Baisakhi or Vaisakhi, is an important festival of Hindus and Sikhs as it marks the beginning of the new year. In April, this day marks the beginning of the Hindu solar new year. In fact this day is celebrated all over the country as new year day under different names. It is also the time when the harvest is ready to cut and store or sell. People of North India, particularly Punjab thank God for good harvest. Visit to Gurudwaras, Baisakhi processions and traditional performances are the highlights of the day.
Sikhs celebrating Baisakhi
The festival bears a great significance for the Sikhs due of the fact that on the Vaisakhi Day in the year 1699, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh laid down the foundation of the Panth Khalsa, that is the Order of the Pure Ones. This day is also observed as the thanksgiving day by the farmers whereby the farmers pay their tribute, thanking God for the abundant harvest and also praying for the future prosperity. The main celebration takes place at Talwandi Sabo (where Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of the Guru Granth Sahib. Baisakhi is one of the important festivals celebrated with fun and fervor by people of other religions too.
As per Hindu religion, It is believed that the goddess Ganga descended to earth thousands of years ago, and in her honor many Hindus gather along the sacred Ganges River for ritual baths. The action is centered in the holy cities along the Ganges in north India, or in Srinagar’s Mughal Gardens, Jammu’s Nagbani Temple, or anywhere in Tamil Nadu.
Happy Vaisakhi
Historical Significance
Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj on Baisakhi.
This day is also the first day of Chaitra Navratri and Ghatasthapana also known as Kalash Sthapana is done on this day. Being the first day of the first month of a year, Gudhi Padwa festival is the New Year’s Day for Marathi people.
On this day, a gudhi is prominently displayed in traditional Maharashtrian households. A gudhi is yellow cloth adorned with brocade tied to the tip of a long bamboo over which sugar crystals, neem leaves, mango leaves and a garland of red flowers is tied. A silver or copper pot is placed in the inverted position over it.
Gudi padwa festival
The festival is celebrated with an auspicious bath, followed by decorating the doorway with a ‘toran’, performing ritualistic worship and hoisting the Gudhi. On this day, people finish their ablutions, wear new clothes and decorate their houses with colorful “rangoli” patterns.
This day, a special preparation is eaten. The eating of a specific mixture called Bevu-Bella (Neem and Jaggery) in Kannada, symbolizes the fact that life is a mixture of good and bad, Happiness and Sorrow. Eating Neem and Sweet Jaggery means one need to take both Good and Bad or Happiness and Sorrow should be accepted together and with equanimity through the New Year. The special mixture consists of:
1. Neem Buds/Flowers for its bitterness, signifying Sadness
2. Jaggery which is sweet, signifying Happiness
Legends of the festival Gudi Padwa
This festival is celebrated to commemorate the day when Lord Rama killed King Vali. According to another such belief this day marks the beginning of Satyuga (the age of truth and justice). A popular belief is that it was on this day that Rama returned to Ayodhya. This festival is thus the celebration of victory and prosperity.
Kumbh Mela is a sacred and mass Hindu pilgrimage. It occurs four times in twelve year at four different places in India.
Allahabad (Prayag) at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna and Saraswati river.
Haridwar (Uttar Pradesh) along Ganga river.
Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) on the bank of kshipra river.
Nasik (Maharashtra ) on the bank of Godavari river.
Kumbh mela at Haridwar
Millions of pilgrims take bath during Kumbh Mela
This festival occurs four times in a period of twelve years. After every six years Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated at Allahabad and Haridwar. And a Maha Kumbh Mela or Purna Kumbh Mela after every twelve years in Allahabad. These festvials are attended by million of peoples. Maha Kumbh Mela of 2001 was attended by 60 million people making it largest gathering in the world.
According to Indian Astrology, Kumbh is celebrated when planet of Brahaspati (Jupiter) moves into the zodiac sign of Kumbh (Aquarius)
Why Kumbh is celebrated at Haridwar, Nasik, Prayag and Ujjain?
