Indian Festivals and Important Dates in September 2011
August 26, 2011
In the month of September 2011 we have very important dates and festivals. According to Hindu calendar Bhaado ends on 12th of September and Ashwin Mahina continues till the end of the month. Important days for this month are Ganesh Chaturthi, Teacher’s Day, Onam, Annant Chaturdashi and Nav Ratra Sthapana. In the month of September 2011 Nav Ratra Sthapana is going to happen on 28th of September i.e on Wednesday. Another important date in September is the International Literacy Day which happens to be on 8th i.e Thursday.
| SL. No. | Day/Date | Name |
| 1 | 1 September – Thursday | Guru Granth Sabhib Day |
| 2 | 1 September – Thursday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 3 | 5 September – Monday | Teacher’s Day |
| 4 | 5 September – Monday | Radha Asthmi |
| 5 | 6 September – Tuesday | Tal Navami |
| 6 | 8 September – Thursday | International Literacy Day |
| 7 | 9 September – Friday | Onam (Kerala) |
| 8 | 11 September – Sunday | Annant Chaturdashi |
| 9 | 16 September – Friday | Chaturthi Vrat |
| 10 | 27 September – Tuesday | Mahalaya |
| 11 | 28 September – Wednesday | Nav Ratra Sthapana |
| 12 | 28 September – Wednesday | Shri Agrasen Jayanti |
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When is Holi 2012 and Holi 2012 Date
August 26, 2011
When is Holi 2012 – Well the Date for Holi 2012 is Thursday, 8th March and Friday, 9th March.
Holi(होली) is celebrated in all its gaiety in the Phaigun month of March on full moon, according to the Gregarian calender. The festival may be celebrated in different names and in different forms, but the spirit is the same.
Holi is a colorful event and ushers in spring. The gloom of winter passes away and the bright colors of spring sets in. Farmers reap good harvest. It is a day of rejoicing and overcoming personal differences and coming together again.
It is celebrated af Dolyatra or Doul Jatra(দোলযাত্রা) and spring festival or Basanta Utsav in Orissa and West Bengal. The biggest celebration of Holi happens in Braj region which are connected with Lord Krishna. These places are Barsana, Mathura, Nandagaon and Vrindavan. In sanskrit this day is called as Dhuli Vandana, Dhulendi or Dhulheti.
Legend of Holi
King Hiranyakashyap ordered all his citizens to worship his idol, but his religious minded son Prahlad worshipped Lord Vishnu. The King was angered and wanted to kill his son. He requested Holika, his sister to get into the fire with Prahlad on her lap. Holika was immune to fire due to a boon for various austerities she performed. Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad for his extreme devotion to him and Holika was burnt to ashes as her boon was applicable only if she entered the fire alone.
The second legend involves the death of Pootana, the ogress who tried to kill Sri Krishna by feeding him poisonous milk. It was Krishna’s uncle Kansa who had planned it . But Krishna sucked the blood and brought about her death. Her death is marked as the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
The legend in South India centers around Kamadeva, who is god of passion and love, who shot his arrow of love at Shiva who was in meditation. This angered Shiva who opened his third eye and reduced Kamadeva to ashes. On the request of Rati, Kamadeva’s wife, Shiva again restored Kamadeva.
Celebration of Holi
The entire country has a festive look. Markets are full of shoppers who are busy buying sweets and other goodies. Gulal (color powder) is sold everywhere in fantastic and bright colors. Children buy balloons and fill them up with water and throw them at each other. Even adults take part in the celebrations. Gulal is applied on the face and children and adults spray water on each other by using pichakaris. People get drenched in colored water. It is real fun.
Women start preparing goodies from early hours. They prepare gujiya, papri and matri and also make papads and potato chips. Sweets are also served on the occasion. People visit family and friends and dress up in their best attire. Of course, in the morning, they are busy playing with water.
Ritual of Holi
A bonfire called Holika is lit and this is meant to celebrate victory over evil and also to highlight the triumph of devotion to god over evil. Stalks and grams from the harvest are offered to Agni. The ash left from the bonfire is considered sacred and is applied on the forehead. The ash is supposed to protect them from evil forces.
Holi is indeed a festival of fun and frolic. It is a colorful event and people enjoy the event every minute. It is a time when people get-together and share joy together.
