Satyanarayan Pooja
Satyanarayan Pooja is a day of celebration in India signifying the onset of the uttrayana punyakalam when the sun starts its journey to the northern hemisphere, also called makara rasi in the Hindu scriptures. The day of satyanarayana pooja starts with people going for a holy dip in the waters of rivers and lakes and are deemed cleansed. This day is said to bring abundance of wealth and health as well as a peace of mind for all forms of life including humans as well as animals. During the day of satyanarayana puja the people worship shri satya narayan and the puja can be performed during any part of the day. The full moon night of sankranthi can be considered as one of the most auspicious times for doing the pooja though prayers in the morning are also usually done. On the day of the puja the devotee is to maintain a fast after the morning bath starting with the prayers. The satya narayana puja is usually attended by relatives and neighbors of the person observing the fast or the group who organize the puja. The platform where the puja happens is decorated with lord idol which is accessorized and well kept with all the required items.
On the platform of the idol, kum kum and turmeric powder, sweet smelling incense sticks, burning camphor, beetle leaves and nuts, coconuts, almonds, flowers etc are placed to please the gods so that they bless the people and devotees with prosperity and peace. Mouth watering delicious sweets and desserts like malpua, gujiya and poli add up to the specialty of the festival. The evenings are spent by visiting relatives and exchanging wishes and dancing through the night to the local beats. Satyanarayana puja is also seen as a festival which instils secularism and national pride where religion is forgotten and all are one in the eyes of the celebrators. It helps remind us that the best virtues in life are a pure heart, truthfulness and honest characteristics in a person and this festival promotes the same by the use of colour. One of the easiest ways to get blessed by the lord Vishnu is by performing the puja for the lord of maintenance of the entire world.
People who usually perform the puja are those who seek improvement in life like higher education, new employment, new cars or vehicles, newly married couple, people moving into new houses, buying new property, getting into new ventures etc. It can be done when a person in a family is ill with sickness and he or she needs recovery and is also performed for general happiness and well being of the family and surroundings. Satyanarayana puja is a day of celebration for the nerve wrecked urban individuals giving them a day off so that they can bridge the gap between visiting relatives, enjoying get together and having fun with the family. The festival is celebrated at the start of the spring season and marks the beginning of hope, joy and fertility. The people wear new clothes as is an indication of new promises and the farmers are happy, what with their fields filled with new crops promising a good harvest.