Thousands of years ago, Gods had lost their strength, and to regain it, they thought of churning the Ksheera sagara (ocean of milk) for amrit (nectar of immortality), for this they made an agreement with the demons to equally share the amrit. But, when the Kumbha (pot) containing amrit appeared, a fight ensued. This fight continued for twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years). It is believed that during the battle, Garuda(Vehicle of Vishnu) flew away with the kumbh (pot), and the drops of amrit fell at four different places on earth, Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nasik, so this festival (mela) is celebrated at these places.
Millions of people attend the festival on a single day. The major event is taking ritual bath at the bank of river, important bathing dates are dependent on stellar constellations, other activities includes, religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy man, women and poors. On 14 january 2007, the auspicious occasion of makar sankranti over 5 million people participated. Maha Kumbh or Purna Mela is sacred of all pilgrimage. Next festival is occuring in Allahabad in 2013 (January).
This is a festival of fun and frolic is celebrated in Europe and United states among other places. Such as Netherlands, Dunedin and Tamenglong. In North america, this is known as Orange Blossom festival and celebrated in the month of April. These can be compared to the Indian festival Holi.
France – Citrusov
The most beautiful is probably the one which French celebrate. Beautiful, eye catching sculptures are created using Oranges. Even Taj mahal was created from Oranges. This festival Citrusov is held in south of France, where this is celebrated. They grow citrus here in this part of the country. French are very creative with the sculptures and the pictures show this. This is contrary of the popularity that the citrus festival is celebrated by Dutch.
Orange festival – Tajmahal
There is no Orange festival celebrated by Dutch. Rather, they celebrate Queens day, 30 April. This is a good reason for many people to bring out their orange outfits, and it is very much an outdoor event.
Italy
In Italy in the city of Ivrea, battle of oranges is celebrated when people throw oranges on each other. The core celebration is based on a locally famous Battle of the Oranges that involves some thousands of towns people, divided into nine combat teams, who throw oranges at each other – with considerable violence – during the traditional carnival days. These are Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The legend is that it commemorates the city’s defiance against the city’s tyrant.
Battle of Oranges
Orange Warsaw Festival is a Polish annual music festival.
United States
Various places observe this festival in United States. e.g. in Dunedin.
The National Orange Show Festival is an annual festival held in San Bernardino County, California for hundred years. A fun event for most San Bernardino residents, there remains a legend regarding the opening of the show — it always marks rain for the usually dry Southern California residents.
14th January is very auspicious from Hindu religion point of view. On this day, sun transits into capricorn(makar) rashi. Makar Sankranti thus means – transition to capricorn and makar sankranti celebrated. On this day, new endeavors are undertaken with a belief that they will be successful. This day is one of the harvest days for indians. Makar Sankranti and Pongal are important festivals which are celebrated on same day.
Kite flying is a major activity of this festival
Almost all of India celebrate this festival with different culture and different names. Khichdi, Uttarayan, Magh Bihu and Maghi are few of them. In neighbouring countries, this is celebrated as Magho or Maghe Sankranti (Nepal), Songkarn (Thailand), Thingyan (Myanmar) and Moha Sangkarn (cambodia).
Makar Sankranti and Lohri
Lohri is also an important festival which falls an evening before the festival of Makar Sankranti.
Historical and cultural importance of this festival
This day is important for the following reasons:
1. Surya visits his son Shani, on Sankranti day. Though father and son do not go along well, but still, father visits his son’s house.
Sun god visits his son, Shani
2. Bhagirath liberated his ancestors from curse after bringing Ganga on this day. People celebrate this day as Ganga sagar mela in West Bengal. Sage Kapil ashram attracts lot of visitors on this auspicious day.
Sage Kapil ashram – Gangasagar
3. Bhishma left this earth on this day. He had the boon of iccha mrityu and he chose this auspicious day to depart from earth.
