Amongmong Festival – Date, Celebration and Rituals

September 1, 2011

When is Amongmong Festival – Amongmong Festival Date falls every year between 1st to 8th of September. In 2011 too it would be celebrated on the same date.

Amongmong festival is celebrated during September first week by the Sangtam tribe in Nagaland. Amongmong, which means togetherness, brings together people to celebrate the pre-harvest season. This festival is celebrated with great vigor and enthusiasm for six days. During this period, resident deities are worshiped by people along with the three stones in the fireplace. They pray for prosperity, harvest and good health.

Significance of Amongmong festival
Amongmong festival holds its own significance and is one of the most important celebrations in Nagaland. People belonging to the Sangtam tribe here celebrate this food-related festival with fervor and devotion as a thanksgiving to Mother Earth. As they harvest new crops in the fields, they pray for a rich harvest.

Celebration of Amongmong festival
Each of the six days this festival is celebrated on has its own importance. They pray to their deities and to the three stones in their fireplaces asking for opulence, good health, prosperity and rich harvest. This festival is celebrated with a lot of fanfare among people of this tribe.

Rituals of Amongmong festival
On the first day of this festival, all transactions related to purchase or sale of domestic animals like cow and pigs are closed. Harvesting vegetables, food stuff and millets are prepared and collected on this day.

On the second day, domestic animals that are roped in are killed. Some portion of the meat is set aside for the feast and the balance is distributed among members of the team.

On the third day, the three oven stones are worshiped by the eldest woman in the house. Wine is poured by the women on gum rice balls placed on these stones that represent God. On the first three days of the festival, villagers refrain from going outside the village or to the fields. Evening of the third day is marked by merry making that includes dancing, drinking rice beer and tug of war.

On the fourth day, male members of the tribe clean the wells, paths and springs in the village after which they contribute wine and meat and feast together at the village priest’s house.

On the fifth day, villagers visit friends, relatives and neighboring villages to share drinks and meat. The last day of the festival is when harvesting starts.

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When is Mahalaya 2012 and Mahalaya 2012 Date

August 28, 2011

When is Mahalaya in 2012 – Well the Date for Mahalaya 2012 is Monday, 15th October.

Mahalaya(महालय) is the day that ushers the countdown for ‘Durga Puja’, the 5 days long celebration of Devi Durga’s arrival on Earth celebrated in autumn. In Hindu ethos, Mahalaya(মহালয়া) is illustrated as the commencement of festivities as well as an auspicious time to pay homage to ancestors(पितृ पक्ष). According to the Hindu almanac ‘Panji’, Mahalaya marks the end of Pitrupaksha and beginning of Devipaksha.

The important days associated with Durga puja are:

Legend of the Mahalaya
According to Hindu mythology and epic Ramayana, Goddess Durga was actually worshipped in the spring and King Ramachandra worshipped her in autumn before he went to conquer demon king Ravana. It is believed that all Gods and Goddesses wake up from their rest on the day of Mahalaya to offer ardent prayers to the savior Goddess Durga. On this very day Devi commences her journey to earth from heaven. Another myth explained in Mahabharata tells that Mahalaya is the ending day for Pitru Paksha during which Karna ended his fortnight long charity for food and left for the heavenly abode. It is also widely reckoned that autumn reaches it full blossom on Mahalaya.

Rituals of Mahalaya
On the auspicious day of Mahalaya, Hindus invocate Devi Durga, the warrior goddess of supremacy, to descend on Earth with her four children. Sons and successors of deceased Hindu people wake up at dawn and offer homage and prayers for the peace of their late ancestors which is known as ‘Tarpan’. Tarpan is performed at the bank of sacred river Ganges. It is only after the rituals, people eat anything. Sweets, foods and clothes are offered for charity in the memory of the deceased.

