Festival Dates | Sakalam

Bonalu 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 2023 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 of …

Bihu Festival – 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 Festival - Origin and Significance

The history of Bihu can be traced to the ancient amalgamation of Assamese Traditions celebrating a …

Dattatreya Jayanti 2022 or Datta Jayanti Legend, Rituals & Date

Dattatreya jayanti is also known as Datta Jayanti, it marks the birth celebrations of the Hindu God Dattatreya. Lord Datta is the combined form of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Datta Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) of Margashira month of the Hindu calendar. Dattatreya Jayanti 2022 Date In 2022 Datta Jayanti will be celebrated on Wednesday, 7th December. Purnima tithi starts at 8:01 AM on 7th December and ends at 9:38 AM on 8th december. Datta Jayanti 2023 date - Tuesday, 26th December Story of Lord Dattatreya According to legend the virtuous wife of Sage Atri that is Anasuya did penance to get a son who is like the three supreme lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Saraswati, Laxmi and Parvati asked the Trimurti to go and test the virtuousness of Anusaya. Accordingly, the three Gods went in the disguise of sanyasis and asked Anusaya to give them alms naked. Anusaya sprinkled water on the sanyasis and turned them into babies and then breastfed them. She the…

Rishi Panchami 2022 Date, Rituals & Story

Rishi Panchami is celebrated on the 5th day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada and also called Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami. This is the next day after Ganesh Chaturthi. Rishi Panchami is dedicated to the seven rishis. The seven sages are remembered on this day.

The Seven Sages

These sages are Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadhvaja, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Vashishta. This is the day when people remember and thank the sages who have worked so hard for the welfare of mankind and society.

Rishi Panchami 2022 Date

In 2022 Rishi Panchami date is on Thursday, 1 September.

Rituals on Rishi Panchami

On this day women will observe a fast. In some parts of India like Rajasthan sisters tie a sacred thread on the wrist of their brothers and sisters.

The brothers and sisters pray for each other’s well being and give the promise to protect each other from all evil. In Maharashtra, a special curry is prepared using different vegetables. This…

Narasimha Jayanti 2023 Date, Story, Fasting time & Significance

Narasimha Jayanti is a Hindu festival and auspicious day that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is celebrated on Vaisakh Chaturdashi of Shukla Paksha.

Lord Narasimha is the 4th incarnation of Lord Vishnu's Dashavatara in the form of half-man and half-lion.

According to Puranas, Narshimha form appeared during sunset of Chaturdashi and hence the rituals are carried out during the sunset.

Narasimha Jayanti 2023 Date & Timings

Narasimha Jayanti in 2023 will be observed on Thursday, 4th May.

Timings Chaturdashi Tithi Starts on 03 May 2023 at 11:50 PMChaturdashi Tithi Ends on 04 May 2023 at 11:23 PM

Narasimha Jayanti Sayana Kala Puja time is between 04:18 PM and 06:58 PM

Narasimha Jayanti Madhyahna Sankalp Time is between 10:58 AM and 01:38 PM

Below are the next few year dates for Narasimha Jayanti.

YearDate2023Thursday, 4th of May2024Tuesday, 21st of May2025Sunday, 11th of May Story of Naras…

Karva Chauth 2022 Date, Importance & Rituals

The Karva Chauth is observed by Hindu women after four days of the full moon, also known as the Purnima, during the month of Kartik. Since the festival is celebrated based on the Gregorian calendar, dates for this ceremony might vary. This is mainly because this particular calendar is not calculated on the basis of movements of constellations. Instead, the calendar is tabular in nature, which considers the moon’s movements.

Most Hindu festivals are based on the lunisolar calendar. Karva Chauth also happens to be one of them. Therefore, as a characteristic, the festival is celebrated based on astronomical positions. Out of all heavenly bodies, the positions of the moon are considered to be the main foundation for deciding the date of the festival.

Karwa Chauth 2022 Date & Puja Timings Karwa Chauth 2022 Date – Thursday, October 13

2022 Karva Chauth Puja Timings - 5:59 PM to 7:13 PM

Karwa Chauth Dates in Coming Years

Karwa Chauth 2…

Thai Pongal 2023 Date, Celebrations of Harvest Festival

Thai Pongal is a festival celebrated by the Tamilians and it is dedicated to Sun God. This festival is celebrated in the month of January and this is a festival that is celebrated for four days.

Thai is the name of the tenth month in the Tamil calendar. On the same day, Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi and other south India people celebrates as Makar Sankranthi or Pongal.

The first day of the festival is Bhogi. On the second day of the festival is known as Thai Pongal. Third day is Mattu Pongal & fourth one is Kanuma.

Thai Pongal 2023 Date

Thai Pongal in 2023 will be celebrated on Monday 16th January.

Rituals, Events & Food Preparations

Thai Pongal is the day when Uttarayan begins. On the day of the festival, all the family members will rise early and get bathe and get ready to prepare the Pongal.

The garden where the Pongal is going to be cooked is cleaned and decorated with kolam. Water is boiled in an…

Baisakhi 2023 Date, Festivities

Baisakhi is the most important festival celebrated by Sikhs in the month of April. It is the New Year of the Sikhs. Baisakhi is also known as Vaisakhi and it is one of the most important festivals in Punjab. This takes place during the time when the Rabi crop is ready for harvesting. The farmers pray to God for a good harvest and thank God for all the good things that they have given them

Baisakhi 2023 Dates

In 2023, the Baisakhi festival is celebrated on Friday, April, 14.

