There are so many times of wedding rituals that are followed in India. Here we shall concentrate on various types of wedding and to begin with here is a detail on the way the Maharashtrian's conduct their weddings.
The rituals followed in the marriage are reflect the indigenous Maharashtrian vibrant and colorful culture. Usually, marriages among the Maharashtrians take place in the morning, because the auspicious time (muhurat) chosen for the wedding generally falls in the day time. The wedding ceremonies last for about three days (including the pre-wedding and post-wedding rituals). The rituals followed during the occasion are simple, yet very impressive, which makes the spectator say that Maharashtrian wedding is truly amazing!
Among the many regional communities living in India, Maharashtrians perhaps have the simplest and least opulent marriage ceremony. Though it differs substantially from the Brahmins along the graph to the tribals, certain elements remain constant and common.
Here are the ceremonies that take place. Click on each to find out more !
Sakharpuda, the engagement ceremony, is held a few days before the wedding. For this ceremony, the groom's parents give the bride a saree as a token of her acceptance in their family.
A couple of days before the wedding, a feast called Kelvan is organized in both the bride's as well as the bridegroom's home. Each side hosts a meal for the entire family gathered in that home.
Haldi is yet another custom special to Maharashtrians. The bridegroom and the bride have their own celebrations in their respective homes. Women from each family get together to apply a mixture of turmeric, sandalwood and cream to the face and body of the bridegroom or the bride.
After the grooms' procession arrives at the bride's place, a seemaan pooja is conducted. This is when the bride's parents wash the feet of the groom, his parents and traditionally welcome the folks of his family.
The bride attired in a yellow sari given by her maternal uncle and mundavalya (decorative strings of pearls, beads, flowers) tied on the forehead apart from other jewellery and facial make-up is all ready to get married. She sits on a pat in her room and in front of her, a silver idol of Parvati is placed on a heap of rice on another pat.
The groom ties the mangalsutra around the neck of the bride. Mangal sutra is a necklace made up of golden pendant and black beads with alternative gold ones. This is believed to be a married woman`s most precious possession. The groom then applies kumkum on the forehead of the bride and she in turn applies a tilak made of sandalwood paste on the forehead of her husband. The grooms mother gifts the bride a silk sari, along with toe rings etc.
Bride's father gives the bride away to the groom. The priest asks the groom to join both the palms and receive in it stream of holy water poured by bride's mother while bride's father says that he is giving away in marriage his daughter to this gentleman so that both of them can start together a life of Dharma, Artha and Kama. The groom accepts it saying that this is giving away love for love. The one who gives love is also one who receives love.
This is the ritual where the two walk together the seven steps. The groom takes the left hand of the bride in his right hand and they take seven steps together in the southeast direction. A heap of rice is kept at every step and the couple step on this heap at every step. The ritual is symbolic of their married life and is an exchange of vows between them. At the end of the ritual the groom chants mantras to forgive him for any flaws in the conduct of the homa.
One of the most significant events after the marriage is Laxmi Narayan Puja. The bride and the bridegroom are considered to be Goddess Laxmi and Lord Narayan respectively and worshipped. After this ceremony the bride is properly handed over by her parents to the bridegroom in a ceremony called kanyadaan.
The groom`s mother welcomes the couple. She washes the couple`s feet with milk and then water. After the aarti is performed, the bride enters the house by kicking a glass of rice. The couple enters the house putting their right foot forward. The family sits and talks for sometime after which the couple is shown their room.
Your wording will largely depend upon the age of your birthday "guest of honor". Themed paper is available from ImpressInPrint that enhances your customized poem or personal message for young or more mature recipients.
As you look at the birthday cardstock and themed paper, the rich designs can suggest just the perfect theme or feel that you may be looking for to create an entire party based on the imagery and theme of the card you are inspired by.
Birthday invitation wording ideas - Ideas
Several elements can be included in the wording for birthday invitations to create a memorable, personal birthday party invitation.
Be sure to use the person's name
If the birthday person is 18 years old or less, it is acceptable to use their exact age
Reference a specific place that the person goes to often or loves to visit
Mention a beloved pet or pets
Create a story about the person instead of directing wording "at" the person
Create a "I remember when" card. Ask friends and family to give you one sentence about the birthday person that starts with "I remember when".....it is a wonderful memento card! Then, have those sentences printed on cards from ImpressInPrint.com.
Birthday invitation wording ideas - Activities
Birthday invitation wording ideas don't always include verses or poems. They can include instructions! Consider using the invitations to have a scavenger hunt and include the instructions in the birthday invitation wording.
If you are having a themed party, give instructions on dress and fun things to bring that will enhance the party such as music, clothes or foods that fit your theme.
Birthday party invitations inform your guests of the birthday party date, time and place. But invitations can also convey your party theme and create excitement before guests arrive. There are many fun and creative ways to use birthday invitations to announce your birthday party date. Start by choosing a party theme or color scheme that will be carried out throughout your party. Next browse through these invitation ideas and find one that will fit with your budget and creativity level.
What To Write On the Birthday Party Invitation
After choosing a birthday party invitation here are some ideas on how to fill in the blanks. Most of the invitation is straight forward ... but there are a few tricky parts. We've included how to fill out the RSVP, how to keep siblings from attending, asking parents to stay - or NOT to stay - for the party, how to request that guests don't bring presents, how to ask guests to pay for their food or admission, how to ask them to donate to your charity and is it okay to ask for money or gift cards.
First the easy part - what details to include in your party invitation.
Date- Always include the day along with the date. Ex. Saturday March 15, 2008 Time - Give the start and end times for your party. Ex. 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Place - Your house address or location of the party place. Hint - It is always good to draw a map on the back of the invitation or include one on a separate piece of paper. For - Include the child’s name and how old they are going to be. Example: Sally's 8th birthday celebration!
RSVP - Include parents names, phone number and an email address on the invitation RSVP line. Some parents are shy about calling other parents or too busy to pick up the phone, but they will take the time to email.
RSVP used to mean please let us know if you will not attend. It is a very important piece of party planning information - as any party planner knows. But today many people either overlook the RSVP or don't know what it means so they don't respond. A good way around the RSVP is to let guests know how you want them to respond. You can add a comment like this to your invitation: Please let us know if you are coming so we can prepare enough food.
Please call and let us know if you are attending so we can tell (name of place) how many to expect.
Please respond by _(date)_____ so we can expect you.
There will most likely be a few that will show up without calling. Always prepare for 2 - 3 more guests then have called to tell you they will attend.
Include any special party information-
any information that the child needs to know before they arrive at the party should be included in the invitation.
How to dress - if it is a costume or dress up party give a clear description of the theme and give examples of how to create the look you want.
If you will be serving lunch or dinner - What type of food you will be having (this alerts any parents of possible food allergies)
What to bring - (swimsuit, sleeping bag, pillow, old clothes if you are going to do a painting craft).
If you will be going to dinner, the movies, the mall .... anywhere other then your house make sure and include it on the invitation. Parents will want to know where their kids are going to be during the party.
Keeping siblings from attending a party unannounced is easier to do on the invitation. Sometimes parents think it is okay to send along siblings with the invited guest with or without warning. If this hasn’t happened to you yet … just wait. Suddenly there will be a 4 year old sister who has shown up for your tween daughters spa party and it is hard to say no when they are on the doorstep excited about the party. To avoid this situation mention in the invitation that the party is for invited guests only. You can say it very tactfully.
Here are some suggestions for the invitation:
“We are sorry, but due to the theme of the party we can not accommodate siblings”
“No siblings please”
Or you can incorporate it into your invitation and say something like:
“Your invited to Bobby’s party as one of his 6 very special guests!”
Thai Pongal is a harvest festival event celebrated by Tamils across the world. Pongal coincides with the festival Makara Sankranthi celebrated in various parts of India. Pongal in Tamil means "boiling over or spill over." The act of boiling over of milk in the clay pot is considered to denote future wishes for the family.
Makara Sankranti/Thai Pongal celebrates the resumption of the sun's 'journey northwards' where the days get longer. Tamil Hindus dedicate the first grain harvested to the sun on this 'Surya Mangalya'. The celebration of Makara Sankranti/Pongal is not confined to the Tamils. It is a pan-Indic event described in the Mahabharata. Bhishma chose to leave his mortal coils when the sun turned direction northwards - also known as the Uttarayana. Makara Sankranti is referred to in the Surya Siddhanta. The Dharma Shastras mention Makara Sankranti. January 14 represents the climax of the Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh Mela. It is a traditional holiday/harvest in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Maharashtra, Nepal, the Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Traditionally celebrated at harvest time, it's a celebration of the prosperity associated with the harvest by thanking the sun god, rain and the farm animals that have helped in the harvest. In villages, new clothes are worn and people owning cows find this festival important. Pongal is celebrated by the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as well as Tamils worldwide, including those in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa, USA, Canada and Singapore. The festival is at least 1000 years old although some believe that the festival is more than 2000 years old. As per epigraphic evidence, it used to be celebrated as Puthiyeedu during Medieval Chola empire days. It is thought that Puthiyeedu meant the first harvest of the year. [1][2][3] Tamils refer to Pongal as "Tamizhar Thirunal" (meaning "the festival of Tamils"). This festival originated in Tamil Nadu. The saying "Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum" meaning "the birth of the month of Thai will pave the way for new opportunities" is often quoted regarding the Pongal festival. Usually, the festival takes place January 12 — 15 (on the Gregorian calendar). The festival is celebrated four days from the last day of the Tamil month Maargazhi (December — January) to the third day of Thai (January — February).
First Day: Bhogi, is celebrated by throwing away and destroying old clothes and materials, by setting them on fire, marking the end of the old Thai and the emergence of the new Thai.
