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Ambaji Bhadra Purnima
Of all the festivals celebrated in the state of Gujarat, Ambaji Bhadra Purnima has a specific significance. It is considered to be a big festival in this state and is celebrated with much pump and show all over. People offer prayers and bow heads before Ambaji goddess in Gujarat on this day. This festival commemorates in the holy shrine of Ambaji located on the foothills of Aravalli Mountains on full moon night in the months of August-September. Disciples from all over the globe come to the festival with a strong and divine belief. People on this day offer prayers and chant mantras to please the goddess. There is an interesting thing about this Ambaji temple that it has no deity unlike all the other temples and shrines in the country, which must have at least one deity. The shrine is instead inscribed with special yantras and figures.
People have different reasons to visit this place. Some visit it for the oldest and most attractive ambaji shrine of the state while some visit for personal excursions. A large fair is organized on this festival which is followed by the Garba and Bhavai (ancient and folk drama form that originated in Gujarat) performances by the dancers. For any person visiting the shrine, it is very essential to attend the readings of Saptashati, which defines the seven hundred verses in praise of the Ambaji goddess. Other than the Ambaji shrine, people like to visit the surrounding pilgrimage places also. One such place, two miles away to the west of Ambaji, is a small hill known as Gabbargadh. It is famous for its old peepal tree (banyan) on top. Also, one can even visit the five Jain temples in Kumhariya and bathe in holy waters of Koteshwar.
Basava jayanti
This country witnesses various such festivals which mark the birth of various prominent personalities. Basava jayanti is one of them which commemorate the birth anniversary of Basavanna who was a saint and the founder of the Lingayat faction also known as the Veerashaivism. This festival is of great significance for the Lingayats and therefore it is celebrated on a very large scale with full passion and joviality across the whole state of Karnataka. Basavanna was a twelfth century philosopher who wrote and preached many teaching and beliefs in the native language which were later translated into the English and many other languages. Being a social reformer, a serene saint and a dutiful teacher, Basavanna emerged as the face of the Karnataka in bringing out the essential social reforms in the state, that too around 900 years before. He always tried to work for the development of the backward class and to eradicate things like caste system in this society. His only goal was to eradicate evil from the people’s minds and not the people themselves as he believed that it is the evil only which engulfs people mind and make them inhuman.
During his rough course of life, he always preached one thing and it was that all creatures, whether human, animal or plants are equal in the eyes of the Supreme Lord. The beliefs this common man had and the teachings which he sermonized had an unusual universal appeal which pulled millions of common mass towards it. Basavanna was also triumphant in creating the gender equality and gaining social justice for all at the very basic level in the state of Karnataka. Therefore, even today the people of Karnataka honor him by celebrating this day in his beloved reminiscence. Angarak Sankashti Chaturti Vrat
Modak
If the Sankashti Chaturti Vrat concurs with Tuesday then it is better known as the Angarak Sankashti Chaturti Vrat which is considered to be highly propitious.Everyone has different beliefs when it comes to the significance of observing fasts. Some do it to bring happiness and prosperity in their lives while some consider it to be the perfect way of eradicating all kinds of troubles and tribulations in their personal as well as professional lives. Whatever may be the reason, but this day is generally celebrated with full devotion and faith. The day starts from a beautiful and glorious morning prayer which holds the presence of every family member. The prayer is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This is followed by observance of fast for the whole day. In the evening, the devotees sight the moon and carry out their evening prayers. After this, all the family members engage in adorning the portrait of Lord Ganesha with Durva grass and various scented flowers.
Offerings like coconut, fruits and flowers are made to the Ganesha along with his favorite sweet, Modak. After the ceremonial prayers known as aartis are accomplished Prasad is distributed amongst all the people present there. Along with the Lord Ganesha, religious offerings are also made to the Moon god (Chandra) through water, rice and sandalwood.