Bhishma leaving his body in presence of Shri Krishna on the day of Makar Sankranti
4. Lord Vishnu buried the asuras under Mandara parvata on this day.
Celebrations of this festival
Makar Sankranti Maharashtra
Makara Sankranti celebrated in Maharashtra by exchanging til-gud as tokens of goodwill. People wish each other “तिळगुळ घ्या, आणि गोड-गोड बोला (til-gud ghyaa, aani goad-goad bola)” meaning, ‘Accept these sweets and utter sweet words. The first day of Makar Sankranti festival is known as Bhogi. This is when the sun god is worshipped and people step out of the house in the morning to fly kites. The second day is called Sankranti and on this day, married women dress up in ethnic wear and have a get-together called Haldi-Kumkum which translates to turmeric-vermilion.
Bihar
This day is celebrated as sankranti or Sakrat. People start doing new things from this day as this is believed to be auspicious day. People take bath in rivers and ponds and feast upon seasonal delicacies as a celebration of good harvest. The delicacies include Chura dahi, Gur(jaggery), various sweets made of til (Sesame seeds) such as Tilkut, Tilwa, Maska, etc., curd, milk and seasonal vegetables. Khichdi is consumed in the night. Rajgir is a holy place where devotees bath in brahma kund.
Devotees at Brahma kund
Uttar Pradesh
In hindu calendar, this is the first of the big bathing days. Over two million people gather at their respective sacred places for this holy bathing such as Allahabad,Haridwar(now in Uttarakhand) and Varanasi. People fly Kites on this day.
Punjab
In Punjab, with Makar Sankranti, lighting of bonfire is done to celebrate this featival. This festival is “maghi”. The bonfire signifies the burning away of all evils for a bright and auspicious new year. Lohri is the harvest festival, which falls on 13th January, is an important festival of Punjab.
Gujarat
This festival is popular as Uttarayan. Kite flying is a major activity of this day. People eat delicacies undhiyu and chikkis and consume all through december and january.
Andhra Pradesh
This is a four day festival in Andhra Pradesh. Bhogi, Pedda Panduga (“the big festival”), Kanuma and Mukkanuma. People discard old things on the day of Bhogi.
Next day is Makara Sankrant, also called “Pedda Panduga” (పెద్ద పండుగ). Everyone wears new clothes on this day, prays to God, and make offerings of traditional food to ancestors.
Rajasthan
This is a major festival of Rajasthan. People consume delicacies such as Ghevar, til paati, ghajak and kheer on this day.
A delicay of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti and Pongal in Tamilnadu
Pongal is a four day festival. The second day, Thai pongal is the most important.
Bhogi Pandigai (Bhogi)
Thai Pongal
Maattu Pongal
Kaanum Pongal
Pongal
Thai pongal is the first day of tamil month Thai. People prepare a dish by boiling rice with fresh milk and jaggery in new pots. Ingredients like brown sugar, cashew nuts and raisins adds to the taste. The preparation of dish is done by allowing it to boil over the vessel. This tradition gives Pongal its name. The moment the rice boils over and bubbles out of the vessel, the tradition is to shout of “Ponggalo Ponggal!” and blowing the sangu (a conch), a custom running for ages during the festival to announce this year will have abundance of good tidings.
In Goa, women celebrate haldi-kumkum. In Himachal Pradesh, this festival is popular as Magha Saaja i.e. onset of month magha (by Hindi calendar). People enjoy khichdi with chaas. In Karnataka, this is suggi. People follow the ritual of Ellu Birodhu. Kite flying is also a major activity. In Uttarakhand, Ghughuti is the name of this festival which welcomes the migratory birds back from the plains.
Makar Sankranti Decoration ideas
Since Makar Sankranti and Pongal are the festivals falling on New Year and Kite flying, some of the decoration ideas are following this theme. Below is an example of Rangoli.