Second Day:Pongal, is the main day, falling on the first day of the Tamil month Thai (January 14 — 15). Also known as Sarkarai Pongal or Veetu Pongal, it is celebrated by boiling rice with fresh milk and jaggery in new pots, which are later topped with brown sugar, cashew nuts and raisins early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel. This tradition gives Pongal its name.[3]
Kolam decorations in front of house during Thai Pongal
The moment the rice boils over and bubbles out of the vessel, the tradition is to shout of "Ponggalo Ponggal!" and blowing the sangu (a conch), a custom practiced during the festival to announce it was going to be a year blessed with good tidings. For Tamils, it is considered a good sign to watch it boil over, since it means that good luck and prosperity is forthcoming. Then New boiled rice is offered to the sun god during sunrise, a gesture which symbolises thanks to the sun and nature for providing prosperity. It is later served to the people present in the house for the ceremony. People also prepare savories and sweets such as vadai, murukku, payasam and visit each other and exchange greetings.
Third Day:, Maattu Pongal, is for offering thanks to cattle, as they help farmer in different ways for agriculture. On this day the cattle are decorated with paint, flowers and bells. They are allowed to roam free and fed sweet rice and sugar cane. Some people decorate the horns with gold or other metallic covers. In some places, Jallikattu, or taming the wild bull contest, is the main event of this day and this is mostly seen in the villages.
Fourth Day: During the final day, Kaanum Pongal (the word kaanum means "to view") people visit their relatives, friends to enjoy the festive season, but in the cities this day is synonymous with people flocking to beaches and theme parks to have a day out with their families. They also chew sugar cane and decorate their houses with kolam. This day is a day to thank relatives and friends for their support in the harvest. Although it started as a farmers festival, today it has become a national festival for all Tamils irrespective of their origins, caste or even religion. It is as popular in urban areas as is in rural areas.
Pongal is the one of the biggest festival in Tamilnadu. There will be 3 or 4 days continuous holidays announced by state government.
Regional Significance
The harvest festival of Pongal has its unique regional significance. The festival of Pongal is celebrated all over India on the same day, but has different names in each region. However, being a harvest festival, bonfires and feasts are the main thing common to all the celebrations of this festival. Almost all the states of India celebrate this festival with varied festivities including singing and dancing. In northern India, the festival is known as Lohri while in Assam it is called Bhogali Bihu, in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar it is known as Sankranti, and in Andhra Pradesh it is celebrated as Bhogi, when each household puts on display its collection of dolls. Following is the state wise regional significance of the Pongal festival.
Pongal in Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, January 14 is celebrated as a festival of Makar Sankranti and is marked by the flying of kites. The entire sky becomes a showcase of colorful kites of various sizes and shapes. On this day, people exchange homemade delicacies like til and gur laddoos and wish each other the sweetness of speech, throughout the year just the way the gur tastes.
A newly wed woman gives away oil, cotton and sesame seeds to mark the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti. This is believed to bestow upon her and her family long life and prosperity. The women wear new clothes, new glass bangles, and relatives are invited to attend the Haldi Kumkum celebration to welcome the new bride into their family.
Pongal in Gujarat
In Gujarat, Pongal day is celebrated as Makar Sankranti. Here, kite-flying is a major event for this day. Traditionally celebrated on the 13th or 14th January, it is a day when every family can be seen outdoors 'cutting' each other's kites. Kites of myriad hues, shapes and sizes decorate the skies from dawn to dusk during this festival. The vast panorama of the sky dotted with thousand of kites becomes a wonderful sight to see.
The International Kite Festival is held at the capital city Ahmedabad on January 14 to coincide with the festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti. The people of Gujarat celebrate Uttarayan with a lot of enthusiasm and all business comes to a grinding halt for 3 to 4 days. It is also a celebration to mark the end of winter. The excitement does not end with nightfall, which is the time for illuminated box kites, often in a series strung on one line, to be launched into the sky. Known as "tukals", these add a touch of splendor to the dark sky.
Pongal in Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, the day of Pongal is celebrated as Makar Sankranti. Here, taking a ritual bath in the river is considered mandatory on this day. According to a popular belief in the hills of Uttar Pradesh, a person who does not take a bath on this auspicious day will be born as a donkey in his next birth. Apart from this ritual bathing, donating khichri (a cooked mixture of rice and lentils) is also one of the important aspects of the Makar Sankranti celebration in Uttar Pradesh.
To mark the occasion of Makar Sankranti, a big mela or fair is also organized at the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad. As the mela is held in the beginning of the month of Magha, this fair is named as Magha Mela. Apart from Triveni, ritual bathing is also organized at places like Haridwar and Garh Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh. Many kite-flying competitions are also held in various localities to mark the occasion.
Pongal in Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh, Pongal celebrations start a month in advance. Bhogi is the day preceding Sankranti and Kanumu is the day after. On Bhogi day, in the early morning, a bonfire is lit up with waste before the traditional special bath. Pongali (rice pudding with milk) is an important item during this festival. Special dishes, like ariselu (sweet rice cakes), are prepared. On Kanumu day animals are decorated and races are held, sometimes the banned cockfights, bullfights and ram fights are included. Sun, Mahabali (a mythological Dravidian king) and Godadevi (Goddess Goda) are worshiped during this harvest festival.
Pongal in Karnataka
In Karnataka, the festival is called 'Sankranti', and cows and bullocks are gaily decorated and fed 'Pongal'- a sweet preparation of rice. Special prayers are offered in the temples and houses. In the evening, the cattle are led out in procession to the beat of drums and music. In the night a bonfire is lit and the animals are made to jump over the fire.
Makar Sankranti is marked by men, women and children wearing colorful clothing; visiting near and dear ones; and exchanging pieces of sugarcane, a mixture of fried til, molasses, pieces of dry coconut, peanuts and fried gram. The significance of this exchange is that sweetness should prevail in all the dealings.
In Karnataka, an interesting tradition is followed. After the pujas, white sesame (ellu) mixed with pieces of jaggery, peanuts, dry coconut and sugar blocks (shakkare achchu) are exchanged. At Gavi Gangadhareshwara (Siva) temple in Bangalore's Gavipuram, a rare phenomenon is witnessed in the evening. The Sun's rays pass through the horns of the Nandi briefly to fall on the Lingam in the sanctum. It is an architectural marvel.
Pongal in Tamil Nadu
Pongal in Tamil Nadu is celebrated to mark the withdrawal of the southeast monsoons as well as the reaping of the harvest. Pongal is strictly a rural festival. The Sun is worshiped for its rays are responsible for life on earth. It is the biggest harvest festival, spread over four days. The name of the festival is derived from Pongal, a rice pudding made from freshly harvested rice, milk and jaggery.
The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is a day for the family. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. The third day, Mattupongal is for worship of the cattle. In Chennai (Madras), a rath yatra procession is taken out from the Kandaswamy Temple. In Madurai, Tanjore and Tiruchirrapalli, where Pongal is known as Jellikattu, bundles of money are tied to the horns of bulls and villagers try and wrest the bundles from them. Community meals are made from the freshly gathered harvest and enjoyed by the entire village.
Pongal in Kerala
In Kerala, on Makar Sankranti evening, at the hill shrine of Sabarimala, lakhs of pilgrims witness a star-like celestial light of incredible splendor appearing on the horizon. Known as Makara Jyothi, this miracle occurs at the time of the evening Deeparadhana. Pilgrims consider it a great moment of fulfillment. Lord Ayyappa is adorned with special jewels known as Thiruvaabharanam. Legend has it that these jewels were donated to the Lord by the erstwhile Pandalam Maharaja, considered the foster father of the Lord.
Sankranthi, or Sankranti (Sanskrit: मकर संक्रान्ति ), Makar Sankaranti marks the transition of the Sun into Capricorn on its celestial path. This is significant considering the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. Traditionally, this has been one of many harvest days in India.
Makara Sankranti or Sankranti - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, orissa, Manipur, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa
The day on which the sun begins its journey northwards is referred to as Makar Sankranti. Sankramana means "to commence movement". Hence, the name Makar Sankranti is given to one of the largest, most auspicious, but varied festivals in the Indian subcontinent. It usually falls in the middle of January. Due to the geography and size of India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background and location. Regional Variation
Sankranti is celebrated all over South Asia with some regional variations:
In India, it is known by different names and celebrated with different customs in different parts of the country:
Makara Sankranti or Sankranti - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, orissa, Manipur, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa
Uttarayan- Gujarat and Rajasthan
Lohri - Himachal Pradesh, Punjab
Pongal - Tamilnadu
Makara Vilakku Festival - Sabarimala Temple
In other countries too the day is celebrated under different names and in different ways. In Nepal,
Tharu people - Maghi
Other people - Maghe Sankranti or Maghe Sakrati In Thailand - สงกรานต์ Songkran
In India, a festival comes with a lot of delicious dishes. No celebration is considered complete unless and until rich food is served amongst friends, family and relatives. The festival of Makar Sankranti is also not different from the other Indian festivals; many scrumptious food items are cooked and served on this day. One of the famous and mouth watering dishes prepared on the festival of Makar Sankranti is the 'Kajji Kaayalu'. It is made with a sweet stuffing inside. In the following lines, we have provided the method of preparing this wonderful dish on Makar Sankranti. Read on to know how to make it.
Kajji Kaayalu Recipe
Ingredients
For Filling
100 gm `Endu Kobbari Koru'/ Grated Dry Coconut
75 gm Jaggery / Sugar, powdered
8 to 10 Cardomoms, peeled and powdered
1 tsp Khus Khus
1 tsp Poppy Seeds
25 gm Roasted Cashew Nuts
10 gm Raisins
2 tbsp Roasted Groundnuts
Oil, to fry
For Covering
150 gm Maida
1 tsp Ghee (neyyi)
Method
Add melted ghee to maida and mix well
Make dough of it adding enough water and leave it covered for an hour
Mix all the filling ingredients and set aside
Knead the dough and make it into small lime size balls
Roll them like `poories' - thin, flat and round
Place one and a half tablespoons of the prepared filling on the left side of the `poorie' and fold the other side over and press the ends together securely
You may cut the edge with the serrated edge of a knife or with the other end of a spoon to make it look decorative
Repeat the procedure till the filling is over
Heat oil in a thick pan / wok and fry two or three at a time till golden brown and remove
Stored in air tight containers they easily last for a couple of weeks
Note
If the edge is not closed firmly, the kajji kaayalu may break open while frying and the contents of the filling spill into the oil, thereby creating a mess. To secure the ends firmly dip your forefinger in water and run it lightly on the inner part of the poorie's edge before folding it together.
