According to Hindu creation legends, the gods and demons once fought a great battle for a kumbh containing the nectar of immortality. Vishnu got his hands on the container and spirited away, but during his flight four drops of nectar spilt on the earth. The four places were Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain. This event is celebrated as Kumbha Mela called as the Pot Fair, is celebrated once in twelve year at all these four places.
The Ardh-Kumbha is celebrated every six years. Allahabad Kumba mela is said to be the largest and holiest mela of them all. It is the largest gathering of humans anywhere at Allahabad where Ganga, Yamuna and the subterranean Saraswati meet, about two million pilgrims from all over the country take a holy dip at the sangam (confluence of the above rivers), while at other places over a million do the same in the holy rivers of Krishna and Godavari.
According to legends, once the Devas and asuras fought fora long time, but neither could vanquish the other. In the meantime, they came to know about the life giving nectar,which can make a person immortal. The nectar,called as Amrith was inside the bed of the milky ocean. For getting the nectar (Amrit), they put the Mandara Mountain as a churning rod and the great serpent Vasuki as the churning string. They eventually found the pot of nectar but the battle among the gods and the demons continued and during the struggle, a few drops of the nectar fell at Prayag, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain. The war ultimately resulted in victory for the gods and since then Kumbha Mela is held in these places once in every twelve years
Monday, October 13, 2008
KRISHNA JAYANTHI
Krishna Jayanthi called as Janma Ashtami day, Gokula Ashtami and Sri Jayanthi is celebrated in the honour of SriKrishna, the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The birthday of this marvellous child, who was born to King Vasudeva and his wife Devaki Devi is celebrated as a festive on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Sravana, which corresponds to the English month of August-September. Hence the name Krishna - Ashtami (eight).
Sweets and other savorites are specially offered for Srikrishna on this day. Especially Murukku and Seeddai are prepared in TamilNadu. Eatables made of Milk and curds loved by Krishna are prepared on this day as offerings.
Some part of the North Indian states celebrate Krishna Jayanthi for three days. The first two days are celebrated in a colourful manner. On the second day of the festival a popular ceremony known as 'Dahi Handi' takes place where the pot containing curd or butter or milk is broken by the youths.
The most popular Krishna temples like Vrindhavan, Mathura, Dwaraka considered to be the places of Krishna's inhabitation celebrates this occasion in a splendrous manner. The image of the infant BalaKrishna is bathed and is cradled in the midnight time. The conch shell is blown and the devotees celebrate the birth of the Protector of the world by singing devotional songs and by dancing with great joy.
Though there are innumerable temples dedicated to Vishnu, the nmbers dedicated to SriKrishna are few and far between. The reason for this is perhaps that people have taken to worship him through paintings and not through temple images.
The Rajagopalaswami temple in Mannargudi in the Tiruvarur district, BalaKrishna temple at Udupi, Krishna temple at Guruvayur and Pandavadhoothar temple in Kanchivaram are dedicated to the memory of Vishnu's incarnation as Sri Krishna.
Sweets and other savorites are specially offered for Srikrishna on this day. Especially Murukku and Seeddai are prepared in TamilNadu. Eatables made of Milk and curds loved by Krishna are prepared on this day as offerings.
Some part of the North Indian states celebrate Krishna Jayanthi for three days. The first two days are celebrated in a colourful manner. On the second day of the festival a popular ceremony known as 'Dahi Handi' takes place where the pot containing curd or butter or milk is broken by the youths.
The most popular Krishna temples like Vrindhavan, Mathura, Dwaraka considered to be the places of Krishna's inhabitation celebrates this occasion in a splendrous manner. The image of the infant BalaKrishna is bathed and is cradled in the midnight time. The conch shell is blown and the devotees celebrate the birth of the Protector of the world by singing devotional songs and by dancing with great joy.
