GUDI PADWA
Tuesday | 16 March 2010

UGADI
Tuesday | 16 March 2010

NAVRATRI
Tuesday | 16 March 2010

RAMNAVMI
Wednesday | 24 March 2010

MAHAVIR JAYANTI
Sunday | 28 March 2010

HANUMAN JAYANTI
Tuesday | 30 March 2010

GUDI PADWA :-The maharastrian new year Tuesday | 16 March 2010

• Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month. • it is the maharashtrian new year. • Homes are clean prior to this festival. • On this day people get up early and wear new clothes. Artistic rangoli designs are drawn in front of houses mainly by the women folks. • It is an joyous occasion for family gathering and festive delicacies in maharastrian style are prepared. • sweet chapatti ( puran poli ), soonth pak and usal are generally prepared on this day. • Gudi Padwa is celebrated by decoration of a pole/s ( gudi's ) and hanging them outside the houses. • Generally a brass or silver pot (kalash ) in kept upturned on the gudi and is further decorated with rich fabrics like silk cloth, coconut , flowers ,mango leaves and sugar sweet garlands ( edible ) . The pole is also polished with turmeric , sandalwood paste and vermilion. Most of these decoratives are widely available is the local market. • The gudi is hung during the day and in the evening either the society children especially boys form a pyramid and break the coconut hung on the gudi or the family member's distribute the sweets ( prasad ) and decoratives amongst the family. • This day welcomes the spring season. It is said that on this day Brahmaji created the universe and Satyug ( the age of truth and justice ) began. Also on this day Lord Rama return to Ayodha after defeating King Vali. • This day is celebrated with lots of joy and excitement all across the country.

UGADI :- The new year of Indians in the southern region . Tuesday | 16 March 2010

• Ugadi also known as Gudi Padwa amongst the Maharashtrians comes in many colours. It brings along the colour of hope , art , well being and happiness. • It signifies and welcomes the spring festival . • This day welcomes the spring season. It is said that on this day Brahmaji created the universe and Satyug ( the age of truth and justice ) began. Also on this day Lord Rama return to Ayodha after defeating King Vali. • This day is celebrated with lots of joy and excitement all across the country especially amongst the children who generally have their summer vacations around this time of the year. • Before Ugadi houses are clean and thoroughly washed. People buy/use new clothes, utensils and home dcor items on this day. • They get up early in the morning and take a head bath. Generally the women folks draw artistic rangoli's outside their homes and hang mango leaves strings on their entrances. . • Mango leaves are connected to a legend. The sons of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvatiji , Karthik and Ganesha loved mangoes and hence mango leaves are considered to bring good crop and fruitful harvest. • Puja's are conducted on this day generally with Kalash ( brass pot ) , coconuts and other general puja items. • Since this time of the year the naturally perfumed Jasmine's (a kind of flower ) are in full bloom and are used in very large quantities as a offering to Gods and Goddess. • On this day various astrologers and priests discuss the happenings of the new year in temple's or places of public gathering. In this modern age you also find them providing insight on the happenings of the coming year on television shows and Radio sets . • Lot of interesting food varieties are prepared on this idea especially those made out of fresh harvest of raw mangoes , jaggery from new sugarcane and full grown neem leaves. • Ugadi is also the season during which pickles especially from mangoes are made and consumed for the rest of the year. • This festival brings in a lot of cheer , energy and excitement for one and all. Its that time of the year when there family gatherings and homage is paid to the elderly. • Also it is an auspicious day for making investments , buying assets , starting a new venture etc.

NAVRATRI:- The festival of Goddess Durga also known as Jagdamba, Ambe or Bhavani Tuesday | 16 March 2010

