This festival depicts the victory of goodness over evil. The fresh, cool air, the clear-blue skies, mildly fragrant Shiuli (A type of seasonal flower), the bountiful harvest in the fields and chanting of mantras and Shlokas to worship Shakti, all collectively set up the ambience for this festival. Although Durga Puja spans over a period of ten days but the main part of the Puja is limited to four days. In Hindu tradition, the fifteen days from the new moon up to the next full moon is called as Debi/Devi Paksha, and is regarded as the best time for doing any sacred, religious and auspicious activity or event. On the day of the last new moon before the Mahalaya, the eyes of the idols are designed and the process is called Chakshudaan and with Mahalaya the Durga Puja commences.

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Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi is now a symbolic commemmoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centres around an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king’s sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges unscathed, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.

This exuberant festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura – the two cities with which Lord Krishna shared a deep affiliation. Apart from the usual fun with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality.

Today Holi is an excuse for Indians to shed inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever and Big Fun. Teenagers spend the day flirting and misbehaving in the streets, adults extend the hand of peace, and everyone chases everyone else around, throwing brightly colored powder (gulal) and water over each other.

The festival’s preamble begins on the night of the full moon. Bonfires are lit on street corners to cleanse the air of evil spirits and bad vibes, and to symbolize the destruction of the wicked Holika, for whom the festival was named. The following morning, the streets fill with people running, shouting, giggling and splashing. Marijuana-based bhang and thandai add to the uninhibited atmosphere.

Promptly at noon, the craziness comes to an end and everyone heads to either the river or the bathtub, then inside to relax the day away and partake of candies. In the afternoon an exhausted and contented silence falls over India. Although Holi is observed all over the north, it’s celebrated with special joy and zest at Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, and Barsnar. These towns once housed the divine Krishna.

Each area celebrates Holi differently; the Bhil tribesmen of western Madhya Pradesh, who’ve retained many of their pre-Hindu customs, celebrate holi in a unique way. In rural Maharashtra State, where the festival is known as Rangapanchami it is celebrated with dancing and singing. In the towns of Rajasthan — especially Jaisalmer — the music’s great, and clouds of pink, green, and turquoise powder fill the air. The grounds of Jaisalmer’s Mandir Palace are turned into chaos, with dances, folk songs, and colored-powder confusion.

Source: Indiaexpress

The absolute formless God, Sadashiv appeared in the form of “Lingodbhav Moorti” exactly at midnight on Maha Shivratri. That is why all Shiv devotees keep vigil during the night of Shivratri and do “Shivlingam abhishekham”

Lord Shiva was married to Devi Parvati on Shivratri. Remember Shiva minus Parvati is pure Nirgun Brahman. With his illusive power, (Maya, Parvati) He becomes the “Sagun Brahman” for the purpose of the pious devotion of his devotees.

It is also believed that on Shivratri, Lord Shiva became Neelkantham by swallowing the deadly poison that came up from the ocean during the churning of “Kshir Sagar”. The poison was so deadly that even a drop in His stomach, which represents the universe, would have annihilated the entire world. Hence, He held it in His neck, which turned blue due to the effect of poison. Shivratri is therefore also a day of thanksgiving to the Lord for protecting us from annihilation.

The 14th shloka of Shivmahimna Stotra says: “O three eyed Lord, when the poison came up through the churning of the Ocean by the gods and demons, they were all aghast with fear as if the untimely end of all creation was imminent. In your kindness, you drank all the poison that still makes your throat blue. O Lord, even this blue mark does but increase your glory. What is apparently a blemish becomes an ornament in one intent on ridding the world of fear.”

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Shri Ramnavami occurs during a commencement of summer when a object has proposed relocating nearer to a northern hemisphere. A Object is deliberate to be a female parent of Rama’s dynasty which is called a Object dynasty( Raghukula or Raghuvamsa, Raghu equates to Object as well as Kula or Vamsa meant patrimonial successor). Rama is additionally well known as Raghunatha, Raghupati, Raghavendra etc. Which all these names proceed with a prefix Raghu is additionally revealing of a little couple with Sun-worship. A hour selected for a tact of a lord’s bieing innate is which when a object is beyond as well as is during a limit luminosity. In a little Hindu sects, prayers upon Ramnavami day begin not with an bid to Rama though to Surya( object). Again a syllable Ra is used in a word to report a object as well as luminosity in most languages. In Sanskrit, Ravi as well as Ravindra meant Object.

• Prayag( nearby a city of Allahabad, in a state of Uttar Pradesh) during a connection of 3 rivers Ganga( Ganges), Yamuna as well as Saraswati
• Haridwar( in a state of Uttar Pradesh) where a stream Ganga enters a plains from Himalayas
• Ujjain( in Madhya Pradesh), upon a banks of Ksipra stream, as well as
• ( in Maharashtra) upon a banks of Godavari stream.

The eventuality occurs 4 times any twelve years, once during any of a 4 locations. Any twelve-year cycle includes a Maha( good) Kumbha Mela during Prayag, attended by millions of people, creation it a largest eventuality entertainment around a universe.

