one such festival which works as a tie-up bond for various communities. The festival is celebrated with great fervor and exuberance especially in North India. Farmers celebrate this harvest festival with traditional dances and songs. It falls on the 13th January when the Earth starts moving towards the sun marking the auspicious period of Uttarayan. Astrological Influence of …

Uttarayan and Kite Festival: As millions of kite enthusiasts pitch themselves at the rooftops, waves of flying kites overwhelm an otherwise deep blue sky. On January 14, watch the sky change colors… like a rainbow in a glittering sun after the rain and bask in the glory of Uttarayan, when the skies of Gujarat give way to colorful kites. About …

Karwa Chauth Puja: Karwa Chauth is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Hindus in India. Typically, a festival of north and north western India, Karwa Chauth falls on nine days prior to Diwali, to be precise, on Kartik ki Chauth. Married women observe fast all through the day after eating the traditional meal ‘sargi‘ early in the morning, before sunrise. The …

Bengalis celebrate Bhai Phonta: The occasion, which is celebrated two days after Kali Puja in the state, is completely dedicated to brothers and sisters. Bengalis celebrate Bhai Phonta Interestingly, the ceremony is also celebrated by other Indian communities under different names, like ‘Bhai Bij’, ‘Bhau-beej’ or ‘Bhav Bij’ amongst the Marathi and Konkani-speaking communities in the states of Maharashtra, Goa …

Bhai Dooj Teeka: Two days after Diwali comes the Bhai Dooj festival. It marks the end of Diwali celebrations and Bhai Dooj Teeka is a mark of auspiciousness. According to the Hindu scriptures and mythology: “A forehead without a Tilak is worthy of condemnation and they exist for name’s sake only.” The ritual on bhai dooj is that the sisters …

Bhai Dooj Gifts emotes the feelings of a brother, expresses the gratitude for sharing such a wonderful relationship, reflects all the love shared and fills the heart of a sister with unmatched happiness. Such gifts are selected that are the expressions of good wishes prayers of love and more. But it is not just brothers who are busy choosing gifts …

Bhai Dooj: Diwali, the vibrant festival of lights, brings with it a chance to revive relationships. The fifth day of the five-day festival is especially dedicated to honor the unique bond between brother and sister. Known as Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Duj, it falls on the second day after Diwali, that is, on ‘Shukla Paksha Dwitiya’ in the Hindi month …

Diwali Milan: Sharing Diwali Greetings – Diwali, the festival of lights and firecrackers, is a perfect occasion to revive personal relationships and social ties. Indians all over the world celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm. The festivities associated with this festival encourage people to socialize and interact with each other. Such reunions are popularly called ‘Diwali Milan‘. The series of …