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Ganesha Chaturthi festival

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Festival of Ganesha Chaturthi

Ganesha Chaturthi festival is celebarted all over India and especially in Maharashtra. During this festival, people observe elaborate rituals and worship idols of Lord Ganesha.

 

Ganesha Chaturthi festival

Idol of Lord Ganesha

Lord Ganesha is an elephant headed God. He is the God of wisdom and prosperity and his birthday is celebrated as Ganesha chaturthi. This festival is also known as vinayaka chaturthi or vinayaka chavithi. This is celebrated in the month of bhadrapad, according to hindi calendar, roughly, mid august to mid september. In Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh Ganesha chaturthi is celebrated with immense enthusiasm for ten days. Lord Ganesha is son of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
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Birth of Lord Ganesha

Origin or birth of Lord Ganesha is an interesting story.Parvati wished to have her own gana (attendant) so, she created a boy out of the sandal paste of her body, and named him Ganesha. Parvati asked him to guard the door and not to allow any one to come inside the palace. After sometime Lord Shiva came and tried to enter the palace but Ganesha stopped him.
A big fight between the two happened. Lord  Shiva cut off Ganesha’s head in anger. When Parvati heard this, she decided to destroy the world. Seeing Parvati in such a bad mood all the Gods went to Shiva. They requested him to please Parvati.  Shiva decided to bring Ganesha back to life. Shiv send his followers to bring the head of the first animal they see whose mother is facing other direction. His followers brought the head of a baby elephant.
Birth of Lord Ganesha
Lord Shiva used his magical powers and put elephant’s head on Ganesha body and bring him back to life. Parvati was still not happy and demanded that Ganesha must be given first place among all Gods. Shiv granted her this boon, hence Lord Ganesha is also known as Lord of Beginning.
Present day celebration of Ganesha chaturthi is the concept of freedom fighter and social reformer Lokmanya Tilak. In order to bridge the gap between brahmins and non brahmins, he made this a community event from a private family celebration.

Rituals of Ganesha chaturthi festival

-Prior to Ganesha chaturthi festival, idols of Ganesha is made by skilled artists.
-A day before Ganesha chaturthi, households are cleaned specially the place where idol has to be placed, in order to attain the sense of purity.
-Ganesha idol is brought with its face covered with a cloth. It is accompanied with chanting and sounds of cymbal.
-In the evening, Ganesha idol is installed at the place of worship, by the priest. This process is known as sthapna. It is believed that now idol has life.
-After installation, traditional puja stats with Ganpati arti and devotional chanting along with sound of cymbal or bells.
-During the puja flowers and modak, which is favourite sweet of Ganpati, is offered to him. After the puja, prasad or sweets are distributed to the devotees.
– Like this Lord Ganesha is worshipped for ten days.
-On the last day of celebration Ganesha idol is taken to some water source in a procession where it is immersed.
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Myth about Ganesha Chaturthi festival

There is a myth associated with this festival. If someone looks at the moon on the night of Ganesha chaturthi , then he would be falsely accused. According to the legend, once Ganesha ate lots of sweets and his stomach swell and became huge. He set out at night on his mouse. His mouse saw a snake and was scared. As a result, he tumbled so Ganesha fell down and his stomach burst open. Ganesha caught hold of snake and tied it around his stomach. Moon was watching Lord Ganesha and he started laughing. Ganesha was annoyed with this behaviour of moon. He pulled out his tusk and hurled it against the moon and curse him that no one would look at him, on the day of Ganesha chaturthi.  If someone does that then he will earn a bad name.  Since then people refrain from looking at moon on Ganesha chaturthi festival.
Moon and Ganesha Chaturthi festival

Moon and Ganesha Chaturthi festival

Eid-ul-fitr festival

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Festival of Eid-ul-Fitr

The Eid ul-fitr festival is the most important muslim festival. It was originated by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. This is observed on the first of the month of Shawwal and marks end of the holy month of Ramadan in which the believers undergo a period of fasting.