Image credits: http://www.swayampak.com
Modak recipe: http://www.swayampak.com/recipe/sweetdishes/swayampakmodaksteamedricedumlingswithcoconut-jaggeryfilling.htm
According to the Hindu calendar there are various fasts falling on one or the other day of every month. These fasts are dedicated to various gods. The Sankashti Chaturti Vrat is a traditional fast observed in dedication to the Lord Ganesha. Generally, this fast falls immediately after the Purnima (full moon day) on the fourth day of all the months. If the Sankashti Chaturti Vrat concurs with Tuesday then it is better known as the Angarak Sankashti Chaturti Vrat which is considered to be highly propitious. Everyone has different beliefs when it comes to the significance of observing fasts. Some do it to bring happiness and prosperity in their lives while some consider it to be the perfect way of eradicating all kinds of troubles and tribulations in their personal as well as professional lives. Whatever may be the reason, but this day is generally celebrated with full devotion and faith.
The day starts from a beautiful and glorious morning prayer which holds the presence of every family member. The prayer is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This is followed by observance of fast for the whole day. In the evening, the devotees sight the moon and carry out their evening prayers. After this, all the family members engage in adorning the portrait of Lord Ganesha with Durva grass and various scented flowers. Offerings like coconut, fruits and flowers are made to the Ganesha along with his favorite sweet, Modak. After the ceremonial prayers known as aartis are accomplished Prasad is distributed amongst all the people present there. Along with the Lord Ganesha, religious offerings are also made to the Moon god (Chandra) through water, rice and sandalwood.
Image credits: http://www.swayampak.com/recipe/sweetdishes/swayampakmodaksteamedricedumlingswithcoconut-jaggeryfilling.htm
Baisakhi festival
Unlike several other festivals celebrated in India, Baisakhi has its distinct accent and charm. It is a seasonal festival usually celebrated by the Northern people, especially Punjab and neighbouring states to honour God for a good harvest. Therefore, it is observed at the first date of Baisakhi, generally on 13 or 14 of April marking the beginning of Solar year. Not only in Northern India, is the festival of Baisakhi celebrated but also in Kerala by name of Vishu and in Tamil Nadu too. Known to be day of great religious significance, devotees make themselves pure by a dip in the holy rivers ate the very dawn break. This signifies the start of New Year. Various prayers and practices are performed by the farmers followed by the commencement of great harvest. Generally, people are seen dressed up in their typical folk attires performing various arts. Dancing and singing are the most common and enchanting practises to be seen on this day. It is the same festival which is linked to the most prominent Punjab’s Bhangra and Giddha where these dance forms are actually performed in groups.
Also, various social and cultural fairs near the bounty fields are organised where people meet and enjoy sharing sweets with happiness. It is a common sight to see people forgiving old amenities and drowning in the sea of delight and contentment. Apart from this, several performances and traditional processions occupy the highlights. There is yet another reason for this festival celebration. On this day, in the auspicious year of 1699, the prestigious order of Khalsa was organised by the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh.
Bhangra and Gidda Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti - constitution of India
There are many festivals that are celebrated in India marking the birth of a legend or a prominent person. One such festival is the Ambedkar Jayanti. The festival is celebrated in the fond memory of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on April 14 of every year. This was the day when this great personality was born in the year 1891. The festival is observed all over the nation. Also known as the prominent face and founder of the Constitution, Dr. Ambedkar is very famous amongst the country for his dedication of his entire life for the development of the deprived people of the society. Due to these reasons he is also regarded as the prominent social reformer and a significant face in the freedom struggle saga of India. Belonging to a scheduled caste, he himself took a step in improvising the conditions of people like him. He was the first one in his whole society to receive the formal education and even go abroad to pursue the higher studies in Law. Later on he practiced law for many years along with getting his papers and journals printed which consisted of the avocation of the fundamental rights of the people. He also advocated for the political rights and freedom of the deprived society of the untouchables in India becoming their voice.
