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Ganesh Chaturthi Or Vinayaka Chavithi Date, Traditions, Significance, and Puja Vidhi

Introduction

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayagar Chaturthi, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated with great devotion across India and by Indian communities around the world.

This festival honors the elephant-headed god of wisdom, prosperity, and the remover of obstacles Lord Ganesha.

Let us explore the traditions, cultural significance, and the increasingly popular sustainable practices associated with Ganesh Chaturthi.

Historical Background

The origin of the festival can be traced back to ancient religious texts, but it was not until the late nineteenth century that it became popularized as a public event.

This was largely due to the influence of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, an Indian freedom fighter.

Tilak popularized the festival as a way to circumvent colonial restrictions on Hindu gatherings, which he saw as a way to promote unity and promote national identity.

This shif…

Chaitra Navratri 2024 Dates, 9 Day Rituals, Importance and Story

Chaitra Navratri is a vibrant and meaningful festival celebrated by Hindus, also known as Vasant Navratri.

It is a nine day festival filled with joy, devotion, and colorful traditions that marks the beginning of the Hindu lunar calendar year with Chaitra month. The first day of Vasant Navratri is celebrated as Ugadi in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Also, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra.

Chaitra Navratri 2024 Date

In the year 2024, Chaitra Navratri starts on April 9th (Hindu New Year) and Ends on 17 April with Ramnavami.

Significance of Chaitra Navratri

It marks the start of the spring season and signifies the victory of good over evil and the beginning of new life and growth.

Farmers celebrate this time as it marks the beginning of the agricultural year, bringing hopes of a good harvest.

The festival is celebrated with grandeur in all Hindu temples across the globe.

The Deities Worshiped

During…

Diwali 2024 Date, Festival Facts, Story, Significance, Celebrations, and Foods

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is among the most significant festivals celebrated in India and by Hindus worldwide. A festival of lights symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

Diwali is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness, where families come together to celebrate and create beautiful memories. This article will explore the correct date, facts, story, significance, celebrations, and foods associated with Diwali.

Diwali Date

In 2024, Diwali Lakshmi Puja Muhurat is on Friday, 1st November starts from 05:36 PM and ends at 06:16 PM.

Diwali is a 5 day festival starts with Dhanteras on 29th October, Choti Diwali on 30th October, followed by Diwali on 1st November. Govardhan Puja is celebrated on 2nd November, Bhai Dhooj on 3rd November.

In North India, Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartik and in southern states, on the last day of the Hindu month, Ashwin or Ashwayuj…

Bengaluru’s Most Popular Saibaba Temples

Saibaba popularly known as Shirdi Sai Baba is a saint and a master of spirituality. His preaching was mainly focused on “self-Realization”, and he condemned “love for fragile things”.

His favorite sayings to devotees were “Look at me, I shall look at you” and “Allah Tera Bhala Karega”.

He preached “Shradha” and “Saburi” meaning Faith and Trust to his disciples.

Thursday is said to be an auspicious day to offer salutations to Saibaba, as it is regarded as Saibaba’s day.

It is also believed that offering certain food items to Saibaba on Thursday will ward off a person’s sins.

In a thickly populated metro city like Bengaluru, Saibaba temples often see thousands of visitors every day, these temples are famous for their sacredness and tranquillity.

Festivals like,

Guru Purnima (a full moon day in the month of July) Ramanavami (Saibaba’s murti procession takes place) and Vijayadashami (the day Shirdi …

List of Tamil Months and Related Zodiac Stars in Tamil

Tamil Calendar is a sidereal solar calendar, which means the calendar is based on the motion of the Earth around the Sun with respect to the fixed star. It is based on the classical Indian Hindu Calendar.

Tamil calendar is followed in the Indian states of Tamilnadu and Puducherry. And by Tamilians in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, etc.

Same as in other western or Hindu calendars, there are 12 months in the Tamil calendar as well.