The Legend behind this festival

According to certain belief, these festivals were initiated in Madinah after the Muhammad left Mecca. The legend behind the Ramadan fast is that Prophet Mohammed along with other Muslims went to Medina in 622 CE to avoid the persecutions in Mecca. Many years later he got a revelation from God stating that all Muslims should fast for a certain number of days to develop self control, purify one’s soul and come closer to Allah.

Another legend is that Angel Gabriel descended from heaven with white clothes for each of prophet Muhammad’s grandsons during this time – thus the tradition of wearing white clothes associated with this festival.

 Rituals performed on this festival

Typically, Muslims wake up early in the morning—always before sunrise— offer Salatul Fajr (the pre-sunrise prayer), and in keeping with the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad clean their teeth with a toothbrush (Arabic: Miswaak), take a shower (Arabic: Ghusul) before prayers, put on new clothes (or the best available), and apply perfume.

Prayers on Id-ul-fitr at Mosque

Eid-Ul-Fitr Recipes

Delicious dishes like semiya payasam, vermicelli and kheer (sweetened milk) are prepared and distributed among friends and relatives in social get togethers. Besides this, various non vegetarian dishes like chicken, mutton etc. are also an integral part of Eid cuisine. Most popular dishes are Butter Chicken, Nawabi Biryani, Chicken Tikkas, Seekh Kebab etc. On this day Muslims distribute a kind of gifts in form of food, clothes or cash to the needy person.

Legend of Id-Ul-Fitr 

Id Ul Fitr is celebrated at the end of the Ramzan which is the most pious month in Islami Calendar. According to the legend, one day Prophet Muhammad had a vision in which the angel Jibril told him how Allah wanted people to live. Then Allah’s words were revealed to Muhammad through the angel during the month of Ramzan, and the words were written down to form the holy Qur’an. Prophet Muhammad declared the last day of Ramzan to celebrate Id Ul Fitr and strengthening the feeling of brotherhood.

Deoghar, Baidyanath dham and Shravan festival

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The Shravan festival

The festival of Shravan or Kanwar festival is the most auspicious one for lord Shiva devotees. During this month, devotees from various parts of Bihar and Jharkhand observe strict rituals. They carry holy water of Ganges (Gangajal) from Sultanganj to Deoghar for Lord Shiva.

Baba Vaidyanath Mandir

Pic. – Baidyanath Dham Mandir

This month normally falls in July – August according to english calendar and hindu devotees travel to Baidyanath Deoghar to worship Baba Baidyanath ( Lord Shiva).

How Lord Shiva came to Deoghar

There is an interesting story that Ravana once worshipped Lord Shiva so that he awarded him saying that I will stay with you in form of Shivlinga. This posed a problem for Devtas who thought that this would make him invincible. They used a ruse which forced Ravana to put the Shivlinga in Deoghar and it became Lord Shiva’s permanent abode. Since because of Ravana only Shiv has came to Deoghar, Ravana is treated with respect here.

Why Gangajal is offered to Baba Baidyanath

The custom of carrying holy water from Sultanganj on Kanwar and offering to it Shiva started in the Treta Yuga. This yuga was the silver age of Hindu mythology. Lord Rama had carried the holy ganges water from Sultanganj in a kanwar and offered to Lord Shiva at Babadham.

Another legend says that when the churning of oceans – Samudra Manthan – took place, this was in the month of Shravan. During manthan, fourteen different types of rubies came out. Thirteen of these were distributed amongst the deamons, except Halahal (poison). Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored it in his throat. Hence the name Neelkantha (meaning blue throat) is attributed to Shiva.

To reduce the strong effect of poison, Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head. All the Gods, thereafter started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to make lessen the effect of poison.

This happened in the month of Shravan. The Shiva devotees offer the Ganges water in this month and Shravan festival is observed. This festival and Baidyanath Deoghar is one of the holiest ones for Hindu devotees.