In place of grated dry coconut roasted and powdered sesame seeds or `kova' may be used along with a blend of sliced cashew, almonds, dates, walnuts and raisins, all of which are quite delicious.
Til Laddoo Recipe
Til Laddoo is a very popular recipe. Learn how to make/prepare Til Laddu by following this easy recipe.
Ingredients:
• 1 Cup til
• 2 Cups jaggery
• 1/2 Cup peanuts
• 4 tsp Ghee
Cooking Instructions:• Roast the til dry till it turns slightly brown. Also dry roast the peanuts.
• Make powder of both ingredients.
• Heat the kadhai for 5 minutes.
• Put jaggery in hot kadhai and mix well till it melts.
• Now add ghee and the powder. Mix well.
• Make laddus from it immediately.
• Til laddus are ready.
Til Papdi RecipeTil Papdi is prepared in North India at the time of Lohri. Learn how to make/prepare Til Papadi by following this easy recipe.
Cooking Instructions:
• Roast sesame seeds lightly and leave aside.
• Melt sugar in a small pan.
• Add roasted sesame seeds and mix well.
• Keep this pan in a large bowl of hot water.
• Take small portion of this mixture at a time.
• Make it flat with the help of a rolling pin.
• Sprinkle with few slices of pista on top.
• Roll quickly. You can smear rolling pin, palms and work surface slightly.
• Transfer the role to a clean plastic sheet. Allow it to cool.
• Separate the papdis with squares of plastic.
• Cool and place in an airtight container.
Til Polis
These are specially prepared for the Sankrant festival because a mixture of til (sesame) and jaggery contribute to the health if eaten during cold season.
Method:
• Rub in 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and a pinch of salt to the flour and knead into a soft dough.
• Cover it with a wet cloth.
• Heat sesame on low fire, stirring continuously so that they do not splutter and fall out of the pan. When cooled, pound them.
• Add the greated jaggery and pound once more to make the mixture even and smooth.
• Mix powders of Cardamoms, Sonth and nutmeg.
• Shape small balls from the ready dough.
• Place one ball in the left hand palm and make an indentation in the middle.
• Put in this hollow a lump from the mixture.
• Pull up the sides, gather at the top and press down.
• Smear a wooden board with oil, place the stuffed ball on it and roll out into as thin a round as possible.
• using enough oil fry it on griddle to deep golden colour till it is crisp.
• Thus make all the Til Polis. These can last for quite a number of days and are very tasty.
Vasant Panchami, sometimes referred to as Basant Panchami or Shree Panchami, is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Indian month Magh (January-February), the first day of spring. Traditionally during this festival children are taught to write their first words; Brahmins are fed; ancestor worship (Pitr-tarpan) is performed; the god of love Kamadeva is worshipped; and most educational institutions organise special prayer for Saraswati. The color yellow also plays an important role in this festival, in that people usually wear yellow garments, Saraswati is worshipped dressed in yellow, and yellow sweets are consumed within the families.
Also known as Saraswati Puja, this festival is celebrated in Nepal, India and Bangladesh to invoke wisdom and consciousness in human beings. Apart from wisdom, Saraswati is also the deity for fine and performing arts. The day is also called Basant Panchami which falls in Falgun (Phalgun in Hindi) month of Bangla calendar; that is February of the Gregorian calendar. In West Bengal saraswati puja is celebrated in Hindu households and also in schools and colleges. Bengali men are usually dressed in traditional pajamas and Punjabi. Women are dressed in yellow (basanti) coloured sari. With Her grace, the mute, it is believed, have been able to speak and people have been blessed with the ability to write or compose poems. Musicians sing here and many even choose to perform here first. Instrumentalists have puja performed for their instruments here. Apart from art and culture, Goddess Saraswati also showers Her blessings for the education of children.
Kite flying is the major and most colorful event of this festival. The sky is covered with different colorful fighter kites. The kites (Patang in Hindi) are of medium size normally from 1 feet to 4 feet across and made of paper on a frame of bamboo strips. Preparation for this festival start many days earlier and people spend a lot of money on the kites. New clothes are purchased for this festival and many delicious dishes prepared for this particular occasion. In Haryana, sweet yellow rice, flavored with saffron, is prepared for Basant Panchami.
Notebooks, pencils and pens are kept at the Devi's feet for blessings and then used by the students. A notice board asks the students to write their names, address and the roll number on a piece of paper and put it in the hundi after praying for success! It is believed the Goddess blesses them for good and positive results.
Her expression is so serene and calm even as She is majestic. She is seated on a white lotus in Padmasana, adorned by a pure white silk sari, has a book in Her lower left hand, Her lower right hand showing the Chinmudra, Aksharamala in Her right upper hand, and Amrithakalasam in Her left upper hand. Both eyes are full of compassion. The vehicle assigned to each of the three goddesses also symbolically represent their special powers. Goddess Saraswathi is the consort of
Lord Brahma (Lord of Creation) and is the Goddess of wisdom and learning. Saraswati is the one who gives the essence (sara) of our own self (swa). She is considered as the personification of all knowledge - arts, sciences, crafts and other skills. She has a beautiful and elegant presence, is pure white in colour, clad in a white sari, seated on a white lotus, representing purity and brilliance. She has four hands representing four aspects of human personality in learning; mind, intellect, alertness and ego. She has the sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus (a symbol of true knowledge) in the second. With her other two hands she plays the music of love and life on the Veena.
She is dressed in white (sign of purity) and rides on a white goose (swan). The swan is known for its peculiar characteristic of being capable of separating water from milk, indicating that we should possess discrimination in separating the bad from the good. The seat being a lotus or peacock implies that the teacher is well-established in the subjective experience of truth. When sitting on a peacock she reminds us that wisdom suppresses ego.
Like Brahma, she is not worshipped much in temples. However, every year Saraswathi Pooja (Navarathiri) is celebrated by people all over India, be it students, workers, craftsmen, businessmen offering their prayers for a successful and fruitful year. However, Saraswati does have a temple in Koothanur in Tanjavur district (Tamil Nadu). There is an important Saraswati Temple in Basar at a distance of 40 km from Nizamabad in Adilabad District, Andhra Pradesh on the banks of Godavari River.
On Basant Panchami, Rangla Punjab offers kesarwala doodh, makki ki roti
Meetha Chawal – Basant Panchami
Ingredients
Basmati rice 500 gm
Almonds 20 pieces
Pista 20 gm
Kaju 20 gm
Kismis 20 gm
Khoya 250 gm
Lavang 10 pieces
Elaichi 10 pieces
Saffron 1/4 teaspoon
Kewra 400 gm
Sugar 100 gm
Ghee 100 gm
Water 7 glasses
Method
Step 1:Soak the rice, badam and kaju. Put the saffron in the 7 glasses of water and boil. Put the soaked rice in the boiling water and also some lavang and elaichi pieces. When the rice is done sieve it to drain excess water. Step 2:In a heavy bottomed pan put some ghee and add some more elaichi and lavang and fry for 2 minutes. In a pressure cooker put half of the cooked rice and then half of the sugar and then the remaining rice. Step 3:Cook over a low flame. Add the remaining ghee to the rice, occasionally stirring it. Cook for 25 minutes. Step 4:Now add all the dry fruits and the mixture should be well steamed. Add 3 teaspoons of kewra and cover the vessel. Step 5:After the water has dried up add the khoya and cook for 15 minutes and take the vessel off the fire and put a silver foil over it. Totally it would take around 45 minutes to 1 hour for this preparation.
Have ever wanted to build a kite? Well, here is a simple kite you can make your self!
A kite consists of these basic parts:
The Spine.The up-and-down, or vertical stick that you build your kite around.
The Spar.The support stick(s), that are placed crossways or at a slant over the spine. Sometimes they are curved or bowed.
The Frame.The joined spine and spars, usually with a string connecting their ends, that form the shape of the kite and make a support for the cover.
The Cover.The paper, plastic, or cloth, that cover the frame to make a kite.
The Bridle.One or more strings attached to the spine or spars, which help control the kite in the air.
The Flying Line.The string running from the kites’ bridle, where you hold to fly the kite.
The Tail.A long strip of paper or plastic of ribbon that helps to balance the kite in flight. Not all kites need tails.
The Reel.The object you use to wind your flying line, to keep it form getting tangled or flying away.
DIAMOND KITE Materials:
butcher cord or thin garden twine
scotch tape or glue
1 sheet of strong paper (102cm x 102cm)
2 strong, straight wooden sticks of bamboo or wooden doweling 90cm and 102cm
markers, paint or crayons to decorate you kite.
1. Make a cross with the two sticks, with the shorter stick placed horizontally across the longer stick. Make sure that both sides of the cross piece is equal in width.
2. Tie the two sticks together with the string in such a way as to make sure that they are at right angles to each other. A good way to ensure that the joint is strong to put a dab of glue to stick it in place.
3. Cut a notch at each end of both sticks. Make it deep enough for the type of string you are using to fit in to. Cut a piece of string long enough to stretch all around the kite frame. Make a loop in the top notch and fasten it by wrapping the string around the stick. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the cross-piece, and make another loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at the other end of the cross-piece. Finish by wrapping the string a few times around the top of the stick and cutting off what you don't need. This string frame must be taut, but not so tight as to warp the sticks.
4. Lay the sail material flat and place the stick frame face down on top. Cut around it, leaving about 2-3cm for a margin. Fold these edges over the string frame and tape or glue it down so that the material is tight.
5. Cut a piece of string about 122 cm long. and tie one end to the loop at the other end of the string to the loop at the bottom. Tie another small loop in the string just above the intersection of the two cross pieces. This will be the kite's bridle, the string to which the flying line is attached.
