Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayak Chaturthi, celebrates the birthday of the Hindu deity Ganesh. Lord Ganesh, son of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati, is the Vighnaharta(remover of obstacles), Budhhi Pradaayaka (harbinger of wisdom, prosperity), and good fortune. Invoking Ganesh before embarking on any new venture is believed to ensure success, wealth, and peace. Ganesh…
Krishna Janmashtami is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Sri Krishna (the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu). The festival typically takes place in August or September. It falls on the eighth day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha). This festival is important in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. People break their day-long…
India is a land of spiritual abundance. This place is a home of a great heritage that offers enlightenment. This land has nurtured countless seekers, sages, and mystics over the centuries. There have been stories of men and women who walked away from ordinary to pursue an extraordinary inner journey in search of truth, freedom,…
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej or Akti, is an annual Hindu and Jain festival. This day is auspicious for buying new things, depositing money in the bank, visiting temples, and providing offerings to the poor. It usually falls in April or May. The third lunar day (tritiya) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha)…
Navdurga is the nine forms or manifestations of Goddess Durga. Devotees worship them during the nine days of Navratri and Durga Puja. Each form represents a different aspect of her power and energy. Shailaputri Maa Shailaputri is worshipped on the first day of Navratari and is the daughter of Himavat. In her previous life, she…
Maha Shivratri is a festival honoring Lord Shiva. It falls between February and March and commemorates the wedding of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati. Unlike other Hindu festivals, devotees celebrate Maha Shivratri at night. The festival emphasizes self-study, fasting, meditation, and social harmony. Devotees offer fruits, leaves, sweets, and milk to Lord Shiva and observe…
Kumbh Mela represents the largest religious human gathering in the world. It is the festival of sacred pitcher. Every 6,12 and 144 years marks Kumbh. The four major pilgrimage sites of Kumbh Mela are: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. Prayagraj has the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. Haridwar has the Ganges, Nashik has…
Basant Panchami also known as Saraswati Puja, marks the arrival of spring. It marks the start of preparation for Holi which is celebrated forty days later. The festival is celebrated forty days before the arrival of spring because any season takes forty days to be in full bloom. Spring is also known as the “King…
Lohri is one of the most popular festivals in India. It is the Punjabi folk festival. This day marks a holiday in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu. Lohri is celebrated one day before Makar Sankranti. The date is determined as per the Hindu Solar calendar. The date changes every 70 years. Hindus, Sikhs, and whoever…
Chiranjivi means immortals who are bound to remain alive on this earth until the end of this Kali Yuga. According to Hindu mythology, there are seven Chiranjivis. Ashwatthama Ashwatthama was the son of Guru Drona (the teacher of Pandavas and Kauravas) in the epic of the Mahabharata. He was Duryodhana’s (the eldest of the Kauravas)…
Also known as Narayana or Hari, Lord Vishnu is one of the main deities of Hinduism. Lord Vishnu is the preserver. He is the protector, preserver, and transformer of the universe. There are 1000 names of Lord Vishnu. The Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity is Lord Vishnu’s wife. Garuda is the vahana, or primary…
Also known as the four adobes of Hinduism, Char Dhams hold an important part in the Hindu pilgrimage. They are among one of the holy places that every Hindu must visit once in their lifetime. The Char Dhams are Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram. As per Hinduism, visiting them can help one attain Moksha (liberation…
Vrindavan is located in Uttar Pradesh. It is located in Brij Bhoomi. This place is very important for Krishna devotees. Lord Krishna spent most of his childhood here. According to belief, after Lord Krishna disappeared from the world, his grandson Vajranabha installed various deities in Vrindavan, around 5000 years ago. These deities were lost with…