Rituals
Rituals
Rituals
Festivals
Lakshmi Puja : Day 3 of Diwali
Asato ma sat gamaya | (असतो मा सद्गमय ।) Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya | (तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।) Mṛtyor ma amṛtam gamaya | (मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।) Om shanti shanti shantihi || (ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥) Translation: From untruth lead us to Truth. From darkness lead us to Light. From death lead us to...
Festivals
Narak Chaturdasi – Day 2 of Diwali
Narak Chaturdasi is celebrated a day before the main Diwali and a day after the Dhanteras. It falls at the 14th day in the month of Ashwin (October or November). It is celebrated to eliminate the idleness and evil from our life.It is known by different names in different regions, namely – Kali Chaudas, Narak...
Rituals
Bhai Dooj : 5th Day of Diwali
Every relationship possesses its own value, but the brother-sister relationship is quite unique and unmatched. Indian culture has manifested the greatness and glory of this relationship in many forms, out of which Bhai Dooj festival is an eminent form. This auspicious occasion also reveals the importance of siblings in someone’s life. Bhai Dooj is celebrated...
Festivals
Govardhan Puja – 4th Day of Diwali
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...
Rituals
Maa Katyayani – Navratri Day 6
The sixth form of Mother Durga is known as ‘Katyayani’, who is worshiped on the sixth day of Navaratri. To destroy demon Mahishasura, Goddess Parvati took the form of Maa Katyayani. It was the most violent form of Goddess Parvati. In this form Goddess Parvati is also known as Warrior Goddess. Goddess Katyayani rides on...
Festivals
Vara MahaLakshmi Puja
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...
Festivals
Vikram Samvat 2074
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...
Festivals
Bandi Chhor Diwas – The Day of Liberation
“(When) the lamp is lit, darkness is dispelled. Where there is light of knowledge, ignorance is dispelled.” (Guru Granth Sahib p.791) Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated all over India to signify Lord Rama’s return home from 14 years in exile after destroying the demon god Ravana. However, in the Sikh tradition Diwali has...
Festivals