6. Make a tail by tying a small ribbon roughly every 10cm along the length of string. Attach the tail to the loop at the bottom of the kite.
7. Decorate!
Tips:
A properly located pivot point is generally located slightly ahead of the centre of gravity.
Cutawayfrom you!
Spray can glue is really good for patching up paper kites.
Stability is improved by the use of an effective bow and a flexible tail.
Hold your kite up by the string when you are finished to see if it is balanced. You can balance it by putting more paper on one side.
Kites are different each time you make one, so slight adjustments might need to be made for each kite.
India is a nation where humanity has lived since ages. It is a country which is blessed with different religions, societies, cultures and languages, all interplaying with each other in harmony.
The month of January creates an aura of patriotism as Republic Day of India falls in this month. It was on 26th January, 1950 that Republic of India was formed and the Constitution of India came into force. Over these years India has come a long way in overcoming various obstacles and hurdles to rejoice in the moments of triumph, glory and the pride of being an independent nation. Republic Day reminds us of the fulfillment of the pledge that was made on the midnight of Independence as a "tryst with destiny".
This day also marks the recognition that we Indians thrive in a sovereign, secular, and democratic land that stands for the principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, the golden words that form the essence of our Preamble
Jubilation
Republic Day is celebrated with much enthusiasm throughout the country. The patriotic fervour of every Indian on this day brings the whole country united. Republic Day is celebrated all over the country at all the administrative units like the capital cities, district headquarters, sub divisions, talukas, and panchayats with the same enthuse and vibe.
To honour the occasion, a grand celebration is held at New Delhi, the national capital. The celebrations begin with spectacular presentation projecting India's military prowess. The President of India - External website that opens in a new window unfurls the National Flag, followed by the National Anthem. The different regiments of Army, Navy and Air Force march in-synchrony from Rashtrapati Bhavan, along the Rajpath and reach the India Gate saluting the President of India, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces.
This is followed by a massive parade by other military troops including State Regiments and Paramilitary Forces of India. A spectacular presentation from different parts of the country representing different folk dances, festivals, historical locations is displayed next. Children from various schools present folk dances from different States in picturesque costumes marking the cultural unity of India. Cultural events and traditional folk dances create an ambience of merriment and enthusiasm. Soldiers who have performed exceptionally are awarded the bravery medals, Param Veer Chakra, Veer Chakra and Maha Veer Chakra. National Bravery Awards are given to children who have performed outstanding deeds of bravery and selfless sacrifice. A streak of jet planes of Indian Air Force; leave a trial of coloured smoke, showering rose petals on the spectators marking the end of the grand day.
Salute to the Legends
January 30th is marked as Martyrs Day, to honour and pay homage to those martyrs who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom, welfare and progress of our beloved country. It was on January 30, 1948 when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, since then every year the Nation pays homage to the Mahatma and other martyrs on this day.
The President, the Vice President - External website that opens in a new window, the Prime Minister - External website that opens in a new window, the Defence Minister, and the three service Chiefs' gather at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and lay wreaths on the Samadhi decorated with multi-colour flowers. The inter-services contingent reverses arms as a mark of respect to the martyrs. A religious prayer ceremony is held and Gandhiji's much-loved bhajans are sung.
Celebrate with the National Portal of India
Be a part of the Republic Day celebrations 2010 with the National Portal of India and view the Republic Day Parade Glimpses - External website that opens in a new window and Address to the Nation by the President - External website that opens in a new window, all through our My India My Pride section. Also check out the list of various Gallantry Awards like Paramvir Chakra, Ashok Chakra and Vir Chakra. Greet your friends and relatives with exclusive Republic Day greeting cards - External website that opens in a new window from the National Portal's e-Greetings section.
The Spirit of Republic Day
The real spirit behind such a grand celebration is not only to celebrate India's secularism and democracy but also to make every Indian feel proud of our rich culture, languages, dialects, traditions, customs and religions that makes India a marvellous multi-cultural country. Let's all come together and feel proud, identify ourselves as true Indians, and not to a particular religion or caste. Let's take a pledge deep inside our hearts to promote one feeling, one religion and one thought: of Being a true Indian.
"A flag is a necessity for all nations. Millions have died for it. It is no doubt a kind of idolatry which would be a sin to destroy. For, a flag represents an Ideal The unfurling of the Union Jack evokes in the English breast sentiments whose strength it is difficult to measure. The Stars and Stripes mean a world to the Americans. The Star and the Crescent will call forth the best bravery in Islam."
"It will be necessary for us Indians Muslims, Christians Jews, Parsis, and all others to whom India is their home-to recognize a common flag to live and to die for." - Mahatma Gandhi
Every free nation of the world has its own flag. It is a symbol of a free country. The National Flag of India was designed by Pingali Venkayyaand and adopted in its present form during the meeting of Constituent Assembly held on the 22 July 1947, a few days before India's independence from the British on 15 August, 1947. It served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950 and that of the Republic of India thereafter. In India, the term "tricolour" refers to the Indian national flag.
The National flag of India is a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesari) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel which represents the chakra. Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes.
Evolution of the Tricolour
It is really amazing to see the various changes that our National Flag went through since its first inception. It was discovered or recognised during our national struggle for freedom. The evolution of the Indian National Flag sailed through many vicissitudes to arrive at what it is today. In one way it reflects the political developments in the nation. Some of the historical milestones in the evolution of our National Flag involve the following:
Unofficial flag of India
in 1906
The Berlin committee
flag, first raised by
Bhikaiji Cama in 1907
The flag used during the
Home Rule movement
in 1917
The flag unofficially
adopted in 1921
The flag adopted in 1931.
This flag was also the
battle ensign of the
Indian National Army
The present Tricolour
flag of India
Thefirst national flagin India is said to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906, in the Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park) in Calcutta now Kolkata. The flag was composed of three horizontal strips of red, yellow and green.
Thesecond flagwas hoisted in Paris by Madame Cama and her band of exiled revolutionaries in 1907 (according to some inl9OS). This was very similar to the first flag except that the top strip had only one lotus but seven stars denoting the Saptarishi. This flag was also exhibited at a socialist conference in Berlin.
Thethird flagwent up in 1917 when our political struggle had taken a definite turn. Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak hoisted it during the Home rule movement. This flag had five red and four green horizontal strips arranged alternately, with seven stars in the saptarishi configuration super-imposed on them. In the left-hand top corner (the pole end) was the Union Jack. There was also a white crescent and star in one corner.
During the session of the All India Congress Committee which met at Bezwada in 1921 (now Vijayawada) an Andhra youth prepared a flag and took it to Gandhiji. It was made up of two colours-red and green-representing the two major communities i.e. Hindus and Muslims. Gandhiji suggested the addition of a white strip to represent the remaining communities of India and the spinning wheel to symbolise progress of the Nation.
The year 1931 was a landmark in the history of the flag. A resolution was passed adopting a tricolor flag as our national flag. This flag, the forbear of the present one, was saffron, white and green with Mahatma Gandhi's spinning wheel at the center. It was, however, clearly stated that it bore no communal significance and was to be interpreted thus.
On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly adopted it as Free India National Flag. After the advent of Independence, the colours and their significance remained the same. Only the Dharma Charkha of Emperor Asoka was adopted in place of the spinning wheel as the emblem on the flag. Thus, the tricolour flag of the Congress Party eventually became the tricolour flag of Independent India.
Colours of the Flag:
In the national flag of India the top band is of Saffron colour, indicating the strength and courage of the country. The white middle band indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last band is green in colour shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.
The Chakra:
This Dharma Chakra depicted the "wheel of the law" in the Sarnath Lion Capital made by the 3rd-century BC Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.
Flag Code
On 26th January 2002, the Indian flag code was modified and after several years of independence, the citizens of India were finally allowed to hoist the Indian flag over their homes, offices and factories on any day and not just National days as was the case earlier. Now Indians can proudly display the national flag any where and any time, as long as the provisions of the Flag Code are strictly followed to avoid any disrespect to the tricolour. For the sake of convenience, Flag Code of India, 2002, has been divided into three parts. Part I of the Code contains general description of the National Flag. Part II of the Code is devoted to the display of the National Flag by members of public, private organizations, educational institutions, etc. Part III of the Code relates to display of the National Flag by Central and State governments and their organisations and agencies.
There are some rules and regulations upon how to fly the flag, based on the 26 January 2002 legislation. These include the following:
The Do's:
The National Flag may be hoisted in educational institutions (schools, colleges, sports camps, scout camps, etc.) to inspire respect for the Flag. An oath of allegiance has been included in the flag hoisting in schools.
A member of public, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist/display the National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise consistent with the dignity and honour of the National Flag.
Section 2 of the new code accepts the right of all private citizens to fly the flag on their premises.
The Don'ts
The flag cannot be used for communal gains, drapery, or clothes. As far as possible, it should be flown from sunrise to sunset, irrespective of the weather.
The flag cannot be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water. It cannot be draped over the hood, top, and sides or back of vehicles, trains, boats or aircraft.
No other flag or bunting can be placed higher than the flag. Also, no object, including flowers or garlands or emblems can be placed on or above the flag. The tricolour cannot be used as a festoon, rosette or bunting.
The Indian National Flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of India. It is the symbol of our national pride. Over the last five decades, several people including members of armed forces have ungrudgingly laid down their lives to keep the tricolour flying in its full glory.
58 years back, a salute of 21 guns and the unfurling of the Indian National flag by Dr. Rajendra Prasad heralded the historic birth of the Indian Republic on January 26, 1950; 894 days after our country became a dominion following withdrawal of British Rule. Since then, every year the day is celebrated with great pride and happiness all over the nation.
The transition of India from a British colony to a sovereign, secular, and democratic nation was indeed historical. It was a long journey of around two decades that started with the conceptualisation of the dream in 1930 to its actual realization in 1950. A look into the journey that led to the birth of Indian Republic will make our celebrations more meaningful.
Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress
The seeds of a republican nation were sowed at the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress at the midnight of 31st December 1929. The session was held under the presidency of Pt. Jawarhar Lal Nehru. Those present in the meeting took a pledge to mark January 26 as "Independence Day" in order to march towards realizing the dream of complete independence from the British. The Lahore Session paved way to the Civil Disobedience movement. It was decided that January 26, 1930 would be observed as the Purna Swaraj (complete Independence) Day. Many Indian political parties and Indian revolutionaries from all over the country united to observe the day with honour and pride.
Indian Constituent Assembly Meetings
The Indian Constituent Assembly, which was constituted as a result of the negotiations between the Indian leaders and members of the British Cabinet Mission, had its first meeting on December 9, 1946. The Objective of the Assembly was to give India a constitution, which would serve a lasting purpose and hence appointed a number of committees to thoroughly research the various aspects of the proposed constitution. The recommendations were discussed, debated and revised many times before the Indian Constitution was finalized and officially adopted three years later on November 26, 1949.
Constitution came into force
Though India became a free nation on August 15, 1947, it enjoyed the true spirit of Independence on January 26, 1950 when the Constitution of India finally came into force. The Constitution gave the citizens of India the power to govern themselves by choosing their own government. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, took oath as the first President of India at the Durbar Hall in the Government House and this was followed by the Presidential drive along a five-mile route to the Irwin Stadium, where he unfurled the National Flag.
Ever since the historic day, January 26 is celebrated with festivities and patriotic fervor all around the country. The day owes its importance to the constitution of India that was adopted on this day. On this Republic Day, read what the greatConstitution of India, that propounds liberal democracy, has in its store. Let's also feel proud in pronouncing what thePreamble to our Constitution(External website that opens in a new window)says.
Did you know?
With 395 Articles and eight Schedules, the Indian Constitution is the largest written constitution in the world.
Quotes
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of Independent India, in his special message to his countrymen, on the birth of the Indian Republic, said:
"We must re-dedicate ourselves on this day to the peaceful but sure realization of the dream that had inspired the Father of our Nation and the other captains and soldiers of our freedom struggle, the dream of establishing a classless, co-operative, free and happy society in 'his country'. We must remember that this is more a day of dedications than of rejoicing - dedication to the glorious task of making the peasants and workers the toilers and the thinkers fully free, happy and cultured."
C. Rajagopalachari, His Excellency the Governor-General in a broadcast talk from the Delhi Station of All-India Radio on Jan 26, 1950 said:
"On the eve of my laying down office, with the inauguration of the Republic, I should like to tender my greetings and best wishes to the men and women of India who will henceforth be a citizen of a republic. I feel deeply thankful for the affection showered on me by all sections of the people, which alone enabled me to hear the burden of an office to the duties and conventions of which I had been an utter stranger."
Each year, 26th January is a day on which every Indian heart fills up with patriotic fervour and immense love for motherland. There are many significant memories as it was this day when the Indian Tricolour was first unfurled in January 1930 at Lahore, by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and the declaration of an independent Indian National Congress was made.
26th January, 1950 was the day when the Indian republic and its constitution came into force. It was this day in history in 1965 when Hindi was declared as the official language of India.
Celebrations Galore
Republic Day is celebrated every year with much enthusiasm all over the country and to mark the importance of this occasion, a grand parade is held in the capital, New Delhi, from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's House), along the Rajpath, past India Gate and on to the historic Red Fort.
The event begins with the Prime Minister of India laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, commemorating all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. Soon, a 21 gun salute is presented, the President unfurls the National Flag and the National Anthem is played. This marks the beginning of the parade.
The President is accompanied by a notable foreign Head of State - who is the invited Chief Guest at the celebration.
The Parade begins with winners of gallantry awards passing the President in open jeeps. President of India, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, takes the salute at the grand parade. The Indian Military also showcases its latest acquisitions such as tanks, missiles, radars, etc.
Soon after, awards and medals of bravery are given by the President to the people from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in the field and also to those civilians who have distinguished themselves by their different acts of valour in different situations.
After this, helicopters from the armed forces fly past the parade area showering rose petals on the audience.
The military parade is followed by a colourful cultural parade. India's rich cultural heritage is depicted in the form of tableaus from various states. Each state depicts its unique festivals, historical locations and art. This exhibition of diversity and richness of the culture of India lends a festive air to the occasion.
Tableaus from various government department and ministries of India are also presented displaying their contribution towards the progress of the nation. The most cheered section of the parade is when the children who have won National Bravery Awards ride past the dais on elephants. School-children from all over the country also participate in the parade showcasing folk dances and singing to the tunes of patriotic songs.
The parade also includes displays of skilful motor-cycle rides, by the Armed Forces personnel. The most eagerly awaited part of the parade is the fly past, put on by the Indian Air Force. The fly past marks the conclusion of the parade, when fighter planes of the IAF roar past the dais, symbolically saluting the President.
Celebrations, though on a relatively smaller scale, are also held in all state capitals, where the Governor of the state unfurls the Tricolour. Similar celebrations are also held at district headquarters, sub divisions, talukas, and panchayats.
PM Rally
The Republic Day celebration is a three day extravaganza and post this celebration at India Gate, on the 27th January, a Prime Minister's Rally is held by a crème of N.C.C cadets displaying various breath-taking performances and drill.
Lok Tarang
The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in association with seven Zonal Cultural Centres organises "Lok Tarang, - National Folk Dance Festival" every year from 24th to 29th January. This festival provides a unique opportunity for people to witness colourful, vibrant and authentic folk dances drawn from various parts of the country.
Beating the Retreat
Beating The Retreat officially denotes the end of Republic Day festivities. All important Government Buildings are beautifully decorated with lights every evening from 26th to 29th. Beating the Retreat ceremony is conducted on the evening of January 29, the third day after the Republic Day. The ceremony starts by the massed bands of the three services marching in unison, playing popular marching tunes.
The drummers also give a solo performance (known as the Drummer's Call). Followed by this the drummers play Abide With Me (which is also said to be GandhiJi's favourite) and the chimes made by the tubular bells, placed quite at a distance, create a mesmerising ambience.
This is followed by the bugle call for Retreat, the band master then marches to the President and requests permission to take the bands away, and informs that the closing ceremony is now complete. The bands march back playing a popular martial tune Saare Jahan Se Achcha.
At exactly 6 pm, the buglers sound the retreat and the National Flag is lowered, and the National Anthem is sung, bringing the Republic Day celebrations to a formal end.
Devotees of Lord Shiva use the wonderful opportunity of Mahashivratri Festival to send good wishes to near and dear ones in the form of Shivratri Gifts. In case you too are looking for ideas to send Shivratri Gifts to any of your friend or relative who is devoted to Shankar Bhagwan here are some special Shivaratri Gift Ideas just for you !
Lord Shiva Sculptures and Idols
Since Shivaratri Festival is celebrated in honor of God Shiva, most wonderful Shivratri gift idea would be Shiva sculptures and idols. One may go in for Shiva statues in terracotta, plaster-of-Paris, brass or silver depending on choice and budget. Lord Shiva and Parvati paintings and wall hangings are also considered to be auspicious Shivaratri Gift.
Shiva Books, Cassettes and CDs
A unique and special Shivaratri Gift idea would be books on Lord Shiva. One can also gift meditation and spiritual books on the holy occasion. For the ones fond of music, ideal Shivaratri gift would be cassettes and CDs featuring Shiva chants, Shiva bhajans, Shiva prayers and songs.
Puja Accessories
On the sacred of occasion of Shivratri one may also gift Puja accessories like brass diya, diya stands, candle holders, rehal and rudraksha mala. One can also gift Puja thalis that come attached with necessary puja item. Incense stick, aromatic candles and dhoop sticks are also appreciated as Mahashivaratri Gift.
Fresh Flowers
Fresh Flowers are appreciated as gifts for any occasion or even none. You may gift bouquet of recipient’s favorite flowers or go in for garlands to adorn the statue of Shiv Shankar.
Sweets / Mithai's
Sweets or Mithais are an all time favorite gift in India. As many people observe Shivaratri fast, sweets like kaju katli, barfi and peda are more appreciated than others. Homemade sweets and deserts can also be gifted to close friends and relatives to exchange Shivratri Greetings.
Dry Fruits
Dry fruit is another very popular gift in India for any occasion or reason. These days one may browse through a huge collection of decorative dry fruit boxes on gift shopping sites and send gifts at the click of the mouse and convenience of home.
Maha Shivaratri is celebrated throughout the country; it is particularly popular in Uttar Pradesh. Maha Shivratri falls on the I3th (or I4th) day of the dark half of 'Phalgun' (February-March). The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva and it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati.
On this festival people worship 'Shiva - the Destroyer'. This night marks the night when Lord Shiva danced the 'Tandav'. In Andhra Pradesh, pilgrims throng the Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple at Kalahasti and the Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple at Srisailam.
About The Lord
Shiva - the word meaning auspicious - is one of the Hindu Trinity, comprising of Lord Brahma, the creator, Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva or Mahesh, the Destroyer and Re-Producer of life. Shiva is known by many names like "Shankar", "Mahesh", "Bholenath", "Neelakanth", "Shambhu Kailasheshwar", "Umanath", "Nataraj" and others.
For few people, Shiva is "Paramatman", "Brahman", the Absolute, but many more prefer to see Shiva as a personal God given to compassion for his worshippers, and the dispenser of both spiritual and material blessings. Related to the Absolute concept is Shiva as "Yoganath" meaning the Lord of Yoga, wherein he becomes teacher, path and goal. As such he is the "Adi Guru" or the Highest Guru of 'Sannyasins' who have renounced the world to attain the Absolute.
He is the most sought-after deity amongst the Hindus and they pray to him as the god of immense large-heartedness who they believe grants all their wishes. Around him are weaved many interesting stories that reveal His magnanimous heart. Not only this, but these stories and legends also enrich the Indian culture and art.
