सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ Most auspicious of all auspicious, Parvati, Who fulfills all desires| Refuge of everything, Three-eyed, Devi(Parvati), Lakshmi, We salute you || This sloka from the scripture Devi Mahatmyam describes the powers of Great Mother Durga. Shri Devi Durga is mother of all powers and represents the
Pitru Paksha is a 16 day period in Hindu calendar when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors (Pitrs) through food offerings. Pitru Paksha literally means “fortnight of the ancestors” and follows the fortnight immediately after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. It begins on the first day of the fortnight (Padyami) ending with the new moon day
Vara MahaLakshmi Puja and Vrath is a popular ritual observed by married women in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Vara MahaLakshmi Vrath is a festival celebrated to appease goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. This festival falls in the holy month of Shravan on the first Friday before the Pournami
Rath Yatra (Festival of Chariots) is one of the most awaited and celebrated festivals in India. This annual festival is celebrated on Ashadha Shukla Paksha dwitiya tithi in Puri, Orrisa. The festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath i.e. Lord Krishna, his sister Goddess Subhadra and his elder brother Lord Balabhadra. It is commonly known as
In Vaastu Shastra it is a belief that the home itself is a living being, which negative forces can inhabit and take shelter inside during vacancy – even if the home is brand new. The Griha Pravesham Puja or Housewarming ceremony is about respectfully acknowledging these entities and purifying the space. It is about cleansing
“Om Ganesaya Namah Avahayami” The first mantra chanted by the pandit as the Griha Pravesh Puja commences as you embark on the divine experience which is the hindu equivalent of a housewarming ceremony. But why do we perform Griha Pravesh Puja ? What rituals are performed as a part of it? And how do you
CHAITRA SHUKLA PAKSHA PRATIPADA VIKRAM SAMVAT Happy New Year Vikram Samvat 2074 to you all!! Vikram Samvat (abbreviated as V.S.) is an era used in India and Nepal, just like the Christian era started in 1 CE. The Vikram Samvat started in 58/57 BCE in southern (purnimanta) and 57/56 BCE in northern (amanta) systems of
Maha Shivaratri means the Great Night of Shiva. It is an annual festival dedicated to the Lord. Unlike most Hindu festivals which are celebrated during the day, the Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at night. Also, unlike most Hindu festivals which include expression of cultural revelry, the Maha Shivaratri is a solemn event notable for its
The Shankha is a conch shell of ritual and religious importance in Hinduism. It is the shell of a large predatory sea snail, Turbinella pyrum found in the Indian Ocean. In Hindu mythology, the Shankha is a sacred emblem of the preserver Lord Vishnu. It is used as a trumpet in Hindu rituals, and in
The Fourth day is of Diwali festival is Padwa or Govardhan Puja or Bali Pratipada. This day is also known as Varshapratipada which marks the coronation of King Vikramaditya. Vikaram-Samvat(Hindu Calendar) started from this Padwa day. Govardhan Puja Govardhan Puja is celebrated on this day. Govardhan is a small hillock in Braj, near Mathura and
Maa Skandamata – Navratri Day 5
Maa Kushmanda – Navratri Day 4
Maa Chandraghanta – Navratri Day 3
Maa Brahmacharini – Navratri Day 2
Goddess Shailaputri – Navratri