Valmiki Jayanti 2011 Date
September 30, 2011
When is Valmiki Jayanti in 2011 – Valmiki Jayanti 2011 Date falls on Tuesday, 11th of October.
Sage Valmiki(वाल्मीकि) is the author of the Ramayana, the great Hindu epic. He is considered the greatest of all Sanskrit poets. His birth anniversary is celebrated as Valmiki Jayanti. It is an important festival of Hindus especially in Northern India. It is celebrated on a full moon day in the month of Ashwin (20th September to 20th October).
Legend and significance of Valmiki Jayanti
Before Valmiki came to be renowned as the great poet, he was a highway dacoit named Ratnakar. Ratnakar used to rob travelers after killing them to earn his livelihood. Once he tried to loot Narada, the divine sage of Gods. In order to make him understand the crude realty of life, Lord Narada asked him whether his family, for whom he was committing a transgression, would share the burden of his sins. The robber then tied the sage with a tree to make sure that he did not escape and went to confirm the answer from his family. Ratnakar asked each of his family members the same question but none of them agreed to share his sins. Remorseful and repentant, Ratnakar kneeled before the sage and begged for divine mercy. Narada told him to meditate before God until he returned. Ratnakar meditated for centuries until his penance bore fruit and the name of Valmiki was bestowed to him. Valmiki then composed the epic Ramayana and came to be known as Valmiki. Therefore this festival is celebrated to commemorate the transformation of a robber into the Great poet and also for the composure of the epic.
Celebration and rituals of Valmiki Jayanti
Sage Valmiki is worshiped on the day of Valmiki Jayanti. Devotees flock to the temples and monasteries to pay respect to the great poet. Processions and fairs are held on this day. Food is distributed amongst poor people at many places. Devout people recite scriptures from the Ramayana and sing devotional songs of to pay reverence to Valmiki.
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Phool walon Ki Sair 2011 Date
September 30, 2011
When is Phool walon Ki Sair 2011 – In 2011 Phool walon Ki Sair will be celebrated from Thursday, 27th October to Saturday 5th November.
Phool Walon Ki Sair(फूल वालों की सैर) is an important festival for both the Hindus and Muslims. The phrase means ‘a procession of florists’ (پھُول والوں کی سیر). The festival is celebrated in the city of Delhi in India. It is held in the month of September after the season of monsoons is over.
Legend of Phool Walon Ki Sair
The origin of the festival dates back to the reigns of Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah II. The emperor nominated his son Mirza Jahangir as the heir apparent. Once Mirza Jahangir, while merry making fired a shot at the British resident, Sir Archibald Seyton from the roof of the Naubat Khana inside the Red Fort. Though Seyton was not hurt, for his callous act Mirza Jahangir was exiled to Allahabad. The Queen Mumtaz Mahal Begum, who was distressed at this incident, vowed that if Mirza Jahangir was allowed to return to Delhi, she would offer a blanket of flowers at the Dargah of Khwaja Bhaktiar in Mehrauli, Delhi. After a few years when the exiled prince was recalled from banishment, the Queen redeemed her vow and made a great floral offering at the Dargah and also at the Temple of Jogmaya. Ever since then, Phool Walon Ki Sair is annually celebrated by people from all communities.
Celebration of Phool Walon Ki Sair
Huge processions sprinkling colorful flowers set off from the temple of Jogmaya and the tomb of Kwaja Bhaktiar. In the procession, trumpets are blown as is customary. A realm of music and dance is also performed in honor of the festive season. Qwallis and Kathak Kali dances are performed; blazing fireworks are unleashed. Fan shaped decorations consisting of palm leaves adorned with flowers and tinsels are put up to honor Jogmaya and Khwaja Bhaktiar. Acrobatic performances, fire eating and fire dancing are some of the major attractions of this procession. This festival has gained popularity over the years among people from all communities.
Phool Walon Ki Sair is one of those important festivals that unite both Hindus and Muslims and tie them in a bond of love and communion.
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Tuljapur Bhavani Temple
September 29, 2011
Bhavani is a form of Goddess Durga, the mother of all creationa as per in Hindu beliefs. She is held as the source of all power and energy. Tuljapur Bhavani Temple is the holy place dedicated to Goddess Bhavani, situated at Tujlapur in Osmanabad district, in the state of Maharashtra. The festival of Tujlapur Bhavani is held on the full moon day of the month of Ashwin (September-October).
Legend of Tuljapur Bhavani
The festival is celebrated in many parts of India as Dusshera or Navaratri. The Tuljapur Bhavani temple was built by the Maratha warrior Shivaji who was a great devotee of goddess Bhavani. Bhavani is believed to have killed the demon Mahishasura, who took the form of a wild buffalo, thus saving the world from his reign of terror which he had unleashed after attaining the boon of invincibility. According to legend, she vanquished another demon named Matanga. The demon had wreaked havoc upon mankind and not even the Gods could defeat him. Paying heed to the appeal of other Gods, Durga took the form of Bhavani and slaughtered Matanga. The festival is celebrated as a part of Navaratri to commemorate the victory of good over evil.
