Showing posts with label Indian Festivals. Show all posts
Holi - Festival Of Colors
Significance of Holi festival
Festival of color, Holi is a spring festival celebrated by the Hindus in all over the world. It is the most charming festival of India celebrated in each part of the country. There are many stories associated with the origin of Holi festival. It is mainly believed to be related with lord Krishna. It is said that lord Krishna often complained of his dark skin to his mother comparing his skin color to the Radha's fair color. His mother decided to apply the color to Radha. Later on Krishna played such pranks on Radha and other Gopikas. Thus the festival is celebrated to commemorate Radha’s celestial love for Krishna.The festival of Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter. The festival usually falls on the last full moon of day of Phalguna (Feb- March) month. On the eve of the Holi festival particular bonfire is set on fire thus marking the mythological incidence of Holika Dahan in which Holika (a demoness with a boon that she could not be burnt) dies of burning when she sits on pyre with Prhalad (an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu) who escapes the fire unhurt due to supernatural power of the god lord Vishnu.
Celebration of Holi contains the activities of people throwing colors mixed with water and applying colors to each other. The festival of Holi gets different flavor in different parts of the country. There are many form of the festival of Holi celebrated in different ways. Lath Mar Holi in Barsna is very striking. Thousands of people gather at the compound of Radha Rani temple to witness the women striking hard with sticks to men who are seen protecting themselves with some kind of shields. Mathura, Vrindavan, Braj, Agra are some of the places related with lord Krishna and hence celebration of Holi there is very religious and divine.
Holi in different states of India
Holi is also known by different names in different parts of the state. In West Bengal and Orissa it is known as Dolyatra of Basant Panchami while it has other name of Phagawa in Bihar. In Maharashtra and Goa Holi is known as Dhulivandan. Baithki Holi and Khari Holi are some forms of main festival of Holi. Holi festival abolishes the gap between rich and poor, men and women, young and old, rich and poor who all comes together to celebrate colorful Holi.Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Maha Shivaratri festival
Maha Shivaratri is celebrated to remember lord Shiva and take his blessings for personal well being in this life and after. The shivratri is observed a day before the amavasya in the phalgun month according to Hindu calendar. The devotees of Shiva stay awake on 13Th night, generally walking / travelling to some Shiva temple, singing/chanting panchakshari mantra and praising the lord Shiva. They fast on 14Th day as a penance and offering to lord Shiva, people generally restrain themselves from eating grains on this day, only some fruits, milk and milk products and some items like sabudana (sago), nuts and dry fruits can be savored while fasting. Some people take a complete fasting and restrain themselves from eating anything and some even fast without water known as nirjala fast. Bael leaves, flowers, ghee lamp, incense sticks and bhoga are offered at the temples. This is the biggest devotional event among the Hindus and devotees all around the country(India) observe this day with great religious obligations.
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Indian Festivals,
Vasant Panchami - a festival devoted to Goddess Saraswati
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| Vasant Panchami |
Vasant Panchami is a festival celebrated by the Hindus all over the world. The festival celebrates the goddess of Saraswati which is known to be the goddess of Knowledge. Goddess Saraswati is a consort of the lord Brahma who is according to Hindu mythology, considered to be the creator of the whole universe. Devi Saraswati is known to be goddess of learning and wisdom. The Goddess Saraswati symbolizes the Knowledge.
The word Panchami literally means five and the festival falls on the fifth day of Mag (Jan- Feb) month of the Indian Calendar. The day is supposed to be auspicious to teach the children to write their first word in their life. On the occasion of Vasant Panchami Brahmins are invited to home and fed. Yellow color gets importance on this day. People usually try to wear yellow dress on this festival. India’s crop fields are filled with the color yellow, as the yellow mustard flowers bloom at this time of the year.The goddess Saraswati is also adorned with yellow cloths and worshiped.
Pitri Tarpan is done on the occasion of Vasant Panchami. Pitri Tarpan means worshiping ancestors. Kamdev (the god of love) is also worshipped on this holy event. Sweets are exchanged with relatives and friends. Children like to fly kites on this day. Vasant Panchami has a great religious and social importance in Indian society and hence the festival is celebrated with great fervor.
Vasant Panchami is celebrated in Punjab with more fascinating way. First of all the festival is known as Basant Panchami here. On the occasion children and many young boys and girls fly the colorful kites. Thousands of colorful kites presents amazing look in the sky. This is largely seen in Ferozepur (Punjab) where the festival is also known as Kite Festival.
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Indian Festivals,