Festivals
Festivals
Festivals
Festivals
Maa Chandraghanta – Navratri Day 3
The third facet of Goddess Durga is ‘Chandraghanta’, who is worshipped on the third day of Navaratri, for peace, tranquillity and prosperity in life. She has a ‘Chandra’ or half moon on her forehead in the shape of a ‘ghanta’ or bell. That is why she is called Maa Chandraghanta. She is charming, has a...
Festivals
Maa Brahmacharini – Navratri Day 2
Maa Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second day of Navratri and is the second form of Mother Goddess. Brahmacharini means one who practices devout austerity. She enlightens us in the magnificent embodiment of Durga with great powers and divine grace. In one hand she carries a Rudraksha mala and in the other hand she carries...
Festivals
Goddess Shailaputri – Navratri Day 1
Navratri is a Hindu festival celebrated twice a year, in the months of Chaitra and Ashwin. It is dedicated to worshipping the divine feminine, the nine forms of Goddess Durga, known as the Navadurga. It is observed with great devotion and enthusiasm throughout India and by Hindus worldwide. During the nine nights of Navratri, devotees...
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
Rudrabhishek Puja in 2017
Rudrabhishekh is a Hindu celebration in which Lord Shiva is worshiped in His Rudra appearance, which is greeted by all Vedic scriptures as one of the supreme Pujas to eliminate all evils, to conquer all wishes and overall success. Lord Shiva is also known as Rudra and Rudrabhishek is the ceremonial bath of the Shiv...
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
Lord Ganesha’s family
How many of us know about Lord Ganesha’s family? Lord Ganesha is more popularly known as a celibate however the scriptures that are dedicated to Lord Ganesha (the Ganesha Purana and the Mudgala Purana) provide information about his wives Siddhi and Buddhi (also called Riddhi). “Siddhi” means spiritual power and “Buddhi” means intellect. Since Lord...
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