Time is invisible and formless. Therefore Mahakal Shiva, as per the Vedas, manifested himself as "LINGUM" to make mankind aware of the presence of Eternal Time. That day when Shiva manifested himself in the form of "Lingum" was the fourth day of the dark night in the month of 'Magha' i.e. February-March. Maha Shivratri continues to be celebrated forever and ever.
The Story Of King Chitrabhanu
In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma, whilst resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma, refers to the observance of Maha Shivaratri by King Chitrabhanu. The story goes as follows - Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa, was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king.
The sag asked the king the purpose of his observing the past. King Chitrabhanu explained that he had the gift of remembering the incidents of his previous birth.
The king said to the sage that in his previous he was a hunter in Varanasi and his name was Suswara. His only livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. One day while roaming through forests in search of animals he was overtaken by the darkness of night. Unable to return home, he climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a Bael tree. He had shot a deer that day but had no time to take it home. So he bundled it up and tied it to a branch on the tree. As hunger and thirst tormented him, he was kept awake throughout the night. He shed profuse tears when he thought of his poor wife and children who were starving and anxiously waiting for his return. To pass away the time that night he engaged himself in plucking the Bael leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.
The nest day he returned home and sold the deer and then bought some food for himself and his family. The moment he was about to break his fast a stranger came to him, begging for food. He served the food first to stranger and then had his own.
At the time of his death, he saw two messengers of Lord Shiva. They were sent down to conduct his soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. He learnt then for the first time of the great merit he had earned by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri. The messengers told him that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree. The leaves I dropped fell on the Lingam. His tears, which had shed out of pure sorrow for his family, fell onto the Lingam and washed it and he had fasted all day and all night. Thus, he unconsciously worshiped the Lord.
As the conclusion of the tale the King said that he lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long ages and now he has reborn as Chitrabhanu.
The Festivity
People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not even take a drop of water and they keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting of the Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" continues. Offerings of Bael leaves are made to the Lingam as Bael leaves are considered very sacred and it is said that Goddess Lakshmi resides in them.
Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the "Shiva Mahimna Stotra" of Pushpadanta or Ravana's "Shiva Tandava Stotra" are sung with great fervour and devotion. People repeat the 'Panchakshara' Mantra, "Om Namah Shivaya". He, who utters the names of Shiva during Shivratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims dock to the places where there are Shiva temples.
The auspicious festival of Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor all over India and even beyond. Though fasting and worship of Shiva Linga with a ritual bath remain the common feature of Shivaratri celebrations at all places, minor variations due to regional difference can be observed in some states.
Please read on to know more about regional celebrations of Shivratri. You will be surprised to know, about the various interesting traditions and customs of Shivratri Festival and the zeal with which devotee of Lord Shiva follow them.
Andhra Pradesh
Festival of Shivaratri is observed with extreme enthusiasm in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Devotees throng the various important Shiva temples in the state mainly Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple at Kalahasti and the Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple at Srisailam. Devotees also observe fast and chant mantras in honor of Lord Shiva to mark the auspicious festival.
Assam
In the North-Eastern state of Assam, the hub of Shivratri celebrations is at the Umananda Temple, situated on the Peacock Island in the middle of Brahamaputra river in Guwahati, the capital of Assam. Thousands of Shiva devotees from all over the country pay a visit to the temple on the occasion of Shivaratri. Sibsagar, the capital of the erstwhile Ahom kings, is the other major centre of Mahashivaratri celebrations in Assam.
Himachal Pradesh
The Temple of Bhutnath at Mandi in Himachal Pradesh is said to host the biggest Shivaratri Puja in the country. Every year on Shivratri Festival, the Governor of the state leads a Shobha Yatra at a function inaugurated by the Chief Minister. The royal family of Mandi started the tradition some 500 years ago. An eight-day-long fair is also organized which witness the participation of artists from India and even beyond.
Jammu and Kashmir
Hindus of Kashmir observe Shivaratri with utmost zeal and devotion. Here, Shivratri is celebrated for three weeks or 21 days, beginning on the first day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (locally known as hur ukdoh) and end on the 8th day of the bright half of Phalguna. Kashmiri Brahmins perform Shivaratri puja on the 13th day of the dark half of Phalguna Krishna Paksha to mark Lord Shiva's wedding with Uma, the beautiful daughter of the Himalayas. In keeping with their hospitable nature, Kashimiri Brahmins offer even non-vegetarian food in puja to entertain Bhairavas who are said to form the major part of Shiva's baaraat.
Shivratri puja in Jammu and Kashmir is performed in a very distinctive way. Two pots (called kalash), depicting Shiva and Parvati are filled with walnuts soaked in water. These walnuts are taken out only on the third day which usually falls on the no moon day or amavasya. On the third day this walnut which is wet is distributed to all friends and neighbours as prasad. On the chaturdashi (14th day after full moon) there is the real feasting when the families invite each other for dinners.
In Kashmir, Shivaratri is also called Hayrath, which is the corrupt form of ‘hairat’, a Persian word meaning 'utter surprise'. The term was coined during the Pathan occupation of the valley. Besides, Shivaratri puja is better known as Vatuk Puja in Kashimir where Vatuk means, collection or an assemblage of different objects. The name has been given because the main puja on Shivaratri day involves collection of a large number of articles. The name could also be traced to the term Vatuk Dev, Lord Shiva's celibate form. People in Kashmir also worship Vatuk Bhairav, said to be Shiva's most trusted dwarpal (gatekeeper). This is done in a bid to seek his favor for an audience with the Lord. On Hayrath day the children are given money as a gift called "herat kharch". Interestingly it is not only children who receive gifts, for even husbands give gifts to their wife and the elder brother gives to younger brother. On the next day there is also a tradition to play the game of "harr" which is played with the help of sea shells.
Karnataka
Festival of Maha Shivaratri is observed with pomp and enthusiasm in the southern state of Karnataka. A grand Sri Shidlingappa's fair is observed to mark the auspicious occasion. Deity is taken to the river in a palanquin accompanied by drummers (Dollu and Majalu) from several neighboring and is then worshipped. Linagayats, people of the Shiva cult, worship Linga on Shivaratri. Following a tradition, married women wear a linga made of silver or gold on their body. In southern Karnataka, children make believe that they are kings and dole out punishments to all and sundry. This particular tradition is based on the mythological legend related with Shivaratri that narrates the story of Shiva punishing Brahma for lying about measuring the length of Linga.
Madhya Pradesh
Shivaratri is celebrated with religious fervor in the state of Madhya Pradesh. As a tradition, people in Madhya Pradesh take a holy dip in Sagar tank in Khajuraho. The place houses a beautiful Shiva temple.
Bundelkhand Region, which has a stronghold of Shaivites hosts the biggest Shivaratri celebrations in the state. A large number of Lord Shiva devotees flock the Matangeshwar Temple and worship throughout the night. Highpoint of the Shivaratri celebrations at the Matangeshwar Temple is the 10-day-long fair that witness the participation of traders, peddlers and gypsies from other parts of the state. Display of traditional fare and a variety of handicrafts besides the rural circus show, magic shows, folk theatre, and merry-go-rounds add to the excitement.
Orissa
Festival of Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm in the state of Orissa. Major centres of Shivaratri celebrations in the state are Lingaraj Temple and Hakateswar Temple Atri. Shiva temples located at Mahendragiri, Gupteswar, Kapilas, Bhubaneswar and Khiching also draw a large of pilgrims from across the state.
Shivaratri celebration at Lokanath Temple, Puri is also quite popular. According to a legend popular in Orissa, long ago, Puri was a center of Shiva worship. The story goes, Lord Ramachandra himself installed the Lingam in the Lokanath Temple. This lingam is kept submerged, in a vat of water. It can only be seen on Pankodhar Ekadasi, before Shivaratri, when the water is removed from the vat. On that day, thousands of devotees come for a darshan.
West Bengal
In the state of West Bengal the festival of Maha Shivaratri is performed with great devotion and enthusiasm. On a Shivaratri day, devotees in West Bengal fast through out the day. Following the tradition, they also make four Shivlings made of clay of the holy river Ganga. These Shivlings are later offered in puja in four "prahars" (a meassure of time equal to 3 hours) of the night. In the first prahar one of the shivalings is bathed in milk. In the second period it is bathed with curd, in the third with ghee and in the fourth with honey. The devotees also stay awake the all - through the Shivaratri night. The following morning, they pray, listen to religious discourses, feed the Brahmins, offer them dakshina (alms) and finally break their fast with prasad.
At some places in West Bengal, Mahashivratri celebrations are confined to the Shiva temples. Women visit the temple carrying a copper vessel containing milk and water. They also carry with them leaves of woodapple tree, a wood apple, fruits and flowers and a lamp. As a tradition followed in many places, devotees bathe Shiva Linga with water mixed with milk. Puja is performed and fruits and flowers are offered. After Puja they return home to break their fast with fruits.
At the temple of Tarakeshwar, 57 km from Kolkata, bare-footed pilgrims carry containers filled with the sacred water of river Ganga to pour over the stone image of the Lord and decorate the granite Lingum with garlands and flowers, as a mark of their devotion.
Shivaratri Celebrations around the World
Shivaratri is celebrated by Hindus located anywhere in the world. However, celebrations are marked in countries where there is a significant Hindu population.
Mauritius
In Mauritius, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated in a big way for over three days. A large number of island's Hindu population makes a pilgrimage to the holy volcanic lake, Grand Bassin and make food sacrifices and stockpile vessels of the holy water.
Nepal
Shivaratri is a much-anticipated festival in the Hindu kingdom of Nepal. Thousands of pilgrims and holy men from all over Southeast Asia flock Nepal weeks before the festival to worship at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. This Lord Shiva temple is considered as one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus. To mark the festival of Mahashivaratri, devotees fast through out the day. They also take a holy bath or dip in the river on a Shivaratri morning and visit the temple to worship.
