Ratha Saptami or Saptami Tithi is devoted to the Lord Surya (Sun God). It is also called Magha Saptami. People believe that Lord Surya began his process of giving light to the entire universe on this special day and this day is also known as date of birth of Lord Surya. This day is also known as Surya Jayanti. This …
Read More »Basant Panchami: Saraswati Puja Festival
Basant Panchami: Saraswati Puja Festival: Vasant Panchami, sometimes referred to as Basant Panchami or Shree Panchami, is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Indian month Magh (January-February), the first day of spring. Traditionally during this festival children are taught to write their first …
Read More »Shab-E-Miraj: Night of Ascent – Holy festival for Muslims
Shab-E-Miraj means the “night of Ascent“. It was the blessed night when the Holy Prophet of Islam was spiritually transported to heaven and he reached the highest stage of nearness to God Almighty which is beyond ordinary human comprehension. The Ascent took place on 27th day or Rajab, 2 years before Hijra. The journey was not with a physical body …
Read More »Pongal Harvest Festival of Tamil Nadu, Legends, Celebrations, Rituals
Pongal is an important festival in India, with prayers to the Sun God on this occasion. Pongal is one of such highly revered festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu to mark the harvesting of crops by farmers. The house is cleaned, and all maintenance jobs are done before this festival. Pongal Harvest Festival: Held in the middle of January, it is …
Read More »सूर्य उपासना का पर्व ‘मकर संक्रांति’
सूर्य उपासना का पर्व: पर्व, अनुष्ठान भारत की प्राचीन उनज्जवल संस्कृति के आधार स्तम्भ हैं। हमारे मनीषियों ने इन पर्वों को विशेष रूप से ऊर्जा एवं दिव्यता का संचार करने वाला बताया है। हमारे शास्त्रों में उत्तायण और दक्षिणायन इन दो मार्गों का विशेष रूप से उल्लेख मिलता है। मकर संक्रांति के मंगल पर्व से सूर्य उत्तरायण में प्रवेश करता …
Read More »Makar Sankranti Festival Information
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 …
Read More »Lohri: Sikhs Bonfire Harvest Festival of North India
Lohri: Sikhs Bonfire Harvest Festival – Amidst the freezing cold weather, with the temperature wobbling between 0 – 5 degree Celsius and the dense fog outside, everything seems stagnant in the northern part of India. However, below the apparently frozen surface, you would be amazed to find a palpable wave of activity going on. People, especially in the northern states …
Read More »Margashirsha Purnima, Battisi Purnima, Dattatreya Jayanti
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 …
Read More »Hanukkah Festival Information, History, Significance & Traditions
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 …
Read More »Bali Yatra: Odisha State Hindu Festival
Bali Yatra: As the name suggests, Bali Yatra means a journey to Bali. Bali Yatra is mainly celebrated in the state of Odisha (Orissa). It is held on the full moon day in the month of Kartik which is considered to be the most auspicious month out of the 12 months of calendar, that coincides with the months of October …
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