Though there are innumerable temples dedicated to Vishnu, the nmbers dedicated to SriKrishna are few and far between. The reason for this is perhaps that people have taken to worship him through paintings and not through temple images.
The Rajagopalaswami temple in Mannargudi in the Tiruvarur district, BalaKrishna temple at Udupi, Krishna temple at Guruvayur and Pandavadhoothar temple in Kanchivaram are dedicated to the memory of Vishnu's incarnation as Sri Krishna.
RATHYATRA
The Rathyatra at Puri is a grand festival of fun, mysticism, and overall bliss of divine experience. Of all the festivals celebrated at Orissa, the Ratha Yatra of Jagannatha is the most famous. This grand festival commences on the second day of the waxing phase of the moon of the asadha month. Depending on the lunar cycle, this festival lasts anywhere from 1 - 2 weeks. The Lord of Puri goes to his garden palace located outside the town centre called Gundich Mandira for the annual summer vacation. The images of his brother(Balarama) and sister(Subhadra) are also carried in the parade. Thousands of Hindus flock to see, these grandiose chariots that move from one temple to the other.
This festival is celebrated as a comemmoration of the rejoice of the residents of Vrindavan bringing back their Lords, Krishna, Balaram and Lady Subhadra from Kurukshetra. Today this is celebrated in Puri, as that the Lord of the Universe travels in a unique style from his temple in Puri, to his garden temple, located outside the town centre called Gundica Mandira which is symbolically considered as Vrindavan. Legend is that Indradyuman a king, got the order from Lord Jagannatha to take Him to the Gundica Mandira from Puri temple.
The temple at Puri enshrines Lord Jagannath, with his elder brother BalaRama and his sister Subhadra. Each sibling travel in their own chariot and goes to the summer residence with great pomp and show. The three huge chariots are covered with distinctly coloured cloth. The devotees to distinguish between the rathas, various symbols and signs are attached to the rathas. Jagannatha's ratha is marked with a chakra and garuda. It is yellow in color, with four white horses. NArasimha is the guardian of the ratha.Baladeva's rahta is blue in colour with a palm tree insignia, and four black horses. The protecting deity is Sesha. With lotus insignia, protected by Vanadurga the Subhadra's ratha is black in colour.
The king of Puri sweeps the chariots of the Gods of Puri as a mark of respect, and humbleness. Only then starts the Parade.The spelndid procession starts with the divine music and sound of the conches,drums and trumpets and with dancers and group of artistes the huge crowd proceeds towards the garden palace.The streets at Puri are broad through which the three chariots move. All the buildings and houses are decorated courfully with flowers and flags. People at Puri were new beautiful clothes and rush to pull the chariots. Midway on the journey, the deities are bathed and are offered naivedyam and arathi. Arathi is offered to welcome their arrival at Gundica Mandira.The siblings thus reach "Vrindavan-like" garden and enjoy their vacation there. To entertain the lords various festivities and fun are planned for their short stay at Gundica.
Goddess Lakshmi was left alone, as the Lord has only taken his brother and his sister on this holiday. Goddess fails in her attempts to bring him back to their palace. Blaming the Lord of being inconsiderate,she closes the temple doors in anger when he returns back from the garden palace on the ninth day of the moon. Lakshmi's servants quarrel with Jagannatha's servants. It is traditionally believedthat the Lord offers bribes to the female gate-keepers and enters the inner sanctum to pacify the Goddess Lakshmi. On the Dvadasi day Jagannatha admits his defeat and the doors are opened again. The next day, Lord Jagannatha appears once again in the public with his consort Lakshmi, seen in divine beauty as loving as ever. After the Lord's summer vacation is over,the great temple retreats again to its routine. People from all parts of the country come here to take part in this grand procession and get the blessings of Lord
This festival is celebrated as a comemmoration of the rejoice of the residents of Vrindavan bringing back their Lords, Krishna, Balaram and Lady Subhadra from Kurukshetra. Today this is celebrated in Puri, as that the Lord of the Universe travels in a unique style from his temple in Puri, to his garden temple, located outside the town centre called Gundica Mandira which is symbolically considered as Vrindavan. Legend is that Indradyuman a king, got the order from Lord Jagannatha to take Him to the Gundica Mandira from Puri temple.