Beautiful rangoli design as Makar Sankranti Decoration idea
Another Makar Sankranti decoration idea is as below:
Kite rangoli as Makar Sankranti Decoration idea
Makar Sankranti Quiz
In which direction, does Sun start moving on Makar Sankranti? – North. So, this also called that Surya has become Uttarayan.
Dulla Bhatti is a famous folklore character of Makar Sankranti n which state? Ans – Punjab
During Makar Sankranti the Sun makes a transition from a zodiac sign to another. From Sagittarius to Capricorn.
Which great character from Mahabharata waited till Makar Sankranti to die. Bhishma Pitamah
Parashuram Kund Snan during Makar Sankrantitakes place in Arunachal Pradesh. This is popular as Makar Sankranti Snan.
Makar Sankranti Daan
मकर संक्रान्ति के दिन सूर्य देव की पूजा काले तिल से की जाती है. साथ ही काली दाल, चावल, घी, नमक, गुड़ और काले तिल दान किए जाते हैं. काले तिल और गुड़ के लड्डू बनाकर खाए जाते हैं और दान भी किए जाते हैं. माना जाता है कि इससे सूर्यदेव और शनिदेव दोनों की कृपा प्राप्त होती है ।
मकर संक्रांति में क्या करना चाहिए?इसे सुनेंमकर संक्रान्ति के दिन गंगा स्नान और दान पुण्य का विशेष महत्व है। मान्यता है कि मकर संक्रान्ति के दिन देव भी धरती पर अवतरित होते हैं, और आत्मा को मोक्ष प्राप्त होता है। इस दिन पुण्य, दान, जप तथा धार्मिक अनुष्ठानों का अनन्य महत्व है। इस दिन गंगा स्नान व सूर्योपासना पश्चात गुड़, चावल और तिल का दान श्रेष्ठ माना गया है।
मकर संक्रांति के दिन खिचड़ी खाने और तिल के लड्डू खाने की परंपरा है. तिल की तासीर गर्म होती है. सर्दी के समय में तिल खाना स्वास्थ्य के लिए अच्छा होता है ।
Lohri is the time when harvesting is celebrated. It is the Indian festival of bonfire, other being Holi. Lohri is celebrated on winter solstice and it coincides with the festival of Makar Sankranti. This is an important festival of Punjabi’s.
The word Lohri is also believed to have an origin from the word regional word ‘loh’ which means warmth and light of fire. According to some beliefs, Lohri was considered to be Holika’s sister who survived with Prahlad, while Holika got burnt in the fire.
According to the Hindu calendar, Lohri festival falls in mid-January (normally on January 13). The earth, farthest from the sun at this point of time, starts its journey towards the sun, thus ending the coldest month of the year, Paush. This festival announces the start of the month of Magh and the auspicious period of Uttarayan.
It is a harvest festival and especially important for farmers, but it is celebrated with great fervour by everyone. On this day, a bonfire is lit people dance around it.
People throw rewaries, sugar-candy, popcorn, sesame seeds, gur, etc into the fire and sing and dance around it. People wear their colourful and brightest clothes and dance the Bhangra or Giddha to the beat of the Dhol. Lohri to farmers signifies the commencement of a new financial year.
According to the Bhagawad Gita, Lord Krishna manifests himself in his full magnificence during this time. The Hindus ‘nullify’ their sins by bathing in the Ganges and other pious rivers.
The ritual of Bonfire
A bonfire is an important activity of this festival. In night, after sun settles down, bonfires are lit in the harvested fields and in the front yards of houses. People assemble around the rising flames, pay respect by doing parikrama of the bonfire and throw puffed rice, popcorn and other stuff into the fire, shouting “Aadar aye dilather jaye” (May honor come and poverty vanish!), and sing popular folk songs.
Lohri festival bonfire dance
This is a sort of prayer to Agni, the fire god, to bless the land with abundance and prosperity. After the parikrama, people meet friends and relatives, exchange greetings and gifts, and distribute prasad (offerings made to god). The prasad comprises five main items: til, gajak, jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn. Winter savories are served around the bonfire with the traditional dinner of makki-di-roti (multi-millet hand-rolled bread) and sarson-da-saag (cooked mustard herbs).