Shiva Linga is the holy symbol of Lord Shiva that is considered sacred by the devotees of Lord Shiva. The word, ‘Lingum’ in Sanskrit means, ‘symbol’. Shiva Lingum, therefore means symbol of Lord Shiva and is therefore considered most sacred by Shaivaites. Siva Linga has been worshipped in Hinduism since ages. Worship of Shiva Linga is regarded sacred and superior Shiva Mahapurana. This is because the form makes worship simple while maintaining the truth that God does not have any definite form.
Structure of Shiva Linga
Most prevalent icon of Shiva and virtually found in all Shiva temples, Shiva Linga is a rounded, elliptical, an-iconic image that is usually set on a circular base or peetham. According to some scholars the Peetham represents Parashakti, the manifesting power of God.
Shiva Lingas are usually made of stone that may either be carved or naturally existing - svayambhu, such as shaped by a swift-flowing river. Shiva Lingas may also be made of metal, precious gems, crystal, wood, earth or transitory materials such as ice. Some scholars say that transitory Shiva Linga may be made of 12 different materials such as sand, rice, cooked food, river clay, cow dung, butter, rudraksha seeds, ashes, sandalwood, darbha grass, a flower garland or molasses.
Various Interpretation of Shiva Linga
Besides regarding Shiva Linga as the symbol and form of Lord Shiva, religious scholars have given various interpretations of Shiva Linga. Here is the brief description of some of the popular theories and interpretations related to Shiva Linga and its origin:
Worship of the Phallus
According to some scholars, worship of Shiva Linga in effect means worship of the reproduction function. For, they say that the other meaning of the Sanskrit word ‘Linga’ is gender in general and phallus (the male reproductive organ) in particular. They believe that the base of the Lingam corresponds to the Yoni which mean vagina or the female reproductive organ. Correspondence of Linga and Yoni in a Shiva Linga is therefore interpreted as the representation of the process of copulation. Scholars further opine that the Kalash (container of water) that is suspended over the Shiva Linga from which water drips over the Linga also correspond to the idea of intercourse.
Connecting the origin of Shiva Linga to the early Indus Valley civilization, scholars opine that tribes of the Indus Valley took to the togetherness of Lingam and Yoni in a Shiva Linga as the point of energy, creation and enlightenment.
Interpretation in Tantra
According to Tantra, Lingam is a symbol of Shiva's phallus in spiritual form. They say, the lingam contains the soul-seed within which lies the essence of the entire cosmos. The lingam arises out of the base (Yoni) which represents Parvati according to some or Vishnu, Brahma in female and neuter form according to others.
Interpretation in Puranas
Puranas, especially the Vamana Purana, Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Matsya Purana and Visva-Sara-Prakasha attribute the origin of Shiva Linga to the curse of sages leading to the separation of and installation of the phallus of Lord Shiva on earth. Some also refer to the endlessness of the lingam to be linked to the egos of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.
Interpretation of Shiva Linga as an Abstract Symbol of God
Some scholars of the Hindu scriptures say that Linga is merely an abstract symbol of the God. They point towards several legends in Hinduism where a sundry rock or even a pile of sand has been used by as a Lingam or the symbol of Shiva. Citing a particular instance they say, Arjuna once fashioned a linga of clay when worshipping Shiva. Scholars of Puranas, thus argue that too much should not be made of the usual shape of the Lingam. Scholars say that the interpretation of Shiva Linga as an abstract form of God is also consonant with philosophies that hold that God may be conceptualized and worshipped in any convenient form. The form itself is irrelevant, as the divine power that it represents is all that matters. Scholars thus say that Sivalinga represent the formless Nirguna Brahman or the formless Supreme Being.
Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. The festivals finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.
It is said that Holi existed several centuries before Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped.
Calculating the Day of Holi
There are two ways of reckoning a lunar month- 'purnimanta' and 'amanta'. In the former, the first day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. Though the amanta reckoning is more common now, the purnimanta was very much in vogue in the earlier days.
According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-ritu (with spring starting from next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season. This perhaps explains the other names of this festival - Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.
Reference in Ancient Texts and Inscriptions
Besides having a detailed description in the Vedas and Puranas such as Narad Purana and Bhavishya Purana, the festival of Holi finds a mention in Jaimini Mimansa. A stone incription belonging to 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya has mention of Holikotsav on it. King Harsha, too has mentioned about holikotsav in his work Ratnavali that was written during the 7th century.
The famous Muslim tourist - Ulbaruni too has mentioned about holikotsav in his historical memories. Other Muslim writers of that period have mentioned, that holikotsav were not only celebrated by the Hindus but also by the Muslims.
Reference in Ancient Paintings and Murals The festival of Holi also finds a reference in the sculptures on walls of old temples. A 16th century panel sculpted in a temple at Hampi, capital of Vijayanagar, shows a joyous scene of Holi. The painting depicts a Prince and his Princess standing amidst maids waiting with syringes or pichkaris to drench the Royal couple in coloured water.
A 16th century Ahmednagar painting is on the theme of Vasanta Ragini - spring song or music. It shows a royal couple sitting on a grand swing, while maidens are playing music and spraying colors with pichkaris.
There are a lot of other paintings and murals in the temples of medieval India which provide a pictoral description of Holi. For instance, a Mewar painting (circa 1755) shows the Maharana with his courtiers. While the ruler is bestowing gifts on some people, a merry dance is on, and in the center is a tank filled with colored water. Also, a Bundi miniature shows a king seated on a tusker and from a balcony above some damsels are showering gulal (colored powders) on him.
Legendsand Mythology
In some parts of India, specially in Bengal and Orissa, Holi Purnima is also celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (A.D. 1486-1533). However, the literal meaning of the word 'Holi' is 'burning'. There are various legends to explain the meaning of this word, most prominent of all is the legend associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap.
Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahladbecame an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana. Hiaranyakashyap commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon whereby she could enter fire without any damage on herself. However, she was not aware that the boon worked only when she enters the fire alone. As a result she paid a price for her sinister desires, while Prahlad was saved by the grace of the god for his extreme devotion. The festival, therefore, celebrates the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion.
Legend of Lord Krishna is also associated with play with colors as the Lord started the tradition of play with colours by applying colour on his beloved Radha and other gopis. Gradually, the play gained popularity with the people and became a tradition.
There are also a few other legends associated with the festival - like the legend of Shiva and Kaamadeva and those of Ogress Dhundhi and Pootana. All depict triumph of good over evil - lending a philosophy to the festival.
Rituals of the ancient festival of Holi are religiously followed every year with care and enthusiasm.
Preparations
Days before the festival people start gathering wood for the lighting of the bonfire called Holika at the major crossroads of the city. This ensures that at the time of the actual celebration a huge pile of wood is collected.
Holika Dahan Celebrations
Then on the eve of Holi, Holika Dahan takes place. Effigy of Holika, the devil minded sister of demon King Hiranyakashyap is placed in the wood and burnt. For, Holika tried to kill Hiranyakashyap's son Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana. The ritual symbolises the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of a true devotee.
Children also hurl abuses at Holika and pray pranks, as if they still try to chase away Dhundhi who once troubled little ones in the Kingdom of Prithu. Some people also take embers from the fire to their homes to rekindle their own domestic fires.
Play of Colors
Next day, is of course the main day of Holi celebrations. The day is called Dhuleti
and it is on this day that the actual play of colours take place. There is no tradition of holding puja and is meant for pure enjoyment.
The tradition of playing colours is particularly rampant in north India and even in that region, there can be no comparison to the Holi of Mathura and Vrindavan. In Maharashtra and Gujarat too Holi is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and fun.
People take extreme delight in spraying colour water on each other with pichkaris or pouring buckets and buckets of it. Singing Bollywood Holi numbers and dancing on the beat of dholak is also a part of the tradition. Amidst all this activity people relish gujiya, mathri, malpuas and other traditional Holi delicacies with great joy.
Drinks, specially thandai laced with bhang is also an intrinsic part of the Holi festivity. Bhang helps to further enhance the spirit of the occasion but if taken in excess it might dampen it also. So caution should be taken while consuming it.
Holi Celebrations in South India
In south India, however, people follow the tradition of worshiping Kaamadeva, the love god of Indian mythology. People have faith in the legend which speak about the great sacrifice of Kaamadeva when he shot his love arrow on Lord Shiva to break his meditation and evoke his interest in worldly affairs.
After, an eventful and funfilled day people become a little sober in the evening and greet friends and relatives by visiting them and exchange sweets. Holi special get togethers are also organised by various cultural organisations to generate harmony and brotherhood in the society.
Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month as the New Year day by Maharashtrians. Also known as Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, this festival marks the beginning of the spring season. People celebrate this festival with great spirit and joy.
Houses are cleaned prior to the festival. Colorful rangoli are designed at the entrance and people wear new clothes on this day. Maharashtrian delicacies like puran poli or sweet rotis, soonth pak, and usal are prepared.
On this day, gudis are hung outside the houses or in the localities. A 'gudi' is a pole on top of which an upturned brass or silver pot called a kalash is placed. The gudi is then covered with a colorful silk cloth. It is decorated with marigold flowers, mango leaves, and coconuts. The gudi is a symbol of nature's bounty. It is worshipped by offering sandalwood paste, turmeric, and vermilion. Then, boys and young men of the locality form a pyramid and the person on top of the pyramid breaks the coconut which is in the kalash.
Traditionally, families are supposed to begin the festivities by eating the leaves of the neem tree. Sometimes, a paste of neem leaves is prepared and mixed with ajwain, jaggery, and tamarind. All the members of the family consume this paste, which is believed to purify the blood and strengthen the body’s immune system against diseases.
Taking Gudi Padwa to be the suitable occasion to sensitize people towards trees and environment, the Maharashtra State Social Forestry Department has planned to sell saplings of Neem trees through 300 stalls across the state on this auspicious day.
The festival of Gudi Padwa is considered very auspicious. People begin new ventures and also choose to buy gold, silver, or property on this day.