Baidyanath jyotirlinga temple

Baidyanath jyotirlinga temple

Importance of Gangajal from Sultanganj

In Sultanganj, the Ganges flows to the North. This is why, the devotees collect water in their kanwars and carry the holy Ganges water, with the kanwars on their shoulders. They walk 109 km up to Baba Baidyanath temple at Babadham reciting Bol Bam on the way.

Importance of Belpatra

Lord Shiva has three eyes – Mother Parvati, Lord Kartik and Ganesh. Lord Shiva is also called Mahadeva, the god of gods and his three eyes- Trinetra are his identification. Three eyes, three virtues, three truths, three swords of the Trident (Trishul) and three leaves (Belpatra) are very dear to Shiva. Lord Shiva becomes pleased if one offers Ganga water with Belpatra.

 

baba baidyanath at Night

pic – Mandir at Night

Bol – Bam and its importance

The word Bam is a short name for Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. The letters BA came from Brahma and Vishnu and M came from Mahesh.

It is a long efficacious mantra (a hymn). When it is chanted during the way, it generates energy and enthusiasm amongst the kanwarias and gives them the psychological strength to carry on walking and succeed in covering the long distance from Sultanganj to Babadham.

According to the Skand Purana, those who complete the holy journey by reciting Bam-Bam obtain the virtues of Ashwamedha Yajna. According to the Puranas, the demon king Ravana had brought the Ganges water from Haridwar and offered to Lord Shiva.

During their journey from Sultanganj to Deoghar, kanwariyas are supposed to observe strict vrata:

To maintain celibacy (Bramhacharya)
To remember Lord Shiva by keeping mind, heart and speech pure
To speak the truth
To be inspired by charity and service
To take bath before taking the kanwar
To recite Bam – Bam
Not to use oil and soap
Not to wear shoes
Not to take any article made of leather
To avoid dogs. (dogs should not be touched)

Pilgrims to the temple later visit the Basukinath temple.

Where to stay and how to reach: Lot of hotels and dharamshalas are available in Deoghar. During the month of Jul-Aug, there is great rush, so this is advisable to book prior to your journey. Closest railway station is Jasidih, which is on howrah main line. Nearest airport is Ranchi/ Patna.

Navratri festival

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Maa Durga

It is believed that Goddess Durga on her 10 day journey around the earth removes all evil. Thus navratri festival is very auspicious for hindu devotees. Devi has taken avatar to kill the king of asuras, Mahishasura. She killed the most fearsome demon Mahishasura along with others.

Maa Durga

Maa Durga

May Goddess Durga destroy all evil around you and fill your life with happiness and prosperity.

Maa Durga

Maa Durga

Further reading

Legends of Durga Puja

Navratri – Story

The festival of raksha bandhan-rakhi

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The festival of Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan, (the bond of protection) or Rakhi, is a festival primarily observed in India. This festival celebrates brotherhood and love.  It is celebrated on the full moon in the month of Sharavana as per the lunar calendar.It is also called Rakhi Purnima in certain parts of India, like the south.

It is believed that when a lady ties a rakhi around the hand of a man it becomes obligatory for him to honour his religious duty and protect her. It grew in popularity after Rani Karnavati, the widowed queen of Chittor, sent a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun when she required his help. Draupadi and Krishna were also tied with this small thread of affection.

Raksha bandhan (Rakhi) festival

Traditional stories state that rakhis are blessed with sacred verses and are encompassed by them.

Krishna and Draupadi

This incident is from the epic Mahabharat. This concerns Krishna and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. She had once torn a strip of silk off her sari and tied it around Krishna’s. Thus she stopped the bleeding from a battlefield wound. Krishna was touched by her action and declared her to be his sister, even though they were unrelated.