The tact of Kumbha Mela is formed upon a following story : thousands of years ago, maybe in a Vedic duration, gods as well as demons done a proxy agreement to work together in obtaining Amrita ( a nectar of enduring fame) from a Milky Ocean, as well as to share this similarly. However, when a Kumbha( pot) containing a amrita appeared, a demons ran divided with a pot as well as were chased by a gods. For twelve days as well as twelve nights( homogeneous to twelve tellurian years) a gods as well as demons fought in a sky for a receive of this pot of amrita. It is pronounced which during a conflict, drops of amrita fell upon to 4 places : Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain as well as Nasik. Thus, Kumbha mela is celebrated during these 4 locations where a nectar fell.

Kumbha Mela is attended by millions of people upon a singular day. A protocol bath during a fixed time as well as place is a vital eventuality of this legal holiday. Other activities embody eremite discussions, eremite singing, mass stuff oneself of holy men/women as well as a bad, as well as eremite assemblies where doctrines have been debated as well as standardised. Kumbha Mela( generally a Maha Kumbha Mela) is a many dedicated of all a Hindu pilgrimages. Thousands of holy men/women( monks, saints, sadhus) beauty a arise by their participation. A suspiciousness of Kumbha Mela is in partial attributed to a entertainment of thousands of holy men/women during a single place upon earth

According to astrologers, a ‘Kumbh Fair’ takes place when a world Jupiter enters Aquarius as well as a Sun enters Aries.

The Third Day
The Third day of the festival of Diwali is the most important day which sees colors of firecrackers, lighting of lamps, delicious sweets, new clothes and family get together exchanging gifts. On this day special pooja ceremony is observed to worship Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi. This is the day when the Sun enters his second course and passes Libra constellation (Nakshtra) which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Despite the fact that this day falls on an Amavasya (dark night) it is regarded as the most auspicious

The Fourth & Fifth Day
The Fourth day is celebrated as ‘Padva’ or ‘Bali Pratipada’ to commemorate King Bali. In North India it is celebrated as ‘Govardhan-Puja’ to mark the lifting of Goverdhan Mountain by Lord Krishna.The Fifth and final day of Diwali Festival is known by the name of ‘Bhaiya-Duj’ that is observed as a symbol of love between sisters and brothers on this particular day Sisters put the auspicious tilak on their Brother’s forehead, and feed them with special dishes. This festival is known as Bhai Bij in Gujarati and Bhai Phota in Bengali.

Legends of Deepavali
On the auspicious occasion of Diwali the lines of lamps are lit, gifts are exchanged, jewellery is purchased, firecrackers are burst, all these facets of Diwali festival are associated with mythological and historical legends. Read on to know more.

Legend of King Hima and Yamraj
The son of King Hima was doomed to die on the fourth day of his marriage by snakebite. To defeat this prediction, his wife lit lamps all over the palace and laid the ornaments in a big heap at the entrance. When Yamraj, the God of death arrived there in the guise of a serpent, the dazzle of those brilliant lights made his eyes blind and he could not enter the prince’s chamber. This victory is remembered as dhanteras and people buy some item of jewellery and keep a lamp lit nearby all night.

Legend of Lord Krishna & Demon Narakasura
Bursting crackers for Deepavali is connected with the killing of the demon Narakasura, the evil king of Pragjyotishpur, near Nepal, by Lord Krishna. After the killing, Krishna freed all the women who had been abducted by Narakasura. After his victory Krishna returned very early in the morning and was bathed with scented oils. Hence there is the custom of waking up early in the morning, bursting at least one symbolic cracker and having oil bath of purification.

Legend of Lord Rama, Laxman & Sita
The most popular legend of Diwali is associated with the Ramayana. After a fierce battle Ram killed the demon Kind Ravana and recovered his wife. Ram’s return with his wife Sita to Ayodhya and his subsequent coronation as king is celebrated at Diwali. On this dark Amavasya night, the people of Ayodhya light up the route with rows of oil lamps to welcome their Prince. Therefore on this glorious event lamps are lit and the festival bears the name of Deepavali or “line of lamps”. More

It is celebrated for five days. Each day dedicated to a special thought. First day – Dhanteras or Dhantrayadashi is celebrated in favour of Goddesss Laxmi. Poojas are performed and devotional songs are sung in praise of the goddess. Small foot steps are made with rice flour and vermilion powder on the floors of the houses depicting the arrival of the goddess. Earthen lamps filled with oil having cotton wicks are arranged in neat rows along the walls and parapets in the verandahs.  These lamps are lit in the evening and kept throughout the night. Glittering lights are a splendid spectacle. 

Second day the Narka – Chaturdashi  or Choti Diwal, the celebrations are based on a legend of the killing of the  Naraka Asura by Lord Krishna. Traditional early baths with oil are made and kumkums are applied on their foreheads. The following days Goddess Kali is worshipped, books are worshipped in a special ceremony, old accounts are settled and new ones are opened and the legend of the Asura king Bali is remembered.  On Diwali day, delicious sweets are prepared and exchanged among friends and relatives.  More