1. SPROUTED CHANA USUAL (Serves 8)
I n g r e d i e n t s : 8 curry
leaves
4 green chilies, chopped
2 cups red chana, soaked or one night, drained and wrapped in a piece of muslin cloth till well sprouted
2 cups cashew nuts, soaked in water for 2 hours
1 cup grated coconut one and half cup coriander leaves, chopped
3 tbsp oil one and half tsp mustard seeds one and half tsp cumin seeds one and half tsp turmeric powder one fourth tsp asafoetida
salt and sugar to taste
Method:
Clean and pressure cook sprouted chana till soft but whole. Boil cashew nuts till soft. Drain both and reserve. Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin and mustard seeds. When they pop, add green chillies, curry leaves, asafoetida and turmeric powder. Stir fry. Add chana, cashew nuts and a little water. Add salt and a pinch of sugar to give a sweet touch. Mix well and cook Garnish with grated coconut and chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot
2. SHRIKHAND (Serves 4)
I n g r e d i a n t s :
2 cups sour yoghurt
2 cups fresh yoghurt
3 one half cups ground sugar
4 tbsp sliced almonds and pistachios
1 tsp cardamom and nutmeg powders
one half tsp saffron one fourth tsp edible yellow color Mix both yoghurts and hang up in a piece of muslin. Drain out all liquid. Holding a fine cloth over a bowl, rub the hardened yoghurt or chakka through it, adding sugar alternately. When the mixture is ready, add all the other ingredients. Mix well, chill and serve with hot puris.
3. SOONTH PANAK
I n g r e d i a n t s :
8 peppercorns, ground
1 cup jaggery
1 tsp dry ginger
,
ground one half tsp cardamom powder
Method
Melt jaggery in 6 cups of cold water. Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
Refrigerate and serve chilled.
4. PURIS
I n g r e d i a n t s :
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp oil or melted ghee one and half-1 cup water
About 3 cups vegetable oil for frying
Method
Combine flour and salt. Add oil or ghee, rubbing it in with the fingers. Add one and half cup of water and continue mixing until you have a smooth dough. Add more water if needed to achieve a silky consistency. Lightly oil a work surface and knead the dough for 15 minutes. Divide the dough into 24 equal parts. Roll each one into a ball and flatten it between your palms. Put a little more oil onto the work surface and roll each piece into an even 4" circle. Cover these circles with a slightly damp dish towel to keep them from drying out. Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Slip a puri into the oil, it should puff right up and float to the top. Using a slotted spoon or spatula, flip the puri gently; continue to cook and flip until both sides are golden brown. Drain the oil and serve hot.
I n g r e d i a n t s :
1 raw mango
1 one and half cup sugar
one fourth tsp saffron strands
one and half tsp cardamom powder
1 tiny bit nutmeg
Method
Peel and chop mango into chunks. In a pan, put mango, sugar and nutmeg. Boil till the mango is soft. Cool.
Blend in mixie till smooth. Sieve. Add cardamom, saffron and bring to boil, stirring continuously. Take off heat. Cool.
As and when required add a tbsp or more to a glass of chilled water and mix with an egg-beater, to froth. The pulp may be stored in the freezer for over a month.
Making Time: 30 mins. Shelf life: 1 month if refrigerated
8. PURAN POLI
This dish is called Puran Poli in Maharashtra, Bobbatlu in Andhra and Holige in Karnataka.
I n g r e d i a n t s :
300gms. channa (yellowgram) dal 300 gms.
Jaggery (molasses) 1 tsp.
Cardamom powder 150 gms.
Plain flour 1 tbsp.
ghee warm water to knead dough ghee to serve
Method
Boil dal in plenty of water till soft but not broken. Drain in a colander for 10-15 minutes. Pass through an almond grater little by little till all dal is grated. Mash jaggery till lumps break. Mix well into dal. Put mixture in a heavy saucepan and cook till a soft lump is formed Take care to stir continuously, so as not to charr. Keep aside. Mix ghee, flour, add enough water to make a soft pliable dough. Take a morsel sized ball of dough, roll into a 4" round. Place same sized ball of filling in centre, all round and seal. Reroll carefully to a 6" diameter round.
Roast on warm griddle till golden brown. Repeat other side. Take on serving plate. Apply a tsp. of ghee all over top.
OR
Shallow fry on griddle like a paratha for a better flavor. Serve hot with dal or amti. Note: The water drained from boiling dal is used to make the amti. ( a thin curry made using black masala, garam masala and some mashed dal.) Making time: 45 minutes
Makes: 7-8 puranpolis
Shelf life: Best fresh (puran {filling} may be stored in the refrigerator for a week
7. GULABJAMUN
I n g r e d i a n t s :
one fourth kg gulabjamun khawa
7 tbsp milk powder
6 tbsp maida or araroot powder
One eight tsp soda bicarbonate
One and half kg sugar
One and half tsp rose essence
3 tbsp of water
Method
1. Mix khawa, milk powder, maida and soda bicarb in water.
2. Knead into soft dough, till it is smooth.
3. Mould into round shapes.
4. Simultaneously, heat one-and-half katori of refined oil or ghee.
5. Lower the flame and fry the balls till golden brown.
6. Boil water with three katoris of sugar. Boil till it forms syrup of one-string consistency.
7. Add rose essence to this mixture. Lower flame and add gulabjamuns.
Serve
8. STRAWBERRY, MANGO AND KESAR SHRIKHAND
I n g r e d i a n t s :
1 one and half litre curd
120 gms sugar, powdered
20 gms mango pulp
20 gms strawberry pulp
1 gm kesar
On Ramnavami, the devotees of Lord Ram observe whole day fast. It is said that fasting on this day helps one attain salvation. On this occasion, some of the devotees prefer to have a fasting with satvik food while many go for nirahar (without food) or nirjal (without water) fast. Those who go for the first kind of food are allowed eating potato, fruits, dairy items and rock salt (sendha namak) and are probhibited from eating any food that is considered adulterated according to Hindu shastra (texts). In our Ramnavami recipes section, we have given few traditional Ramnavami recipes based on these ingredients, which are not only very easy to make but extremely scrumptious to taste. We have given here two such scrumptious Ramnavami recipe, give a look…
Food Recipes For Ramnavmi
Sabudane Ki Kheer
Ingredients
1 litre Milk
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Water
1 cup Sago (Sabudana)
1 tbsp Cashew nut
1 tbsp Raisins
Method
Wash and drain Sabudana and keep it aside.
When it gets soft, add to boiling milk.
Boil milk till it thickens.
After the milk has become dense, dissolve the sugar in water and add to the milk.
Cook on medium heat stirring continuously, till thick.
Add the cashew nuts and other raisins.
Refrigerate and serve after half an hour.
Aalu Ki Subzi (Potato Curry)
Ingredients
3 potatoes (Boiled, peeled and thick sliced)
1 tsp Ghee
2-3 green Chilies (Chopped)
Sendha Namak (Rock Salt)
1/2 cup dhaniya/Cilantro leaves (Finely chopped)
Method
Heat the pan.
Add ghee in the pan.
After a minute add green Chilies and let them crackle.
Now add potatoes and salt.
Mix and Fry well.
Add water in accordance with the quantity of curry you want
The celebrations of Rama Navami start with the worship of Sun God. On the day, people wake up early in the morning, take bath and pay honors to Sun God. Thereafter, they would chant mantras of Lord Rama and offers fruits and flowers to the deity. The devotees of Lord Rama would observe a whole-day fast on the festival, which they would break only in the midnight, by eating a fruit. In many parts of India, satsangs are organized by cultural committees to commemorate the birth of Lord Rama. The congregation of the devotees would sing bhajans, chant mantras in the praise of the God and listen to the legendary stories.
As a part of the celebrations, people would keep their home clean and decorate it beautifully. In the households where pujas are conducted, the pictures of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman are hung. The devotees would offer flowers, burn dhoop and incense sticks. A thali used for the performance of the pooja would typically contain prasad and other items necessary for the ritual, including roli (sacred tilak), rice, lota (container filled with water), flowers, a bell, earthen lamp or deep and a conch. Everyone in a family takes part in the puja, which is conducted by the elderly member of the family. While worshipping the deity, songs are sung. When the puja is over, prasad is distributed among all the people gathered for the worship of Lord Rama.
In many parts of India, typically South India, small idols of Lord Rama and Sita are worshipped in the households, which are take to a procession on the streets, in the evening. In many temples, Kalyanam' (a ceremonial wedding) is performed by the temple priests. Panakam, a sweet drink prepared by mixing jaggery with ginger and pepper, is a specialty of Ram Navami in southern parts of India. The dish is prepared as a prasad. It is first offered to the deity, and then distributed amongst the devotees. When the idols of the deity are taken to a procession, the devotees often play with water and colors, to mark the birth of the God.
sandhu
Devotees of Lord Shiva use the wonderful opportunity of Mahashivratri Festival to send good wishes to near and dear ones in the form of Shivratri Gifts. In case you too are looking for ideas to send Shivratri Gifts to any of your friend or relative who is devoted to Shankar Bhagwan here are some special Shivaratri Gift Ideas just for you !
The auspicious festival of Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor all over India and even beyond. Though fasting and worship of Shiva Linga with a ritual bath remain the common feature of Shivaratri celebrations at all places, minor variations due to regional difference can be observed in some states. 
Shiva Linga is the holy symbol of Lord Shiva that is considered sacred by the devotees of Lord Shiva. The word, ‘Lingum’ in Sanskrit means, ‘symbol’. Shiva Lingum, therefore means symbol of Lord Shiva and is therefore considered most sacred by Shaivaites. Siva Linga has been worshipped in Hinduism since ages. Worship of Shiva Linga is regarded sacred and superior Shiva Mahapurana. This is because the form makes worship simple while maintaining the truth that God does not have any definite form.
The festival of Holi also finds a reference in the sculptures on walls of old temples. A 16th century panel sculpted in a temple at Hampi, capital of Vijayanagar, shows a joyous scene of Holi. The painting depicts a Prince and his Princess standing amidst maids waiting with syringes or pichkaris to drench the Royal couple in coloured water. 