Sweets offered on Lohri
First Lohri of a New Bride
The newly married women wear bangles, new clothes, wear a colourful bindi, apply mehendi on their hands and try to look their best. The husband also dresses up and wears new clothes and a colourful turban. The bride’s in-laws gift her with new clothes and beautiful jewellery.
A grand celebration is arranged for the newly wed couple where a lot of guests are invited. The bride is made to sit along with her husband and the parents-in-law gift her clothes and jewellery during this ceremony. Other guests like family, neighbours and friends also come and present clothes or cash to the newly wed. The couple also seeks blessings of the elders on this day.
First Lohri of a New Born Baby
The first Lohri of a new born baby is also considered to be an important occasion. The new mother sits decked up in heavy clothes, a lot of jewellery and with mehendi applied on her hands. She sits with the baby in her hands and the family and close ones gift her with clothes or cash. The baby’s maternal grandparents also send gifts of clothes, fruits, sweets, peanuts, etc.
The legend of Dulha Batti (our Robinhood)
Lohri is celebrated in remembrance and praise of Dulha Batti. Dulha Batti was a Muslim robber who lived during the era of King Akbar. He was a robber but a good person. He would steal from the rich and distribute the wealth among the poor. He rescued girls who were being forcibly taken away. He arranged marriages of young girls with Hindu Boys and paid the dowries. He was a hero among the local Punjabis there who loved and respected him. Most Lohri songs are sung in praise of Dulha Batti which expresses their gratitude to him.
This festival is immediately followed by another important festival – Makar Sankranti.
Every year, new year is celebrated across the globe. There are different ways to celebrate the beginning. In following paragraphs, we will find that how this is celebrated across different regions and countries.
New year all over the world
Christians all over the world celebrate this day on first january, the first day of the year. This is the first day of the year as per the Gregorian and Roman calendar. Now, the most countries using the Gregorian calendar as their main calendar, First January can be treated as the de facto new year across the globe.
On New Year’s Day, people in some countries gather on beaches and run into the water to celebrate the new year. This is very popular in United Kingdom , Canada, the Republic of Ireland, , the United States and the Netherlands.
These events are sometimes known as polar bear plunges, and are sometimes organized by groups to raise money for charity. In Greece and Cyprus, lights are switched off at midnight.In Russia and in former republics of the Soviet Union, the celebration of Old New Year is accomplished by fireworks and drinking champagne. The year is also known as Novi God.
Indian new year
Though January first is the practical new year date across India, still following festivities traditionally considered to be the new year dates. Following regions celebrate various festivals.
Bihar – In eastern part of india, Holi marks the new year. The new years begins on Chaitra, 1st day of the Krishna Paksha. For them on this day the last year has died. For this reason in some provinces like Bihar and UP. Holika dahan is also called ‘Samvatsar Dahan’. On this day all the bitterness and evil memories of the last year are burnt in the fire and the New Year is begun with a celebration.
Kerala – This is celebrated on 14th April. This is Kerala’s summer harvest festival Vishu. Vishu Kani – In the wee hours people woke up to see the ‘Vishu Kani’, the ceremony of looking at auspicious articles such as rice, gold, the glowing seasonal flower ‘konna’ and fruits and vegetables tastefully arranged in platters.
Kerala new year – Vishu
Punjab – Baisakhi, which falls on 13th or 14th April, is the new year for the region of Punjab. This day is also celebrated as the beginning of the Hindu solar new year. This date is celebrated by people across Nepal, the Assam Valley, Kerala, Orissa, West Bengal and other regions of India.In HimachalPradesh, the Hindu Goddess Jwalamukhi is worshipped on Vaisakhi. In Bengal, Poila Baisakh is celebrated. Assamese celebrate this day as Bihu.