The temple at Puri enshrines Lord Jagannath, with his elder brother BalaRama and his sister Subhadra. Each sibling travel in their own chariot and goes to the summer residence with great pomp and show. The three huge chariots are covered with distinctly coloured cloth. The devotees to distinguish between the rathas, various symbols and signs are attached to the rathas. Jagannatha's ratha is marked with a chakra and garuda. It is yellow in color, with four white horses. NArasimha is the guardian of the ratha.Baladeva's rahta is blue in colour with a palm tree insignia, and four black horses. The protecting deity is Sesha. With lotus insignia, protected by Vanadurga the Subhadra's ratha is black in colour.
The king of Puri sweeps the chariots of the Gods of Puri as a mark of respect, and humbleness. Only then starts the Parade.The spelndid procession starts with the divine music and sound of the conches,drums and trumpets and with dancers and group of artistes the huge crowd proceeds towards the garden palace.The streets at Puri are broad through which the three chariots move. All the buildings and houses are decorated courfully with flowers and flags. People at Puri were new beautiful clothes and rush to pull the chariots. Midway on the journey, the deities are bathed and are offered naivedyam and arathi. Arathi is offered to welcome their arrival at Gundica Mandira.The siblings thus reach "Vrindavan-like" garden and enjoy their vacation there. To entertain the lords various festivities and fun are planned for their short stay at Gundica.
Goddess Lakshmi was left alone, as the Lord has only taken his brother and his sister on this holiday. Goddess fails in her attempts to bring him back to their palace. Blaming the Lord of being inconsiderate,she closes the temple doors in anger when he returns back from the garden palace on the ninth day of the moon. Lakshmi's servants quarrel with Jagannatha's servants. It is traditionally believedthat the Lord offers bribes to the female gate-keepers and enters the inner sanctum to pacify the Goddess Lakshmi. On the Dvadasi day Jagannatha admits his defeat and the doors are opened again. The next day, Lord Jagannatha appears once again in the public with his consort Lakshmi, seen in divine beauty as loving as ever. After the Lord's summer vacation is over,the great temple retreats again to its routine. People from all parts of the country come here to take part in this grand procession and get the blessings of Lord
Saturday, October 11, 2008
TAI POOSAM - HINDU FESTIVAL
Tai Poosam, is a very famous Hindu festival celebrated in honour of Lord Subramanya, the second son of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi, in the Tamil month of Tai, which corresponds to the English month of the January - February . It is observed on the day over which the asterism Pushya(cancri) presides. The day generally falls on the full moon day of the month. The planet Brihaspati or Guru (Jupiter), who symbolises wisdom is said to be the presidng deity of the asterism Pushya. Continuous worship offered to the asterism Pushya is considered to have special merit and Hindus consider him to be the preceptor of the gods. He is one of the most important of the nine planets. A bath in river Tamaraparani at Tirunelveli on this day is considered to be very meritorious for the reason that Eswara had blessed Eswari who was doing penance there on its banks, on the Tai Poosam day. And hence people, both men and women, young and old, flock to the nearest one for the purpose.
It is also laid down that Indra, the king of the celestial regions, got rid of his sin on the Tai Poosam day at Tiruvidaimarthur in the Ambasamudram taluk of the Tirunelveli district. Lord Subrahmanya, the second son of Eswara, is worshipped at Vaitheeswarankoil as MuthuKumara, on account of his lovely form as a fine youth. His weapon is a lance called velayutham and it is said to be an invincible one bestowed on him by Parvati on the Tai Poosam day. Hence people observe this auspicious festival at Vaitheeswarankoil also. The next place where this auspicious festival is celebrated is Palani, which is considered to be one of the famous pilgrimage centre of Southern India being dedicated to Lord Subramanya.