Celebration and rituals of Tuljapur Bhavani Festival
Tuljapur Bhavani festival is celebrated throughout four days and four nights and payers or worshipping is performed every day. The main rituals include Sasthi, the 6th day of the bright half of month, when the deity is welcomed; Bhavani Ashthami, the 8th day when the main Puja takes place. On this day devotees observe fast until they make offerings of flowers (known as ‘Anjali’) to the deity. The next day is Mahanavami when girls who have not yet reached puberty are fed and offered presents as they symbolize the young form of Goddess Bhavani. The last day of the festival is Vijayadashami and on this day the idol is carried to the river along with a flamboyant procession and immersed in the water. Devotees share sweets and rejoice the fact that the festival will be celebrated again the following year.
The poojas performed at Tuljapur Bhavani Temple is quite similar to Durga Puja in West Bengal. Both the pujas symbolize win of good over evils.
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Griha Pravesh Pooja
September 29, 2011
Griha Pravesh is a Hindu ceremony performed to celebrate the event of a person’s first entry into a new house. This ritual is primarily done in the months of Magh (mid January to mid February) and Baisakh (mid April to May) but could be done in other months too by getting the dates(thithi) from the priests. According to the Hindu calendar the above months are considered most auspicious for bringing wealth and prosperity to the new home.
Legend of Griha Pravesh
There is a belief among Hindus that before entering into a new home one should perform the ceremony of Griha Pravesh so as to purify the house and receive the blessings of almighty for the beginning of a new life. According to Vedic tradition, the ceremony of Griha Pravesh acts as a remedy for all malevolent influences that may be present in the house. It is also believed that after the performance of this ritual there is the presence of God which drives away all evil spirits and showers the home and its inmates with blessings. Many devout people firmly believe that the performance Griha Pravesh ceremony will ensure the success of all subsequent ceremonies and festivals performed in the house such as a marriage or worship of any deity.
How a Griha Pravesh Pooja is Done
Two Pujas are performed during the Gruha Pravesh ceremony. The first Vastu Puja is performed outside the house where a copper pot, filled with water, nine types of grains and a coconut placed on top of it, is kept. It is then covered with a red cloth and taken inside the house by the husband and wife. The second Puja is the Vastu Shanti where the priest performs ‘Homa’ or the invocation to Agni, the God of Fire to bless the house. Afterwards a lit earthen lamp is kept in the house for 3 days to ensure the fulfillment of the ritual.
Griha Pravesh is almost similar to house warming although it retains the cultural flavors of India by incorporating religious elements.
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Ayudha Puja 2012 Date
September 27, 2011
When is Ayudha Puja 2012 Date – Well, Ayudha Pooja in 2012 will be celebrated on Tuesday, 23rd of October.
Ayudha Puja, also known as the ‘Astra Puja’ is an essential part of Dusshera, the 10 days long festival of victory. Ayudha Puja is the festival of weapons as indicated by the word ‘Ayudha’ which means weapon in Sanskrit. It is celebrated on the 9th day of Dusshera mainly in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India. This festival also includes worshiping the implements which are used to earn living; so that one may be successful in his endeavors. Saraswati Puja is also performed with Ayudha Puja in some parts of India. In North India though Saraswati Puja is celebrated in the month of January/February.
Legend of Ayudha Puja
According to the Hindu epic Mahabharata, on the day of Vijayadashami, the 10th day of Dusshera, Arjun retrieved his divine weapons was hidden in a tree by him in order to lead a life of incognito for a particular period of exile. Therefore it is believed that the person who renovates or revamp their learning on this auspicious day will be crowned with success as Arjun was in the battle of Kurukshetra.
Celebrations and Rituals of Ayudha Puja
On this auspicious day, all implements whether weapons of soldiers or tools of artisans are revered. They are cleaned and polished first and then smeared with sandalwood paste and vermilion. On the eve of the festival the instruments are placed on an allotted platform and decked with flowers and garlands. Even weapons of war are decorated and placed in a line to be worshiped. All these implements are placed in front of the images of goddess Saraswati (goddess of learning), Laxmi (goddess of wealth) and Parvati (Divine mother of all creations) and worshipped with great devotion. It is held that when these implements receive divine blessings, they always secure success for the user.
Significance of Ayudha Pooja
Ayudha Puja has been celebrated in India since ancient times. The celebration of this festival is about understanding that work is no less than worship and accordingly one resolves to make good use of the resources for which he is endowed with the purpose of leading a respectable life.
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