Yama and the Yamuna

According to a legend, Raksha Bandhan was a ritual followed by Lord Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yamuna, (the river in northern India). Yamuna tied rakhi to Yama and bestowed immortality. Yama was so moved by the serenity of the occasion that he declared that whoever gets a rakhi tied from his sister and promised her protection, will become immortal.

Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun

A popular narrative that is centered around Rakhi is that of Rani Karnavati of Chittor and Mughal Emperor Humayun, which dates to 1535 CE. When Rani Karnavati, the widowed queen of the king of Chittor, realised that she could not defend against the invasion by the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun. Touched, the Emperor immediately set off with his troops to defend Chittor. Humayun arrived too late, and Bahadur Shah managed to sack the Rani’s fortress. Karnavati, along with a reported 13,000 other women in the fortress, carried out Jauhar on March 8, 1535, killing themselves to avoid dishonor while the men threw the gates open and rode out on a suicidal charge against Bahadur Shah’s troops.

The story of Navratri festival

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Navratri – worship of Maa Durga

Navratri is nine days of worship done to thank Goddess Durga. Whole of Iindia celebrates this festival. The festival of Navratri is celebrated twice in India.  Once in the Hindi month of Chaitra which is the month of March-April. Secondly, in the month of Ashwin  i.e.  September-October.  It is a nine days long festival in which the Goddess Durga is worshipped in nine different forms. People all over the country celebrate this festival with immense joy and enthusiasm. Devotees of Maa Durga observe a rigorous fast of nine days during this festival.

Durga – worshipped during Navratri

 

Maa Durga

Maa Durga

In different parts of India, different legends describe the history of Navratri festival.

North India

The legend in North India goes that Mahishasura, the mighty demon, worshipped Lord Brahma and obtained the power of eternity. Soon, he started killing and harassing innocent people. He set out to win all the three lokas. The gods in swargaloka appealed to Lord Shiva, to find a way to get rid of the demon. To protect the world from the atrocities of Mahishasura, the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva united their powers and created a divine female warrior, known as Goddess Durga. Mahishasura, when he saw the divine beauty of Goddess Durga, got mesmerized. So fascinated was Mahishasura by Goddess Durga’s beauty that he approached her with the intention of marriage. The goddess agreed to marry him, but put forth a condition.
Mahishasura would have to win over her in a battle. Mahishasura, agreed immediately! The battle continued for 9 nights. At the end of the ninth night, Goddess Durga beheaded Mahishasura. The nine nights came to be known as Navratri, while the tenth day was called Vijayadashmi. This was the day that brought the triumph of good over evil.

Eastern belief

As per the legend prevalent in East India, Daksha was the king of the Himalayas. He had a beautiful and virtuous daughter called Uma. She wished to marry Lord Shiva, since her childhood. In order to win over the Lord, she worshipped him and pleased Shiva. When Shiva finally came to marry her, the tiger-skin clad groom displeased Daksha and he broke off all the relationships with his daughter and son-in-law. One fine day, Daksha organized a yagna, but did not invite Lord Shiva for the same. Uma got so angry at her father’s rude behavior, towards her husband, that she decided to end her life by jumping into the agnikund of the yagna, where she was united with eternity (since then, she came to be known as Sati). However, she took re-birth and again won Shiva as her groom and peace was restored. It is believed that since then, Uma comes every year with Ganesh, Kartik, Saraswati and Laxmi and two of her best friends or ‘sakhis‘, called Jaya and Bijaya, to visit her parent’s home during Navratri.

The legend of Rama and Ravana

Yet another legend of Navratri festival relates to the Hindu epic The Ramayana. It goes that Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga in nine aspects, for nine days, in order to gather the strength and power to kill Ravana. He wanted to release Sita from the clutches of powerful demon king Ravana, who had abducted her. Those nine nights became to be known as Navratri and the tenth day, on which Lord Rama killed Ravana, came to be called Vijayadashmi or Dusshera, signifying Rama’s (good) triumph over Ravana (evil).
Ravana killed by Rama

Ravana killed by Rama

Nine days of Navaratri