Tag Archives: India Culture & Traditions Q&A

How is Navratri Pooja Thali Decorated? Navratri is the festival of Goddess Durga. The nine days festival is celebrated in different ways in the country but is very grand in Gujarat and West Bengal. Also known as Durga Puja, the festival marks the onset of autumn. The Navratri decorations start few days before the festival. Navratri puja thali decoration ideas: …

Is Lord Ganesha Married or Celibate? It is interesting to note how, according to tradition, Ganesha was generated by his mother Parvati without the intervention of her husband Shiva. Shiva, in fact, being eternal (Sadashiva), did not feel any need to have children. So Ganesha was born out of the exclusively female desire of Parvati to procreate. Consequently, the relationship …

Story behind Nag Panchami: Human beings soon after stabilizing from nomadic venture started the ritual of worshiping the nature and everything that was helpful to them in one or another way. It helped them construct a system that was derived from the beliefs in social organizations, local cults and deities. Humans thus started exploring nature and started sorting a culture …

On which date do we celebrate Nag Panchami? Nag Panchami is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in India. It is celebrated in most of the parts of the country. However the celebrations are at its best in Bengal, Maharashtra and Southern part of the country. The tradition of worshiping snake is very long in India, even before the arrival of …

How to celebrate Nag Panchami? It is on the fifth day of the bright half of the Shravan that Naga Panchami, or the festival of snakes, is celebrated in India. Snake worship, no doubt, owes its origin to man’s natural fear of these reptiles. However, in Hindu culture, they own a prominent place. Hindu mythologies are filled with stories and …

What is History behind Muharram? Koran became the final word for Islam after the demise of Prophet Muhammad. A loyal follower of Muhammad was elected as his successor and he and his successors reigned peacefully. But during the time of Ali, the prophet’s Son-in-Law, there was opposition from many sections. Ali and his elder son, Hassan were killed. His youngest …

What is Muharram? Martyrdom of Imam Hussain – It is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Instead of joyous celebration, Muslims mark the beginning of the New Year by taking up the black attire of sorrow and participate in mourning gatherings in which the sacrifices of Husayn and his companions are commemorated. It is one of the four months …

What do muslims do in month of Muharram? The month of Muharram is also associated with many auspicious events in Islamic history. Allah is supposed to have created the heavens and the earth on this blessed day. On this day He give His infinite blessings and bounties to many of His Prophets and delivered them from the clutches of their …

Muharram: What is the tragedy at Karbala? In the month of Muharram many centuries ago, (approximately October 20th 680 A.D.), an event took place in Iraq (Asia) at a place known as Karbala on the bank of the river Euphrates. Muharram: What is the tragedy at Karbala? A large army, which had been mobilized by the Umayyad regime, besieged a group …

What are Islamic mourning rites and rituals (Muharram)? On Ashura, the Muslims take out processions carrying colorfully decorated tazias (bamboo and paper replicas of the martyr’s tomb) embellished with gilt and mica. Colorful replicas of Hazrat Imam Hussain’s tomb at Karbala are also carried in procession and buried at an imitation Karbala. The mourners walk barefoot to the beat of …