The number of days in a Tamil calendar month varies from 29 days to 33 days.

List of 60 Tamil Year Names.

April 14th marks the start of the Tamil new year and is celebrated as Puthandu, also called Puthuvarudam.

Below is the list of Tamil months, related zodiac stars, and equivalent Gregorian months.

Tamil MonthGregorian Calendar EquivalentRelated Zodiac Star in Tamilசித்திரை (Chiththirai)mid-April to mid-Mayமேழம் (Merham/Mezham)வைகாசி (Vaigaasi)mid-May to mid-Juneவிடை …

60 Tamil Year Names in Tamil (தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு பெயர்கள்)

In Hindu calendar, years are cyclical and there are 60 years. Similar like weekdays or months, years list also be revised once in sixty years.

Puthandu is celebrated as a Tamil New Year. In 2022 Tamil Year name is Subakrith (சுபக்ரித்) and in Tamil it is called Narseikai (நற்செய்கை). In the next cycle Subakrith comes in the year 2082.

Valluvar Year

Thiruvalluvar or Valluvar Year is an officially recognized Tamil calendar system calculated based on Tamil philosopher and poet Valluvar's year of birth.

List of 60 Tamil Year Names

The following is the list of 60 Tamil year names with falling years.

S. Noதமிழ் வருடம் SanskritIn TamilGregorian Yearதிருவள்ளுவர் Thiruvalluvar Year1Prabhava - பிரபாவநற்றோன்றல் Nantrontral 1987 - 198820182Vibhava - விபவஉயர்தோன்றல் Uyarthontral1988 - 198920193Sukla - சுக்லவெள்ளொளி Velouli1989 - 199020204Pramodhoodha - பிரமோதூத பேருவகை Peruvagai1990 - 199120215Prachorpaththi -&nbs…

Arupadai Veedu (அறுபடை வீடு) – The Six Abodes of Lord Murugan in Tamilnadu

About Lord Murugan & Arupadaiveedu

Lord Muruga is a powerful deity and most of us are familiar with his six abodes but don't know much about them.

The six major temples of Lord Murugan spread across Tamil Nadu, India. They are collectively known as the Arupadai veedu.

Pilgrims often visit all six temples in order and complete the tour in a single journey. It is considered a way of retracing Murugan’s steps and paying homage to him at each of his adobes.

Devotees believe that by visiting all six temples, they will be blessed with health, wealth, and happiness. The Arupadai Veedu are some of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Temple state of Tamilnadu.

Each of the six temples has its own unique history and legend that is worth learning more about.

Our guide to the Arupadai veedu will introduce you to these amazing temples tour in order and help you plan a pilgrimage.

It includes in-depth information abo…

Bonalu 2023 Dates, Importance, and History

About The Festival

Bonalu is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in twin cities Secunderabad / Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana where Goddess Mahankali is worshiped during the Ashada month around July/August.

Bonalu is the biggest festival in Telangana and was declared as the state festival by the Government of Telangana in 2014.

Special pujas are performed and the Goddess worshipped in different forms like Maisamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Peddamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, Nookalamma, etc.

The word Bonam is a short form of Bhojanam, a Sanskrit word which means meal or a feast in Telugu and is offered to the Goddess.

Bonam is a cooked rice with Jaggery and milk prepared in a new brass, earthen pot decorated with neem leaves, turmeric and vermilion (Kumkum). A lamp is lit on top of the pot and is called Bonam Jyoti.

This festival is considered as the thanksgiving to the Goddess for the wish fulfillmen…

Ganesh Visarjan 2024 Dates, Vidhi & Mantra

Ganesh Visarjan is the process of immersion of the Lord Ganesha idol in water. It signifies the end of the Ganesh Navratri and the return of Lord Ganesha to his abode, Kailash.

The word "Visarjan" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Visarjana" which means "to immerse".