For his whole life the only motto he kept in his mind was to eradicate the caste system from this nation. Up to an extent, he was very much successful in establishing his goals though provisioned clauses in the constitution of India. This day is also observed as the national public holiday. On this day, huge processions along with various cultural programs and conventions are organized by the dalit communities in honor of this great soul.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._R._Ambedkar
Akshaya Tritiya
India is known to host thousands of festivals in a single year. The festivals include national, religious, cultural and regional festivals. One such religious festival very common amongst the Hindus and Jains is Akshaya Tritya. Considered to be holy day, this festival is observed in the month of Vaishaka or between April and May. This day basically marks the worshipping of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. This festival has both the astrological as well as religious significance. Purchasing gold on this day is considered to be very holistic and fortunate. Therefore, most of the people who believe and celebrate this festival often indulge in shopping of gold on this auspicious day. Traditionally, this day is celebrated as the birth of Hindi sage Parshurama who is the sixth incarnation of the creator Lord Vishnu. The two words of the festival carry a heavy significance. By ‘Akshaya’ one means never diminishing or never ending and tritiya signifies the lunar day.
It is a common belief that people indulging in good and generous activities like charity are blessed with more luck and success. Apart from that, the day is also considered to be very auspicious for carrying out a new venture such as investing in real estate or inauguration of a new place or starting of a new business. The venture being made on this day is known to proper more ahead in the future. Thus, this auspicious day is observed by many people belonging to both the Hindu and Jain religion.
Radhastami- the appearance of Lord Krishna
The day is very special for all devotees of Lord Krishna, but devotees following Gaudiya-Vaisnavism consider this day to be even more important than Janamashtami, the appearance day of Lord Krishna.
The scriptures say that Goddess Radha is even more merciful than Lord Krishna Himself, and she makes it so easy that devotees don’t have to observe any fast on this day (though some devotees prefer to observe fasting till mid-day). Abhishek or ritualistic bathing ceremony of the deity of Goddess Radha is done and then the bathing water, called caranamrita in Sanskrit, is then distributed amongst the devotees. Several kinds of food preparations are made and offered to the deities of Radha and Krishna and the remnants or prasadam is then distributed.
Devotees read from various scriptures about the pastimes of Lord Krishna and Radha and pray to Goddess Radha to help them see Lord Krishna face to face. Radha is said to be the internal energy of Lord Krishna and it is widely believed that it is not possible to attain Lord Krishna’s mercy without having obtained the mercy of Goddess Radha first. Radha is considered to be the topmost devotee of Lord Krishna and by Her devotion to Him, She has completely controlled Lord Krishna.
Image credit: http://www.antiquetemple.com/paintings/raas-lila-of-radha-krishna-details-689.html
Rath Yatra – The annual Chariot Festival of Lord Jagganath
After Kumbh Mela, it is probably the Rath Yatra or chariot festival of Lord Jagganath that sees millions of people gathering trying to pull the Lord’s chariot. This Hindu festival is held at the city of Puri in the state of Orissa. The festival is held in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June-July) and lasts for eight days.
Every year sees the three wooden chariots constructed anew in accordance with the religious specifications. Each Chariot is build according to the unique scheme prescribed and the same methodology has been followed for centuries. Lord Jagganath’s chariot, also called Nandighosa, is 45 feet high and has 16 wheels, each of a diameter of 7 feet. The canopy of this chariot is made out of red and yellow colour. Lord Balram’s chariot, also called Taladhwaja, is 44 feet high and has 14 wheels, also of 7 feet diameter. The canopy of this chariot is red and blue colour. Goddess Subhadra’s chariot, also called Darpadalana, is 43 feet high and has 14 wheels and has a canopy of red and black colour.
The Jagganath temple represents Dwarka and Gundica temple represents Vrindavan. When Lord Jagganath, who is non-different from Lord Krishna, starts missing Vrindavan (where He spent His childhood and adolescence) and inhabitants of Vrindavan very much and the separation becomes intolerable, He asks permission from His wife, Goddess Lakshmi, to go out on pretext of going out for some fresh air. And then the devotees take him to Gundica that represents Vrindavan. He stays there for around a week along with His elder brother and sister and all three of Them are then pulled back in the chariots to their respective places in the Puri temple.