Baisakhi – Punjabi new year
Chinese new year
This is also the spring festival which marks the end of winter. This is the most important chinese festival. Families gather to celebrate this festival. They take the dinner together. Food will include delicacies such as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweets. The family will end the night with firecrackers. This festival is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. This is a fifteen day long festival. Since China follows the lunisolar calendar, Chinese new year is also referred as Lunar New Year.
Chinese new year
The dragon
Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology. Contrary to European dragons, which are considered evil, Chinese dragons symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over elements, such as, water, rainfall, hurricane, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck.The worship of the Dragon Kings as rulers of water and weather continues in many areas, and is deeply ingrained in Chinese cultural traditions such as Chinese New Year celebrations.
Japanese new year
Japanese celebrate their new year on January first. Long time ago, they were aligned with Chinese new year. They have adopted the gregorian calendar, and now they celebrate this on January first. An important custom is Bell Ringing, where on new year eve, Buddhist temples all over Japan ring their bells a total of 108 times to symbolize the 108 human sins as per the belief, and to get rid of the 108 worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every Japanese citizen. A major attraction is The Watched Night bell, in Tokyo. Japanese believe that the ringing of bells can rid off their sins during the previous year.
On this day, Japanese people have a custom of giving money to children. This is known as otoshidama . This is given in small decorated envelopes called ‘pochibukuro,’ similar to Goshugi bukuro or Chinese red envelopes and to the Scottish handsel.
Japanese-new-year-christmas-illuminations
Jewish new year – “Rosh Hashanah”
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. In Jewish thought, Rosh Hashanah is the most important judgment day, on which all the inhabitants of the world pass for judgment before the Creator. Next date for this is Jewish Year 5773: sunset September 16, 2012 – nightfall September 18, 2012.
Rosh Hashana is a two-day holiday. Special services are held in synagogues. The hight of services is the blowing of the Shofar (ram’s horn) according to the commandment in the Torah. We pray that God forgives our sins and inscribes us in the book of life, planning a good new year. At home, families get together for festive meals featuring many traditional foods. Mostly it is costumary to eat sweet things on the New Year, bread dipped in honey, apples in honey etc.
The head of a fish or lamb is also costumary. During the meal many symbolic foods are eaten, each with a wish for a good new year. It is customary to eat a fruit you have yet tasted that year on the second night. People dress in their best outfits for this holiday, many times – wearing new clothes. People salute each other wishing a good year or sweet good year – Shana Tova or Shana Tova uMetuka.
Although Rosh Hashanah marks the change of the Jewish calendar year, Nisan is considered the first month of the Hebrew calendar. The Mishnah indicates that the year of the reign of Jewish kings was counted from Nisan in Biblical times. Nisan is also considered the beginning of the calendar year in terms of the order of the holidays.
Zoroastrian new year – “Nowruz”
Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in Iranian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iranians, the same time is celebrated in parts of the South Asian sub-continent as the new year. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and Iranian families gather together to observe the rituals.
People across the world exchange new year cards to wish every one on New Year. Nowadays, after the advent of internet , e-cards are also used to exchange new year greetings. This day is celebrated on different days on different regions, but universally this day is seen as the onset of good things to come.
Spring festival is the most inportant traditional chinese festival. The spring festival is the Chinese new year. The origin of this festival is centuries old. A number of myths and traditions underline the significance of this Chinese new year. This marks the end of winter and lasts for 15 day. The 15th day is the Lantern festival.
Chinese spring festival
The Lantern festival is also known as Yuanxiao or Shangyuan Festival. This is the last day of Chinese new year celebrations. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns. They also solve riddles on the lanterns. In Singapore, a festival with the same name is celebrated, but different from the one which chinese celebrate. The lanterns were fairly simple in ancient times. Nowadays, lanterns have been being embellished with many complex designs. They are often made in shapes of animals. The lanterns symbolizes the people letting go of their past selves and getting a new one, which they will let go of the next year. It is also said that this is observed to worship Taiyi, the god of heaven.