Ganesh Navratri or Ganesh Utsav celebrations start from Ganesh Chaturthi. And on the tenth day of the festival, which is also known as Anant Chaturdashi in Hindu month Bhadrapada people take Ganesh idols and submerge them in water.

The day typically falls in August or September and is celebrated with large public gatherings and processions, where devotees carry idols of Ganesh through the streets for the Nimajjanam or immersion.

Vinayaka Chavithi Vratha Katha - Vinayaka Vratha Kalpam in Telugu.

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most important festivals of the year. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed god who is the son o…

పరమేశ్వరుని తత్వం ఏమిటీ? – వర్ణాలు వివరణ

హిందు ధర్మ గ్రంధాలు అధ్యయనం చేయడం ఒకింత కష్టమైన పనే.. ఎందుకంటే అనేక గ్రంథాలు ఉండడం ఒకటి అయితే ఒకే సందర్భం వేరే వేరే గ్రంధాలలో ఒక్కోలా చెప్పడం ఒకటి కారణం అవుతుంది… అయితే ఇలా ఎందుకు జరుగుతుంది అనే విషయం మరో సందర్భంలో తెలుసుకుందాం..

ఈ రోజు మనం పరమేశ్వరుని తత్వం తెలుసుకునే ప్రయత్నం చేద్దాం.. మానవులందరు ఒకే మనిషి సంతానం కాదు 14 మనువులు, ప్రజాపతులు వంటివారీ యొక్క సంతానం.. కనుకనే ఈ వివాహం, కుటుంబం వంటి వ్యవస్థలు వచ్చాయి…

ముఖ్యంగా దేవతలు, మరియు అసురులు కశ్యప ప్రజాపతి యొక్క భార్యలు అయిన దితి, అదితి ల యొక్క సంతానమే.. దేవుడు ఎవరిని పుట్టుకతోనే నీవు రాక్షసుడివి, నీవు దేవునివి అంటూ పుట్టించడు… దేవుడు మనిషిని మొదటి జన్మగా సృష్టించేటప్పుడు సంపూర్ణ ఆయుష్షు, జ్ఞానం, కీర్తి, వివేకం, సంపదలతో పుట్టిస్తాడు. (ఒక్కోసారి సంపద లేకుండా చేయొచ్చు) అయితే మనిషికి కర్మ స్వేచ్ఛ ఆలోచన స్వేచ్ఛ ఇస్తాడు. అయితే మనిషి తాను చేసే ఆలోచన కర్మలను బట్టి మరుసటి జన్మలు ఇవ్వడం జరుగుతుంది.. ఇది గ్రహించాలి..

పరమేశ్వరునికి నామ, కాల, క్రియా వంటివి ఉండవు.. అని మీరెలా చెప్తారు అని అంటే సమాధానం ఇస…

శివుడి ఆజ్ఞ లేనిదే చీమైన కుట్టదు: తత్వ బోధ – నీతి సుధ

ఇది కాస్త పెద్దదే కానీ ఒక సందేహ నివృత్తి చేయగలదు కనుక ఓపికగా చదవండి..

భగవంతుడు "సర్వాంతర్యామి" అని అంటారు కదా ?! మరి మనము ఏం చేసినా దానిని ఆ భగవంతుడు చేయించినట్లే కదా.. అంటారు కొందరు..

అవును కొందరు అనుకున్నట్లే.. ఆ భగవంతుడు "సర్వాంతర్యామి", "సర్వవ్యాపి", "సర్వాంతరజ్ఞాని" యే.. అంటే భగవంతుడు మనలోనూ, అందరిలోనూ ఉన్నాడు.

అయితే ఆయన నీలో ఉన్నది నీ చేత ఏ పనైనా చేయించడానికి కాదు. నీలో ఉండి నువ్వు చేసే పనులు చూడ్డానికి.. నీ దేహానికి శక్తిగా, నీ బుద్ధికి, మనసుకు, ఆలోచనకు, కర్మకు స్వేచ్ఛ ఇచ్చి.. నీ "కర్మ సాక్షిగా" ఉంటాడు. అంతే తప్ప నీ కర్మలకు "కర్త" గా కాదు..