Image credit: Wikipedia
Lord Jagganath is none other than Lord Krishna Himself and stays in the temple of Puri along with His elder brother Balram and sister Subhadra. Every year the three Deities along with the divine wheel Sudarsana are taken out from their temple in a detailed procession and are placed on their respective rath or chariots. The chariot is then pulled by millions of devotees and taken to Gundica temple, a distance of around 3 Kilometres. After 7 days, the three divine personalities return back to their original places in Puri temple.
Every year sees the three wooden chariots constructed anew in accordance with the religious specifications. Each Chariot is build according to the unique scheme prescribed and the same methodology has been followed for centuries. Lord Jagganath’s chariot, also called Nandighosa, is 45 feet high and has 16 wheels, each of a diameter of 7 feet. The canopy of this chariot is made out of red and yellow colour. Lord Balram’s chariot, also called Taladhwaja, is 44 feet high and has 14 wheels, also of 7 feet diameter. The canopy of this chariot is red and blue colour. Goddess Subhadra’s chariot, also called Darpadalana, is 43 feet high and has 14 wheels and has a canopy of red and black colour.
The Jagganath temple represents Dwarka and Gundica temple represents Vrindavan. When Lord Jagganath, who is non-different from Lord Krishna, starts missing Vrindavan (where He spent His childhood and adolescence) and inhabitants of Vrindavan very much and the separation becomes intolerable, He asks permission from His wife, Goddess Lakshmi, to go out on pretext of going out for some fresh air. And then the devotees take him to Gundica that represents Vrindavan. He stays there for around a week along with His elder brother and sister and all three of Them are then pulled back in the chariots to their respective places in the Puri temple.
Image credit: Wikipedia
Posted in Hindu rituals, Indian Festivals
Tagged Gundica, Lord Jagganath, Puri temple, Rath Yatra
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Kumbh Mela
All festivals of Hindus are primarily religious in significance and character, and Kumbh Mela is one of the main festivals for Hindus. It has been sometimes recorded to be one of the largest gatherings to be held anywhere on the planet.
Unlike all other festivals, Kumbh Mela is not an annual festival. This festival is held four times in every twelve years. Kumbh means a pot and mela means fair. The legend says that ages ago, demigods and demons, who are usually always at odds, signed a temporary deal to work together for churning the milk ocean and extracting the nectar of immortality from the lap of the ocean. Demigods and demons worked together to churn the ocean and finally the nectar of immortality appeared. However, the demons ran away with this kumbha or pot without giving demigods their rightful share on the nectar. Then ensued a fight for nectar that lasted for twelve days, and during this battle some drops of the nectar from the kumbha fell at four different places on this earth and they were Nasik, Haridwar, Prayag and Ujjain. The Kumbha Mela is organized at these four places during the twelve year period.
The ardh or half Kumbh Mela is observed every six years at Prayag and Haridwar. The purna or complete Kumbh Mela is held every twelve years at four places: Haridwar, Ujjain, Prayag or Nasik. And the maha or the greatest Kumbh Mela is held once every 144 years (after 12 purna Kumbh Melas) at Prayag. The last Maha Kumbh Mela to be held was in year 2001 and saw over 60 million people gathering to take a dip in holy waters.
Taking ritual bath in the holy waters is the major event of the festival. This is the only time when one can get to see holy men, who usually hide themselves in cave of Himalayas, coming down to take a dip in the holy waters. A lot of westerns who happened to attend one of the Kumbh Melas have talked about it as a life changing experience. There is definitely something divine to this fare.