• This festival is celebrated in the honor of Goddess Durga or Maa Sherawali and all other Goddess. • It is celebrated for nine days. Navratri, Nav = Nine and Ratri = Nights. • Navratri is celebrated twice a year, first during Chaitra month (April-May) and second during Ashami month (September-October). • These nine days are celebrated in a very pious way. The first three days are devoted to Goddess Durga (Mother of Power), the following three are devoted to Goddess Lakshmi (Mother of Prosperity) and the last three to Goddess Sarawati (Mother of Knowledge). • The eight-day is called " Ashtami " on which people generally perform the " Astami yagna - fire prayer and open their fast. Melodious bhajans are sung and Astami puja is done to worship the goddess. • Gatherings are made to sing praises of the Goddess through beautifully recited bhajans. These gatherings are known as Kirtans or Mata ki Chowki. For hours the kirtans are sung with excitement and dance, followed by the aarti and prasad (food offered to the Gods or Goddess) distribution. • Generally the prasad items are those, which are the favorites of the Goddess. Boiled chana, Sheera, Jalebi, Beetle leaves (paan), supari, coconuts, kheer (sweet dish made of rice, milk and sugar) etc. • Many Hindu's observe fast for all or few of these nine days. They can have selected items, which are permitted during the fast days. (Farar items, raw wafers, fruits etc.). • People with friends, families and relatives visit Goddess's temples/mandaps and pay homage to the Goddess. • Beautifully woven Chunari's, artistically crafted chatar's, jewelry and specially tailored clothes for the Goddess and shringar ( feminine cosmetic items ) are widely available in the local markets during this festival span. • Temples and places where mandaps are set up are flooded with devotees making offerings through honest prayers and prasad items. • Some homes also place a mud bed in which barley seeds are sown. This plantation is kept in their temples/mandaps and immersed in the sea on the tenth/last day of Navratri festival i.e. is Dassera (which is the tenth day of the second Navratri of the year). • During the second Navratri people also visit shows/events in the evenings where they can play Dandiya's and Garba's (a folk dance very famous in Gujarat) till wee hours. • Navratri celebrations are seen almost in all Indian states and worldwide Entertainment programs are also conducted in mandaps in the evening to bring out the celebrations. • During the nine day festival people engage in singing bhajans, reciting scriptures on Goddess Durga and other Goddesses, singing aarti's and performing puja's. Its also an auspicious time of the year to buy new items or make investments etc. People also engaged into charity and donations to the needy. • Everyone is in good spirits and celebrate this festival with excitement. • Goddess Durga just like the other's in the God's family grants wishes of all her devotees and blesses one and all.

RAMNAVMI :- - Birthday of Lord Rama wednesday | 24 March 2010

• It occurs on the ninth day of Navratri during the month of March- April. • This is birthday of Lord Rama and is celebrated with enthusiasm deep all across the country. • This day also has its significance with Sun God. • This day has its significance to Lord Rama and Sun God and depicts a special bond between both these deities. • Lord Rama's dynasty had decended from the Sun. • Celebrations on this day begin with worshipping the Sun God early in the morning followed by grand puja ceremonies and customs • Lord Rama temples are decorated with flowers and lights. Also in certain places such as North India processions are carried out shouting and singing the chants of Lord Rama . • Huge chariots are decorated. 4 persons are dressed in form of Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman, Goddess Sita and Lord Hanumanji. People surrounding the chariot are dressed in form of Lord Rama's soldiers and they lead the procession with great celebration. • Lord Rama was born during noon especially when the sun in overhead and at its maximum brilliance. • Beautifully decorated swings are kept in temples with their idols of Lord Rama in an infant form and devotees come and pay homage to him by swinging and wishing him happiness. People offer Indian sweets ,milk and similar sweet meats to the deities on this day. • Lots of singing and reciting of Lord Rama's prayers and scriptures is done and the whole day marks the beginning of happiness , peace and prosperity. • The idols of Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman, Goddess Sita and Lord Hanumanji are dressed up with well tailored clothes , jewelry , accessories and ornaments. • A day when all devotees come with gratitude for Shri Ram and take back loads of satisfaction, happiness, good health, peace and prosperity deep within their hearts. • Ravnavmi is also celebrated during the second half of the year during the ninth day of second Navratri