Top 10 Bollywood Holi Songs -
Festivals in India is incomplete without songs and when it comes to Holi, you have thousands of songs both in bollywood and in regional languages. Listed below are top 10 Bollywood Songs -
1. Holi Ke Din Dil Khil Jaate Hain
Dharmendra and Hema Malini in Sholay (1975)
2. Rang barse bheege chunar wali
Amitabh Bachchan and Rakha in Silsila (1981)
3. Hori Khele Raghuveera Avadh Mein
Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini in Baghban (2003)
5. Ang Se Ang Lagaana
Juhi Chawla and Shah Rukh Khan in Darr (1993)
6. Are jaa re hat natkhat
Sandhya in Navrang (1959)
7. Mal de gulaal mohe aayi holi aayi re
Jaya Prada and Rakesh Roshan in Kaamchor (1982)
8. Holi Aayee Re Kanhai song
Nargis and Sunil Dutt in Mother India (1957)
9. Aaj Na Chhodenge Bas Humjoli
Rajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh in Kati patang (1970)
10. Saat rang mein khel rahe hai
Rakesh Roshan and Smita Patil in Aakhir Kyon (1985)
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When is Swami Vivekananda Birthday Date
August 25, 2011
When is Swami Vivekananda Birthday – Well the Date for Swami Vivekanand Birthday is 12th January.
Swami Vivekananda’s birthday or Swami Vivekananda Jayanti(স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ) occurs on the Paush Krishna Saptami, which happens to be the 7th day after the full moon day that comes in the month of Paush based on Hindu calendar. The date naturally varies on a yearly basis. He was born on12th January, 1863.
Who was Swami Vivekananda (स्वामी विवेकानन्द)
Vivekananda encouraged people to search for knowledge. He was a great spiritual leader. He could feel for the masses, their poverty-ridden plight and suffering. He was a protector of Hinduism. He promoted lofty ideals of Sanathana Dharma. He stood for Indian Cultural values at a time when the youth was more inclined towards western culture. He guided the youth with regard to national principles. He was progressive in his religious and social views.
One of the lofty principle he taught was “Jiva is Shiva”, which implies that every individual is divinity itself. He believed that religion should be based on personal experiences rather than on pure faith. He was the disciple of Ramakrishna and also the founder of Ramakrishna Mission. He played an important role in introducing Yoga and Vedanta to the West.
He died of cancer on July 4th,1902.
Legend of Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekanand’s mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi, who was pious had a dream in which Lord Shiva, coming out of his meditation, informed her that he would be born as her son. She had prayed very devotedly to Vireshwar Shiva belonging to Varanasi that she would like to have a son.
Celebration of Swami Vivekananda Birthday
Swami Vivekanand Jayanti is celebrated as National Youth day. Cultural programs, competitions, rangoli competition and group discussions, sports activities, recitation, speeches etc. are held on this day. The best way of celebrating his birthday is by reiterating what he stood for and believing in his ideals. Several programs are organized in India as well as abroad. Healthy discussions are held so that a topic is debated well and then the group members come to a particular conclusion. Exhibitions of Swami Viveknanda’s ideas and philosophy are held at various places all over the country as well as the world.
Special hymns and devotional songs are sung at various programs and views are expressed about his philosophy. At various centers of Ramakrishna Mission and Math, magalarti, homa(fire-ritual), special worship, Yogasana presentation, devotional songs etc are organized.
Swami Vivekanand was indeed a great philosopher and represented what India culture stood for. He protected Hinduism from the onslaught of alien cultures and encouraged youth towards nationalism.
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When is Vaiskahi 2012 Date
August 25, 2011
When is Vaiskahi 2012 – Well the Date for Baisakhi in 2012 is Friday 13th April.
Vaiskahi(ਵਿਸਾਖੀ) is celebrated on April 13th. It falls at the beginning of the solar year. It is a very important event in the Sikh calendar, as it commemorates the setting up of Khalsa(birth anniversary of Khalsa) meant to protect the dharma and withstand the Muslim onslaught in 1699.
Baisakhi(बैसाखी) is celebrated with much fervor in Punjab as it is a land of agriculture. The farmers welcome the festival. They appreciate the good Rabi harvest bestowed upon them.