Qingming denotes a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime. This falls in the month of april. Chinese people visit the graves or burial grounds of their ancestors. This tradition stretches back to more than 2,500 years. A popular thing to do is to fly kites. These kites are in the shapes of animals or characters from Chinese opera.
Qingming or Tomb sweeping day festival
This festival holiday has a significance in the Chinese tea culture. This specific day divides the fresh green teas by their picking dates. Green teas made from leaves picked before this date are given the prestigious ‘pre-qingming’ designation which commands a much higher price tag.
Dhanteras festival is believed to mark the beginning of good times and celebrated a day before Diwali, a major hindu festival. Dhanteras holds special significance for the businessmen due to the customary purchases of precious metals on this day. Dhanteras indicates the beginning of Diwali celebrations. It is on this day on which people purchase precious metals with a belief that they will bring prosperity. Dhanteras is also known as Dhantryaodashi or Dhanwantri Triodasi.
Dhanteras festival
Dhanteras is observed differently by different communities. It is considered to be highly auspicious day to do new purchases and investment. Most people complete the Diwali shopping on the day. The first lamps of Diwali are lit on the day. People hang up paper lanterns with festoons and sends out the message of the arrival of Diwali.
Legend behind Dhanteras
An interesting story about this day is of the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per the stars, he was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that fateful day, his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband’s boudoir and lighted many lamps all over the place.
Yamraj
Then she went on telling stories and singing songs. When Yama, the god of death arrived there in the guise of a serpent, he got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the prince’s chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning he went away without harming the boy.
The legend of Samudra Manthan
But as with almost any Hindu festival, there is more than one mythological tale behind it. Another version has it that when the gods and demons were churning the ocean in search of amrit, the elixir of life, Dhanvantari, the physician of all gods, emerged from the ocean with the amrit in his hands. That day became known as Dhanteras, and it marks the discovery of Ayurveda, the science of healing using natural ways. Explains Hemanand Joshi, another senior priest with Hanuman Mandir, “Dhanteras is the day of amrit sidhi yog. Also, an atte ka diya is placed outside the house for Yamraj pooja to avoid akaal mrityu (premature or untimely death)”.
Dhanvantri bhagwan
During Samudra manthan (churning of ocean), it is believed that Dhanvantari (the physician of the Gods and an incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras.
Dhanvantri Stotram
The legend of Vishnu and Laxmi
Once Goddess Lakshmi wanted to accompany Lord Vishnu to the earth during one of His visits. Lord Vishnu agreed to take Her with him provided She will not will not look in the southern direction and fall for earthly temptations. But Goddess Lakshmi looked in the southern direction and she saw yellow mustard flowers and started dancing in the fields and decorated herself with the flowers. She fell for earthly temptations.Further south she saw sugarcane fields and started enjoying the sugarcane juice.
Lord Vishnu soon found out that Goddess Lakshmi had violated the conditions and said that now you will need to spend 12 years as laborer in the field of the person to whom the sugarcane and flowers belonged.
With the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi as laborer the farmer became very prosperous. Twelve years passed and it was time for Goddess Lakshmi to return.
But the farmer was not ready to relieve a good laborer. So he offered Goddess Lakshmi more wages. But Goddess Lakshmi still wanted to leave; the farmer offered more things and this denial and offers continued.
Finally, Goddess Lakshmi asked the farmer and his family to take a pilgrimage to Ganga River and they will decide on her future stay there on his return. Goddess Lakshmi also gave four small shells to the farmer to offer to Goddess Ganga. When the farmer was offering the shells to River Ganga, four hands came up and accepted the offering. Goddess Ganga then revealed that the woman at the farmer’s home is Goddess Lakshmi.