MAHAVIR JAYANTI :-- The day for brothers and sisters Sunday | 28 March 2010

• Lord Mahavira is the last and the 24th Tirthankar of Jainism . • Mahavir Jayanti is widely celebrated as the birthday day of Lord Mahavira who was born to the pious couple Lord Siddharta and Goddess Trishala Devi. He was born in a place called Vaishali ( on the outskirts of Patna , near Bihar ). • Lord Mahavira was born as a prince in all luxuries and splendor. But right from childhood he had attained self-realization. Some of his principles in life are peace , non violence and brotherhood. He gave up his princely life and dedicated his life towards human welfare. • He started preaching people and one of his strongest messages was to stop killing animals and other living creatures. He believed and preached that " Do unto others, that you would like to be done with ". He had hundreds and thousands of devotees who would come to hear his preachings. • Lord Mahavira preached the ideology of attainment of Moksh and giving up all pleasures of life and embracing simplicity in search of the real truth. Till date after hundreds of years the Jain Sadhu/Sadhviji (monks) follow the procedures laid by him. The Jain monks have a very simple lifestyle. They wear only white clothes, no footwear, and no usage of electricity; they take up limited kind of food and do many more similar sacrifices of life voluntarily in search of the eternal truth. • Lord Mahavira is one of the greatest prophets born in the soils of India and his preaching's are accepted worldwide . • Mahavir Jayanti comes twice in a year , first during the month of April - May , mostly in April and is celebrated in Jain Temples ( Derasar ). • In the morning the pious idols of Lord Mahavira are worshiped and given a milk and water bath ( abhishek ) followed by a puja of chandan . He is adorned with fresh flowers and simple unused decoratives ( Like mirror pieces ,silver foil , laces , gemstones etc. ) This activity of decorating his idols is called as " Aangi "Small rangoli designs ( made from rice grains ) generally of Swastiks or auspicious symbols is made on wooden tables and are adorn with fruits , coconut , Indian sweets , dryfruits and huge sugar chunks. This activity is done within the temple itself. • Simultaneously in Jain prayer houses ( Upsharay ) monks give lectures on the teachings of Lord Mahavira and share their knowledge of Jainism with the devotees. This is known as Vakhayan ( religious lectures ) which is followed by a small prayer called " Manglik " which is considered very auspicious when heard from a monk , guru or elderly family members . • Processions are taken out within the society or the main areas of the city celebrating the birth of Lord Mahavira. • Lord Mahavira in form of a silver/metal made coconut ( Called as Shrifal ) is kept in a beautifully decorated swing in the temples. Devotees come and pay their homage to Lord Mahavira, wishing him happiness and requesting him to bestow his blessings on one and all. • In the evening people might attend prayer session ( Pratikaman - reciting of Jain scriptures ) or visit the beautifully decorated Jain temples. • Great day for making charity , donations and feeding cattle. • Auspicious day for all Jains across the world and generally celebrated as a Holiday. • On this day Jains try to make any small sacrifice of worldly pleasures if possible as per their personal capacity. For example not consuming onion, garlic or potatoes , not watching TV , not wearing footwear etc. As they say even the smallest of deed done with honesty will be accepted in all faith • Mahavir Jayanti also falls on one of the auspicious 8 day festival of Pajushan, during the second half of the year.

HANUMAN JAYANTI The birthday of Hanumanji Tuesday | 28 March 2010

• Hanuman Jayanti comes during March - April on Chaitra Shukla Purnima ( full moon day ). • This is the birthday of Lord Hanumanji who was born to the Wind God and Goddess Anjani Deviji. • Lord Hanumanji is known with many names Pavanputra , Anjaniputra , Maruti , Bajrangbali and many more. • Lord Hanumanji is an ardent follower of Lord Rama and an exceptional Bramhachari . • He is intelligent , strong , trustworthy , powerful and selfless. • He is the avatar of Lord Shiva and is worshipped worldwide. • Lord Hanumanji is very humble and have never boasted about his strength and power. • • Lord Hanumanji considers himself as the messenger of Lord Rama and he served Lord Rama with deep devotion and utmost faith. • Lord Rama owed great gratitude to Lord Hanumanji and had immense faith and love for him. In any Lord Ram temple , along with Goddess Sitaji and Lord Lakshmanji you will find Lord Hanumanji as well. Thus Lord Hanumanji is always worshipped along with Shri Ram. • Lord Rama bestowed him with the blessing of everlasting life and till date Lord Hanumanji is alive in his pious form and is showering his blessings on one and all. • On Hanuman Jayanti all Hanuman temples are beautifully decorated with lights and flowers. The puja ceremonies take place as per tradition and continuous chanting of Ram Naam , Hanuman Chalisa and other related scriptures takes place. Aarti and bhajan's are also sung with great devotion • A procession with the decorative Palki ( swing ) with Lord Hanumanji is taken around the main areas of the locality and people offer their prayers and gratitude to the Lord who is selfless , kind hearted and humble • Devotees flood in Hanuman Temples on this day to pay homage to Lord Hanumanji and offer him prasad (Indian sweets, coconut, rice sweets, jaggery, fruits etc.), oil and black til, orange sindoor*, and special green leaves all easily available in any Lord Hanumanji temple. • One will always find Shri Shaniji's and Lord Ganeshji's idol in almost every Lord Hanumanji temple. • The birthday of Lord Hanumanji is celebrated with loads of enthusiasm and gratefulness by his devotees. • * Once it so happened that Goddess Sitaji was wearing sindoor on her forehead. Lord Hanumanji out of curiosity asked her why would she do so, Goddess Sitaji humbly replied that she did this for the long and healthy life of Lord Rama. Understanding this, Lord Hanumanji took loads of Sindoor and wore it on this entire body for the good health and long life of his Lord Rama and following that the tradition of offering him Sindoor generally saffron / orange colour is followed.