Baisakhi Celebrations

Gurudwaras are cleaned and decorated. On the day of the festival, people visit the Gurudwaras and pray to the Lord. There are special prayers in the morning. After the prayers, the Khada Prasad is distributed in the Gurudwara. Holy recitals are read from the Guru Granth Sahib in the Gurudwaras. Holy processions by religious men are taken out in the city. Kar Seva or physical labor services are offered by the people in the Gurudwaras. Langar is also organiz…

Aadi Krithigai 2023 Date, Story & Celebrations

Aadi Krithigai is a Tamil festival dedicated to Lord Murugan (Subrahmanya Swamy). It is celebrated in the Tamil month Aadi.

In Aadi month devotees perform more poojas and other religious activities. Aadi Krittigai is celebrated on the day of Krittika nakshatra in the Aadi month.

Aadi Krithigai is also pronounced as Aadi Krittika, Aadi Krithika, Aadi Krithikai. This day is specially dedicated to praying to Lord Muruga as Krittika Nakshatra is favorable to Lord Muruga.

On this day the 6 Arupadai Veedu temples are decorated and special offerings are made to Lord Muruga.

Aadi Krithigai 2023 Date

In 2023, Aadi Krithigai is celebrated on Wednesday, 9th August.

Story of Aadi Krithikai

As per legend six flames were released from the third eye of Lord Shiva. These were brought to the Sarvana pond where the Karthigai Pengal nurtured these flames which transformed into 6 babies.

Finally, Goddess Parvati embraced th…

Gita Jayanti 2022 Date, History & Celebrations

Bhagavad Gita - Ancient History

Bhagavath-Gita is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanishads in Vedic literature.

This knowledge was first spoken to the Sun God (Vivasvan) by Lord Sri Krishna. And Sun God, Vivasvan explained it to Manu, and Manu explained it to Iksvaku.

And in this way, one after another this yoga was coming in disciplic succession. But in due course of time, this knowledge was lost.

Gita Jayanti - Why it is Celebrated?

Gita Jayanthi - On this holy day sacred Hindu text Bhagavad Gita was again spoken to Arjuna by Lord Krishna.

It is celebrated in the Margashirsh (Margashira/Margazhi) month of the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated on the Shukla Ekadashi.

The Bhagavad Gita was told by Shri Krishna to Arjuna just before the start of the battle of Kurushektra. The same was narrated by Sanjaya to King Dhritarashtra (father of Kauravas).

Sanjaya was given a boon by h…

Vaikasi Visakam 2023 Date, Importance – வைகாசி விசாகம்

Vaikasi Visakam, the Tamil festival celebrates the incarnation of Lord Muruga. This festival falls in the Tamil month Vaigasi on the full moon day and in the Vishaka nakshatra.

Vaikasi Visakam 2023 Date

In 2023 Vaikasi Visakam is celebrated on Saturday, June 3.

2024 - Thursday, May 23

2025 - Monday, June 9

Significance of Vaikasi Visakam & Birth of Muruga

The demons Surapadma, Tarakasura, and Singamugha were causing lots of trouble to the gods. The Gods then approached Lord Shiva for help.

Lord Shiva meditated his third eye and formed 6 sparks of fire which were carried by Agni and Vayu to the Ganges. From here the sparks were taken to pond Saravana.

The six sparks were transformed into six babies and then Goddess Parvati embraced and made these 6 babies into one. This was Lord Muruga or Lord Kartika who killed the demons.

The six faces of Muruga stand for creation, preservation, destructi…

Aadi Pooram 2023, Andal Jayanthi Story

Aadi Pooram is one of the most important festivals of the Tamilians. It is celebrated in the Tamil month Aadi.

This is the birthday of Andal who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Laxmi and one of the biggest devotees of the Lord. She is one of the 12 Alwars and is said to be one of the best poetesses.

The Word ‘Aadi’ signifies the fourth month in the Tamil calendar while ‘Pooram’ denotes one of the 27 Nakshatras mentioned in the Hindu Astrology.

Andal Story

According to legend a devotee of Lord Ranganatha Swamy by the name of Vishnu Chitha did not have a child for many years.

On the Aadi Pooram day when he was collecting flowers, he found a girlchild. The devotee named her as "Kothai".

When Vishnu Chitha used to prepare a tulsi garland for Lord, Kothai would wear it and then offer it to the Lord.

One day when the devotee saw this he replaced the garland with a new one. But the Lord did not ac…

Hanuman Jayanthi 2023 Date, Importance & Celebrations

Why Hanuman Jayanthi is Celebrated?

It is clear from the name that Hanuman Jayanti is the celebration of the birth of the greatest devotees of Lord Rama and that is Lord Hanuman.

The festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu Chaitra month.

Different states will celebrate Hanuman Jayanti in different ways. The main motto is to worship the Lord and seek his blessing.

In Andhra Pradesh and in Telangana this festival is celebrated for 41 days starting from the day of Hanuman Jayanti.

In Kerela and in Tamil Nadu the festival is celebrated in Dhanu month and on the new moon day.

The main objective of this day is the same in all the states and that is praying to the lord Hanuman and getting his blessings.

Hanuman Jayanthi 2023 Date Hanuman Jayanthi 2023 Date - Thursday, April 6Hanuman Jayanthi 2024 Date - Tuesday, April 23Hanuman Jayanthi 2025 Date - Saturday, April 12 Hanuman Jayanthi Celebration…