The farmer returned home happily realizing that it was Goddess Lakshmi who was staying in his house. He requested her not to leave. Goddess Lakshmi said that she cannot live on earth permanently and has to return. But she said that she will visit him on all Dhanteras day. She asked the farmer to keep the house clean and light and earthern lamp.The farmer said as directed by Goddess Lakshmi and he became very prosperous and people who came to know about the incident started performing the same ritual on Dhanteras day
Teej is a widely celebrated festival across India. People celebrate this festival in dedication to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This festival is celebrated for marital bliss, well-being of spouse and children and purification of own body and soul.
This festival is celebrated usually in the month of July-August, so it is also called as ‘Sawan festival’. Jaipur city of Rajasthan is very famous for its Teej celebrations and tourists specially come here to enjoy the celebrations of this Teej festival.
Teej is a hindi word means “third”. Therefore Teej falls on the third day after the moonless night (Amavasya) and the third day after the full moon night of every month. However, the third day after the new moon or Amavasya of Shravana (श्रावण) month is the most important Teej. As Shravana (or Saawan) month falls during monsoon or rainy season when the surroundings become green, the Shravana Teej is also called Hariyali Teej (Green Teej).
This festival is quite similar to Karwa Chauth, where married women observe fast and worship gods for well being of their husbands.
Legend behind Teej festival
Parvati was Sati in her earlier life and Sati died when her father has insulted Lord Shiva.
Shiva was very sad, so Sati appears before Shiva, in her divine form, and reassures him that she will return as the daughter of Himavan.
Teej celebrations originated from a legend of Goddess Parvati. Hindu mythology states that Goddess Parvati reunited with Lord Shiva on this day. She went through hard-core tapasya or penance and took 108 births on the earth. The myth also states that she failed to have Lord Shiva as her husband till 107th birth. In her 108th birth, Lord Shiva realized her devotion and love for him and accepted as his wife.
In this birth, Parvati remembered this and wanted Lord Shiva as her husband. For this, she had observed great penance and was living only on air. Even then, Lord Shiva tested her love for him before accepting her as a wife.
Teej Customs and Rituals
Teej customs and rituals make the festival more interesting and full of colors. Women who observe fast for their husband take proper care that no carelessness is committed while carrying out the rituals. Teej festival calls for performance of all rituals seriously if one wants to be blessed with marital bliss.
Shrinjhara
To celebrate the auspicious occasion of Teej, women perform some serious rituals. It is customary for married women to return to their parents’ home at the time of Teej. Married women and engaged girls get lot of presents from their father-in-law as per Teej customs. A traditional gift package called ‘Shrinjhara’ or ‘Sindhare’ is gifted to their daughter-in-law. This traditional name originated from the Hindi word shringaar meaning adornment. Shrinjhara package consists of Ghewar (sweet), traditional laheria dress (tie & dye), henna and lac bangles. All these items are used by the ladies to adorn herself.
Baya
Baya is another traditional package given to women observing fast on Teej. It includes dry fruits, mathris, new clothes, bangles and jewelry. It is given by mothers of the newly wed girls on the Teej Festival day.
Teej Fast
The most important ritual of Teej Festival is Teej Fast. Women and unmarried girls keep fast for long and healthy life of their husband. Teej fast goes for 24 long hours. It is the most rigorous fast in which a woman neither drinks nor eat.
Tradition of Lighting a Lamp
As per the ritual of Teej fasting, a woman should keep an oil lamp lit all night. If the oil lamp dies away, it is considered a bad omen.
Goddess Parvati
The most important ritual of Teej is to bedeck Parvati Mata and carry out auspicious processions on the streets. Idol of Goddess Parvati is decorated with fine jewelry and new colorful clothes. The fasting day of Teej is very vital as women pray to Goddess for marital bliss and happy life.
Women celebrating Teej
Swings
Last but not the least, swings are the common sight when Teej is near. Beautifully decorated swings are hung from trees in the garden and gaily dressed up women swing and sing traditional Teej songs. Some women also dance while singing the holy songs.