Interesting link: http://goindia.about.com/od/festivalpictures/ig/Kumbh-Mela-Pictures/
Unlike all other festivals, Kumbh Mela is not an annual festival. This festival is held four times in every twelve years. Kumbh means a pot and mela means fair. The legend says that ages ago, demigods and demons, who are usually always at odds, signed a temporary deal to work together for churning the milk ocean and extracting the nectar of immortality from the lap of the ocean. Demigods and demons worked together to churn the ocean and finally the nectar of immortality appeared. However, the demons ran away with this kumbha or pot without giving demigods their rightful share on the nectar. Then ensued a fight for nectar that lasted for twelve days, and during this battle some drops of the nectar from the kumbha fell at four different places on this earth and they were Nasik, Haridwar, Prayag and Ujjain. The Kumbha Mela is organized at these four places during the twelve year period.
The ardh or half Kumbh Mela is observed every six years at Prayag and Haridwar. The purna or complete Kumbh Mela is held every twelve years at four places: Haridwar, Ujjain, Prayag or Nasik. And the maha or the greatest Kumbh Mela is held once every 144 years (after 12 purna Kumbh Melas) at Prayag. The last Maha Kumbh Mela to be held was in year 2001 and saw over 60 million people gathering to take a dip in holy waters.
Taking ritual bath in the holy waters is the major event of the festival. This is the only time when one can get to see holy men, who usually hide themselves in cave of Himalayas, coming down to take a dip in the holy waters. A lot of westerns who happened to attend one of the Kumbh Melas have talked about it as a life changing experience. There is definitely something divine to this fare.
Interesting link: http://goindia.about.com/od/festivalpictures/ig/Kumbh-Mela-Pictures/
Posted in India, Indian Festivals
Tagged Haridwar, Kumbh Mela, Nasik, Prayag, Ujjain.
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Dussehra – Vijaydashami
Dussehra or Vijaydashami is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated all across India and Nepal and also some parts of Bangladesh. Vijay in Hindi means victory and dashami means the tenth day; the festival observes victory of Lord Ram over the ten-headed demon king Ravana, and this particular day happened to fall on tenth day of the bright fortnight of Hindu month of Ashvin (September-October) and hence the name Vijaydashami. The celebrations are actually ten days long, Dussehra being the tenth and the last day. The first nine days are also called Navratre during which Goddess Durga is worshipped in her many forms.
It is believed that the powerful demon king Ravana was tormenting the saintly people during that time and Lord Ram, believed to be seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, took advent specifically to kill this evil demon and protect the saintly people. To cut the long story small, Lord Ram was exiled to forest for 14 years by His step mother, and during the 13th year of their exile, Ravana abducted Mother Sita, the consort of Lord Ram. Thus ensued a fierce battle, which ended with the killing of the demon king and the day he was killed, is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaydashami.
Effigies of Ravana are burnt during this day during the evening time. A lot of outdoor fairs are organised and large parades are also taken out depicting different events of Lord Ram’s life. Throughout Northern India, Ram-lilas’ (dramatic version of epic Ramayana) are organised which go on for all ten days of the festival and are a big attraction both for children and adults. Ardent Hindus also offer special worship to Deities and it is not unusual to see people with a red vermillion mark on their forhead.
It is believed that the powerful demon king Ravana was tormenting the saintly people during that time and Lord Ram, believed to be seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, took advent specifically to kill this evil demon and protect the saintly people. To cut the long story small, Lord Ram was exiled to forest for 14 years by His step mother, and during the 13th year of their exile, Ravana abducted Mother Sita, the consort of Lord Ram. Thus ensued a fierce battle, which ended with the killing of the demon king and the day he was killed, is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaydashami.
Effigies of Ravana are burnt during this day during the evening time. A lot of outdoor fairs are organised and large parades are also taken out depicting different events of Lord Ram’s life. Throughout Northern India, Ram-lilas’ (dramatic version of epic Ramayana) are organised which go on for all ten days of the festival and are a big attraction both for children and adults. Ardent Hindus also offer special worship to Deities and it is not unusual to see people with a red vermillion mark on their forhead.
Posted in Dussehra – Vijaydashami
Tagged Dussehra, Ravana effigy burning, Vijaydashami
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