Navratri, the festival of ‘nine nights’, lasts for 9 days with three days each devoted to the worship of Ma Durga – the Goddess of Valor, Ma Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth and Ma Saraswati – the Goddess of Knowledge. During the nine days of Navratri feasting and fasting take precedence over all normal…
Category: Festivals
Significance of Janmashtami
Janmashtami – the Story Krishna was born on Janmashtami. Krishna was born on this day in Mathura and we are inspired by the story year after year. Later, Krishna married several wives and perhaps divorced some!Thus we have brought him down to our own level, and then think that we are not as bad as…
Why Do We Have So Many Festivals in India?
Festivals – Why we Have Them Festivals are there to celebrate our lives, the joy of being alive and it is to be shared with all – our friends, relatives, our neighbours, our colleagues, the young, the old, everyone. Amongst the gaiety and celebrations are hidden great values which rites and rituals bring forth as…
Holika and Prahlada
The Festival of Holi Holi is celebrated in several ways…the most common features include the day (the full moon of Phalgun) and lighting of a bonfire. Contrary to most festivals, which are celebrated with great discipline, Holi is more freely undertaken as everyone takes part in some form of mischief. Story of Holika and Prahlada…
Mahashivaratri…the Most Auspicious Night
While Shiva dances, His matted locks hold the sacred river Ganga – the power and the source of all movement in life, with its waters that purify mankind; and the crescent moon delicate as a new-born baby with its promise of life in all its radiance and glory. What is perhaps most significant of all…
What is True Diwali? – by Swami Chinmayananda
On this Sacred day of Deepavali (Diwali) at dusk when darkness intensifies, all homes are illumined by lights, tiny mud pots with oil wicks. I appeal that this day is a day of prayer and expression of love. Get out of your homes in the evening and embrace every other individual in society not because…
4 Interesting Dussehra Stories and Their Significance
Significance of Dussehra The word Dussehra is derived from Sanskrit word Dasha-hara that means “remover of bad fate” or remover of ten heads of Ravana. It is celebrated with great zeal on the tenth day of the Hindu autumn lunar month of Ashvin that during September or October of the Western calendar. Every year, after…
Navratri Trishakti – Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati
Navratri Every Hindu festival has a spiritual message for the sadhaks. This nine-day festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil. In fact the theme of the entire Vedas is reflected in the Navratri festival: first remove all negativities; then purify the mind and cultivate positive virtues; finally, gain spiritual knowledge and transcend all limitations….
Nine Navratri Essentials
The festival of Navratri (literally meaning nine nights) is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals. It is celebrated to honour Goddess Durga who symbolizes power and purity. Goddess Durga is worshiped in her nine different forms during these days. The basic theme behind the nine-day long Navratri festival is the victory of Good over Evil….
Why we chant “Ganpati Bappa Morya!”?
Ganesh devotees chant in chorus Ganpati Bappa Morya during Ganesh Puja. But, what’s the significance of this chant? Ganpati Ganesha is also known as Ganpati. The word Ganpati is a combination of 2 words – “Gana” which means ‘group’ or also ‘the attendants of Lord Shiva’ and “Pati” which means the ‘ruler’ or ‘leader’. Hence…