Celebration of Mahalaya
Mahalaya rings the final bell of festivity at the doors of Hindus, especially Bengalis. But the celebration of Mahalaya is closely associated with a legendary Radio program broadcasted by All India Radio since 1930. Bengalis wake up early morning to listen to this annual broadcasting of ‘Mahishasura Mardini’, the tale of Goddess Durga who was created and empowered by the Gods to end the totalitarianism of Demon Mahishasura. The powerful recitation of Birendra Krishna Bhadra, the immaculate montage of ‘Chandi Kavya’ scripts, classical music and devotional songs still overwhelm Bengalis with its awe and charm.

Significance of Mahalaya
Mahalaya has great spiritual as well as religious significance in Hindu as well as Bengali culture. It indicates the time for subjugation of all evil spirits and surrender to the eternal divinity. To conclude, Mahalaya is the initiation of the festive elation all over.

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Teej 2011 Date and Hartalika Teej 2011

August 27, 2011

When is Hartalika Teej in 2011 – Well the Date for Teej 2011 is Wednesday August 31.

Hartalika Teej is a three day festival celebrated by women in India. This festival is in honor of Goddess Parvati. Praying for their husbands, women keep fast on this day. Throughout the day, they do not even drink a drop of water.

Women strongly believe that by praying to Goddess Parvati and by keeping rigorous fast on Hartalika Teej(तीज), their husbands are assured of good health and happy life. Unmarried girls too keep fast in order to find a husband who is virtuous and perfect like Lord Shiva.

This is a festival that celebrates the reunion of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Parvati Mata’s idol is decorated beautifully in bright colored clothes and taken on a procession in a palanquin. This procession is symbolically represented through art and dance performances. Several camels and elephants accompany Parvati’s idol on this day. This in fact is one of the most attractive features of this festival. On this day, many cultural programs and fairs are organized for entertainment.

In India, Hartalika Teej is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and fervor by women. Married women visit their mother’s home and adorn themselves with jewelry and new clothes. They apply attractive mehndi(मेहँदी) designs on their hands and feet and usually wear golden bindi on their foreheads. Women usually wear green colored clothes on this day and apply a thick layer of kajal in their eyes. In other words, they do everything possible to look beautiful on this special day.

Attractively painted coconuts are distributed by women among their friends and relatives. As a part of thanksgiving, they offer sweets, green vegetables and fresh fruits to Goddess Parvati. After fasting through the day, extensive prayers are offered after which they enjoy the rest of the day singing and dancing to their heart’s content.

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Ganesh Chaturthi 2011 Date and Vinayaka Chavithi 2011

August 27, 2011

When is Ganesh Chaturthi in 2011 – Well the Date for Vinayaka Chavithi 2011 is Thursday 1st September.

Ganesh Chaturthi(गणेश चतुर्थी) is one of the very popular festivals for Hindu which is celebrated throughout India. This festival is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, this ten day festival usually falls between August 20th and 15th September. Ganesha Chaturthi celebrates the birthday of Ganesha, the God of prosperity, wisdom and fortune. Lord Ganesha is worshiped by the Hindus before any auspicious event or work.

Ganesha’s blessing fulfills devotee’s desires. Ganesh is the son of Parvati and Shiva and is Kartikeya’s brother, according to mythology. In the Hindu mythology there are many stories that relate the birth of Ganesha the elephant headed god. His vehicle is rat or Mooshak.

Legends of Vinayaka Chaturthi
According to legend, Ganesha was created by Parvati out of sandalwood dough. After breathing life into the idol, she placed him near the door as guard before she went for her bath. When Shiva returned, he was stopped by Ganesha. Enraged, he severed his head before entering his house. Parvati was distraught when she learnt what happened. When she asked Shiva to bring him back to life, he cut the head off an elephant and placed it on Ganesha’s body.
Artistic clay models of God Ganesha are made by skilled artisans at least three months before the festival. These idols come in different sizes and are decorated beautifully.

Rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi
During Ganesh Chaturthi festival, these idols are installed on colorfully decorated mandapas or temporarily erected platforms. Clad usually in a shawl or silk dhoti, the priest invokes life into these statues through mantra chanting. Statues are anointed with red unguent which is a paste of sandalwood and kumkum.

Celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesha is thus worshiped for ten days. On the eleventh day, Lord Ganesha statues are taken on a procession through the streets accompanied by fanfare, singing and dancing. They are immersed into the sea or river and Lord Ganesha is sent on his journey back to his heavenly abode Kailash leaving behind good tidings and taking with him his devotee’s sorrows. This ritual is known as Ganesh Visarjan.

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When is Pohela Boishakh 2012 and Poila Baishakh 2012 Date

August 27, 2011

When is Pohela Boishakh in 2012 – Well the Date for Poila Boishakh 2012 is Monday 13th April. According to Bengali calendar 2012 – 2013 happens to be year 1419.

Bengali New Year(নববর্ষ), also known as Poyela Boishakh (In Bengali, Poyela stands for ‘first’ and Baisakh is first month of Bengali calendar) is an auspicious date for Bengalis from all parts of the world. According to the Bengali calendar which is based on the Hindu Vedic solar calendar, the month of Baisakh commences in mid-April of the Gregorian year. On this day, Bengalis bid adieu to the last year and welcome the New Year with immense exhilaration and bliss. They wish ‘Shuvo Naba Barsho’ (derived from the Sanskrit words Shuva (Happy), Naba (New) and Varsha (year)) to friends, relatives and acquaintances. Celebration of Bengali New Year dissolves the barriers of castes, religions or status and binds Bengalis from every corner of the world in the heartfelt bond of love and unity. ‘Pohela Baishakh’ is primarily celebrated in Bangladesh, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura in India.

Significance of Bengali New Year
‘Pohela Baishakh’(পয়লা বৈশাখ) ushers the beginning of a year filled with new hopes, anticipations and happiness. With the advent of summer, greenery and freshness hails all over which is also depicted in the celebrations of Bengali New Year. Bengalis decorate their home entrances with green mango leaves and colorful flowers. The day marks the beginning of all commercial and business activities in Bengal and also considered an auspicious date for marriages. Beyond the festivities, Bengali New Year holds great significance in uniting Bengalis from all walks of life.

Legend of ‘Poila Baishakh’
The Bengali era owes its origin to the reign of King Shasanko who ruled the vast area encompassing Bangladesh, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa and Bihar from 590 CE to 625 CE. During the Mughal reigns, taxes used to be collected as per the Hijri or lunar calendar which never coincided with the harvest time in Bengal. Hence to release the taxation on farmers, a new calendar was devised in which Bengali years were known as ‘Bônggabdo’. Hence the festival was essentially introduced by Mughal Emperor Akbar and gradually this occasion became an essential part of the domestic and social life of Bengalis.

Rituals of Bengali New Year
Hindu Bengalis worship Ganesha, the god of prosperity Ganesha and Laxmi, the goddess of wealth on Bengali New Year day. Women wear ‘Sari’ and Men wear ‘Dhoti-Kurta’, the traditional attire of Bengalis. Every home is decorated with articulate ‘Alpana’. People of all age groups participate in early morning processions known as ‘Prabhat Pheri’ where they sing Bengali songs. Plenty of cultural activities are arranged throughout the states celebrating ‘Poila Baishakh’. Young people touch the feet of their elders and the elders consecrate them with blessings for prosperity and good health. Elders hug each other (Kolakoli) and exchange good wishes.

Celebration of Bengali New Year
Houses and business establishments are cleaned and renovated to celebrate this sacred day. Bengali businessmen start their new account book (Halkhata) and invite their prospective customers to make a decent start of the business at the very first day of the year. They welcome their customers with sweets and new Bengali calendars are distributed.

‘Poila Baishakh’ is indeed an integral part of Bengali culture and festivities that renews the unity and love among people every year.

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