Celebration of Vaisakkhi
People thank the Almighty for giving them a good harvest. Also the arrival of spring is celebrated. The Sikhs as well as other devotees from other religions visit the Gurudwaras. Vaisakhi processions are held. All over the world the Sikh community celebrate this event.
The procession is accompanied with much merry making like mock duets, Gidda dances and performing the Bhangra. New clothes are bought. Women adorn themselves with traditional jewelry. Sweet dishes are distributed. Fairs are held. Festivities are conducted on the banks of the five famous rivers in Punjab – the Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Chenub and Jhelum.
Wrestling events and recreational activities are organized. People sing and dance very happily. It is a joyous occasion. People indulge in zestful body movements to the tune of music and ballads are sung.
Rituals of Vaisakhi
Before proceeding to the Gurudwaras, the devotees take a dip in the holy river. Before dawn itself they leave for the Gurudwaras with flowers and other offerings. Free lunch is provided known as “Langar” at Gurduwaras. People pray for a bright and prosperous future.
Vasakhi is an occasion for festivities. It ushers in spring and the good harvest. It is the day that Sikhs commemorate the formation of the Khalsa and reaffirm their faith in the dharma.
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When is Nag Panchami 2012 Date
August 24, 2011
When is Nag Panchami 2012 – Well the Date for Nag Panchami in 2012 is Tuesday 24th July.
On this occasion, which happens to be the 5th day of the brighter half of Shravan or Shraavana month the snake “Nag” is worshipped and is known as Nag Panchami(नाग पंचमी). It is the festival of snakes. The festival occurs during the rainy season and is supposed to counter the snake bite.
Legend of Nag Panchami
A farmer while ploughing a field by mistake destroyed an anthill, killing the young serpents in it. The mother of the snakes had gone out and when she was back she was not able to find her young ones. She finally found them but they were cut in pieces. She was angry and realized that the farmer might have killed them.
During the night the snake came to the farmer’s house and found him and his wife and children sleeping. He started biting the farmet’s feet, then that of the children and wife. They started crying. The eldest daughter was absent from home that particular night. The snake came to know that on this was her wedding day she had gone to her in-laws place. Snake decided not to leave her too.
Snake went to the village and found a girl in a house who resembled the eldest daughter. She found the daughter praying to an image of the snake and 9 “nagkule” – young snakes. The girl was offering them “nagane”, “lahya” and “durva” (grass). She was of course full of devotion. She asked the snake to forgive her for any past mistakes she may have committed and asked the snake god to protect her in-laws from any evil that may befall them. She also prayed that people in her house should be well taken care of.
The snake related what had happened at her house, but told her not to worry. She gave her some nectar and asked her to spill it on them and they would again come back to life.
अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम्,
शंखपालं धार्तराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा |
Another legend tells us that Krishna was playing with some cowboys and the ball they were playing with got entangled in a tree. Krishna agreed to fetch the ball by climbing the tree. Yamuna(यमुना) River was flowing, in which the scary snake Kaliya was living. People were frightened of the snake. Krishna fell into the river and the ferocious snake came out. Krishna was prepared and just jumped onto the head of the snake and grabbed it by the neck. Kaliya pleaded to Krishna not to kill it. Krishna said he would do so if he did not trouble the people. The snake agreed and Krishna let it go free. On the Nag Panchami day the celebration happens for the victory of Krishna over Kaliya.
Celebration of Nag Panchami
Devotees visit temples which are dedicated to snakes to worship them. The temples of Lord Shiva are much preferred as he had a liking for snakes. In South India, snake images are carved out of cow dung and pasted near doors to welcome the snake god. Some of the devotees visit the holes of the anthills since they feel snakes are found in them.
Rituals of Nag Panchami
A five-hood image of the snake is prepared by mixing “gandh”( pigment which is full of fragrance),”chandan” (sandal), halad-kumkum (turmeric powder) and “keshar”(saffron) and then placing it on a plate made of metal and worshipping it. In South India, the images of snakes are made in sandalwood paste that is red on wooden boards. On some parts clay images of snakes are worshiped which is either colored or is completely black.
People worship snakes to ward of evil and to seek protection from calamities. Nag Panchami is a festival of snakes.
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