Eternal India Encyclopedia

FESTIVALS AND FAIRS

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Rishi Panchami On the fifth day of bright half of Bhadra dedicated to the seven seers of Sapta Rishis. Janmashtami On the eighth day of the black half of Bhadra - Birthday of Lord Krishna eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Hala Shashti On the sixth day of dark half Bhadra - Birthday of Balram - Lord Krishna's elder brother. Radha Ashtami On the eighth day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra- Birthday of Radha-incamation of Lakshmi. Anant Chaturdashi On the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra - Vishnu sleeps on the bed of Ananta in the milky ocean when he is worshipped. Partyshana Parva Jain festival from the dark half of the month from the 13th day to the 5th day of the bright half -for 8 days signifies man's emergence into a new moral and spiri- tual world. Dhan Tears On the 13th day of the half of Kartika - the day attributed to the father of Indian science of medicine and Ayurveda - Dhanvantri. Narak Chaturdashi On the 14th day of the dark half of Kartika dedicated to Yama - god of Naraka or Hell. Bhaiya Duj 2nd day of bright fortnight of Kartika - symbolises the affection between brother and sister. Kartika Snan Month of Kartika - most suitable month for acts of piety. Tulsi Vivahotsava Kartika Shukla Ekadashi - the eleventh day of the bright half of Kartika . Surya Shashti Sixth day of the bright fortnight of Kartika to ensure good health, longevity & happiness. Karva Chauth Fourth day of the dark half of Kartika- married ladies to ensure prosperity, sound health and longevity of their husbands. Devuthani Ekadashi Eleventh day of Kartika - Marks the beginning of eating new products of the fields. Karthika Poornima Month of Margashirha - eleventh day of bright and dark fortnights Sikhs celebrate as Guru Nanak's birth- day and Hindus as the day when God incarnates as Fish.

* Jan./Feb.

KUMBHA MELA Kumbha means water pot. The four blessed places are Haridwar, Pragaya, Ujjain and Nasik, held in 12-year ro- tation. Kumbha fair is the most magnificent festival with people from all walks of life participating. In spite of preparations a month ahead stampedes are frequent. Con- tinuous recitation and reading of scriptures, epics and puranas is done. THE ECLIPSE Devotees bathe and offer libations to departed souls and also offer water to sun and moon. Charities and devotions practised. Until the time when sun and moon is clear neither food* nor water is taken. Widows, Sadhus and medicants observe strict fast; the people in general prohib- ited from sleeping, going to toilet and touching the image of the deity. MAL-MAS Also called Adhikmas or Purushottammas. The month in which the Sun does not move from one position or sign into the other. It occurs after every 32 months, 16 days and 4 ghaties. Religious ceremonies are prohibited, fasts observed and charities practised. According to Puranas 33 crore gods and goddesses descend to places making them sacred and places of pilgrimage. SATYANARAYANA VRATA Can be observed either on Sankranti, Ekadashi or Ama- vasys or Puranmasi. Lord of truth-Vishnu is worshipped. Fast is observed. Prasad is distributed. This enables self- purification and self-surrender at the lotus feet of Hari. PRADOSHA VRATA Pradosha means dusk. Observed on the 13th day of each lunar fortnight in honour of Lord Shiva. Devotees fast, bath and put on clean clothes and sit in a sanctified place for worship. He should sit on Kusha grass facing east. He should offer 16 acts of homage to Shiva with seasonal flowers, leaves, fruits, lamps, ets., Night vigil should be kept and Pradosha - Stotra from Shandu Purana recited. SOMVAR VRATA Somvar means Monday. Monday fast is observed termi- nating late afternoon. "Om Namah Shivaya" mantra is repeated on this day. Observed for sixteen Mondays ter- minating in ritual ceremony. A cow or calf is gifted to a Brahmin. MANGALVAR VRATA Mangalvar means Tuesday. Fast is observed, Hanuman is worshipped and a coat of Vermilion and ghee is mixed and applied on Hanuman's idols. After puja fast is broken with sweets. Only one meal is taken and without salt. SHUKRAVAR VRATA Shukravar means Friday. Lakshmi is worshipped with white flowers, white raiments and naivedya (ghee and sugar). People fast and observe jagran at night. RAMZAN AND ID-UL-FITR. The month of Ramzan is sacred. Devout Muslims keep strict fast during the day, after sunset Namaz is offered and then fast is broken, and continues for about a month beginning with a new moon and ends with the next moon. SANTOSHI MATA VRAT Santoshi Ma is the Goddess of peace; any person who believes in Her and fasts on Friday and performs puja with devotion and proper rituals gets his or her wish fulfilled. "Udapan", a puja is performed by offering the Goddess sweets, fruits and food and feeding of 7 small children. No member of the house should eat non-vegetarian food or anything sour until the vrat is over. After the "Udapan" the prasad of food and fruits can be given to friends.

Sakata Chauth Fourth day of the dark half of Magha -Birth day of Lord Ganesh - ensures wisdom, trouble- free life and prosperity. Maghi Purnima Full moon day Magha - great bathing day.

* Feb./March Shivaratri

Fourteenth day of the dark half of Phalguna - called the "Night of Shiva" offered in honour of Lord Shiva. Amalaka Ekadashi Eleventh day of Phalguna - the Amla tree is wor- shipped showing the role of trees in our lives. * March/April Gangaur 18-day festival in honour of Goddess Parvati. Ramanavami 9-day festival; Birthday of Lord Rama. Mahavir Jayanti On 13th day of the bright half of Chaitra Month, the birth of Lord Mahavira. Hanuman Jayanti On Chaitra Shukla Purnima - full moon day; Birth- day of God Hanuman. Akshya Tritiya On third day of bright half of Vaisakha observed to secure longevity. Parshurama Jayanti Birthday of Parshurama or Rama with Axe. Janaki Navami Ninth day of the bright half of Vaisakha. The day on which Sita was found when king Janaka was plough- ing the field. Ramzan The Muslims fast during the day in the holy month breaking the fast at midnight and ends at next moon. On the fourteenth day of bright half of Vaisakha Vishnu incarnated as Narasimha - Man - Lion. Buddha Purnima On Vaisakha Poornima, Birthday of Lord Buddha. Vata Savitri On the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Jyaishtha/ Jyaishtha Purnima. Nirlaja Ekadashi On every eleventh day of the bright and dark half of the month 24 Ekadashis per year. Guru Vyasa Purnima On full moon day of Ashadha for the veneration and worship of Guru Vyasa. Good Friday The Christian people commemorate the crucifixion and death of lesus Christ. This day fasts are observed. Nag Panchami 5th day of the bright half of Shravana, Nagas, Cobras and Snakes are worshipped. Putrada Ekadashi 11th day of the bright half of Shravana dedicated to Lord Vishnu. * July/Aug. * April/May Baisakhi During the Vaisakha month on thirteenth of April. Observed in Punjab. Narashima Jayanti

* October/November

* Nov./Dec.

Vaitrani Vrata Eleventh day of the dark half of Margashirha - A black cow is worshipped - crossing the impetuosity of river Vaitarani.

* Dec./Jan.

Rukmani Ashtam Eighth day of the dark half of Pausha. Rukmani's Birthday, Lord Krishna's wife.

Mauni Amavasya - Fifteenth day of the dark fortnight of Magha most sacred of Hindu months - Lord Vishnu is worshipped and peepal tree circumambulated.

* Aug/Sept.

Haritalika Teej Third day of bright half of Bhadra in honour of God- dess Parvati.

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