"శివుడి ఆజ్ఞ లేనిదేచీమైన కుట్టదు" అని అంటారు కదా!? మరి మనం తప్పు చేసినా, మంచి చేసిన శివుని ఆజ్ఞా వల్లనే కదా !? అంటారు కొందరు.

అయ్యా అది, అదే ఆ సామెత లేదా జాతీయం అది ఏదైనా కావచ్చు అది "జనన, మరణాలకు" సంబంధించినది. లేదు, కాదు, మీరు అనుకున్నట్లే అనుకుందాం.. అంటే ఏదైనా ఆయన ఆజ్ఞా వల్లనే జరుగుతుంది అనుకుందాం.. ఇక్కడ ఒక విషయాన్ని మీరు గమనించాలి ఏమిటంటే.. ఆ దేవుడు మనకు "ఆలోచన స్వేచ్ఛ" ను,…

Bihu 2024 – The Harvest Festival of The Assamese

It would not be wrong to call Bihu festival as the most celebrated festival of the Assamese Community. Although the word Bihu does not have a translation into English, yet it is not just a word, it is an emotion altogether.

Bihu teaches every Assamese to celebrate the joy of harvest. Fundamentally, there are three Bihus celebrated by the Assamese Community.

They go by the name- Rongali or Bohag Bihu ( festival of happiness), Bhogali or Magh Bihu(festival of feasting) and Kongali or Kati Bihu ( reflecting scarcity).

All these festivals have their own significance and marked certain occasions for the farmers of Assam.

Initially, these festivals were celebrated during the leisure periods between the farming seasons. However, over the years it became the identity of the Assamese people.

Bihu 2024 Date

Bihu is celebrated on Tuesday 16th January, 2024.

Bihu Festival - Origin and Significance

The history of Bihu c…

Totakashtakam Lyrics and Meaning

Totakashtakam was composed by Giri (Totakacharya), a foremost disciple of Jagathguru Adi Shankaracharya.

Once he praised Acharya with Ashta Slokas in Totaka Meter (An Anapestic tetrameter that has four anapestic metrical feet per line). Thereafter, Giri got the title of Totakacharya and the rhyme became famous as Totakashtakam.

Totakashtakam Lyrics and Meaning

viditā khila śāstra sudhā jaladhe mahito paniṣat kathitār thanidhe ।

hṛdaye kalaye vimalaṃ caraṇaṃ bhavaśaṅkara deśika me śaraṇaṃ ॥ 1॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Śaṅkara, Who is the ocean of nectar of our great holy books, And who is like the Treasure Of the essence of the great Upaniṣads and I meditate on his clear holy feet in my heart.

karuṇā varuṇālaya pālaya mām bhavasāgara duḥkha vidūna hṛdam ।

racayā khila darśana tattva vidam bhavaśaṅkara deśika me śaraṇaṃ ॥ 2॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Sankara, who is…

9 Forgotten Indian Traditions That will Help You in this Corona pandemic

India is widely known for its culturally diverse people and traditions. The country had a wonderful past with several mentions in the historical scripts.

Most of the books on Indian History have comprehensive work on Indian culture and traditions. Now, when it comes to traditions, they are something we are born with.

Our ancestors have introduced traditions to us which we respectfully agreed to believe. There exists a compelling picture of our Indian heritage right in front of us.

Not to forget, Indian traditions are just not for ritual practices but also have scientific benefits attached to it.

However, the cruel irony is that as time passed by, with the hustle and bustle of life, we tend to get away from these traditions.

Indian society is a culmination of various customs, cults, sects, and rituals. But with due acceleration in time, important traditions are left out and we somehow have resorted to mechanical life.

…