Thiruvidaimaruthur in Tanjore district is one of the most important place where Taipoosam is celebrated in a grand manner. There is a myth told for this Taipoosam.
Once there was Chola King Hamsa Dvajan. He wished to for Pilgrimage to Kasi, Gaya etc. But he couldnot go leaving his duties. He was advised by the sages to send a Brahmin as an alternate to him and to take care of the Brahmin's family. The King sent a Brahmin to Pilgrimage. One day while the king was in his nighty peregrination to gain information about his administration,he found the brahmin's house and peeped inside. He found the Brahmin's wife huging a man .He mistook the wife without knowing the return of that Brahmin. he removed his sword and killed the brahmin. Discovering but too late the mistake comitted by him he consoled the widow. His mistake pricked him each day. By the advise of a Sage he went Pilgrimage to various places and at last reached tiruvidaimarudhur.He took bath in the sacred water and entered the temple,where he got releaved from his guilty conscious. He also went to Thirubuvanam. He arranged for the celebration of the festival Taipoosam in the temple and gave many gifts.
From that day Thiruvidaimaruthur temple is considered to be sacred by the Hindus.
It is also laid down that Indra, the king of the celestial regions, got rid of his sin on the Tai Poosam day at Tiruvidaimarthur in the Ambasamudram taluk of the Tirunelveli district. Lord Subrahmanya, the second son of Eswara, is worshipped at Vaitheeswarankoil as MuthuKumara, on account of his lovely form as a fine youth. His weapon is a lance called velayutham and it is said to be an invincible one bestowed on him by Parvati on the Tai Poosam day. Hence people observe this auspicious festival at Vaitheeswarankoil also. The next place where this auspicious festival is celebrated is Palani, which is considered to be one of the famous pilgrimage centre of Southern India being dedicated to Lord Subramanya.
Thiruvidaimaruthur in Tanjore district is one of the most important place where Taipoosam is celebrated in a grand manner. There is a myth told for this Taipoosam.
Once there was Chola King Hamsa Dvajan. He wished to for Pilgrimage to Kasi, Gaya etc. But he couldnot go leaving his duties. He was advised by the sages to send a Brahmin as an alternate to him and to take care of the Brahmin's family. The King sent a Brahmin to Pilgrimage. One day while the king was in his nighty peregrination to gain information about his administration,he found the brahmin's house and peeped inside. He found the Brahmin's wife huging a man .He mistook the wife without knowing the return of that Brahmin. he removed his sword and killed the brahmin. Discovering but too late the mistake comitted by him he consoled the widow. His mistake pricked him each day. By the advise of a Sage he went Pilgrimage to various places and at last reached tiruvidaimarudhur.He took bath in the sacred water and entered the temple,where he got releaved from his guilty conscious. He also went to Thirubuvanam. He arranged for the celebration of the festival Taipoosam in the temple and gave many gifts.
From that day Thiruvidaimaruthur temple is considered to be sacred by the Hindus.
VASANT PANCHAMI
The festival "Vasanth Panchami" is celebrated on the fifth day of Spring. Every year on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the tamil month of Masi, the festival is celebrated in a very grand manner.
Vasantha means "Spring". Vasant Panchami marks the advent of spring . On this month the fields are seen with ripened crops in yellow colour. Yellow is a auspicious colour. Hence the ladies wear yellow colour clothes and perform poojas to the Goddess Saraswathi.
According to the history Saraswati is the consort of Lord Hayagriva,and should not be confused with the Brahma's wife Saraswathi. Hayagriva represents the essence of the Vedas, and she is the sound of this essence.
Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja is the festival celebrated in honour of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and learning. This auspicious day is believed to be the birthday of Saraswati. As Saraswati is the goddess of wisdom, art and music representing the union of power and intelligence, Educational institutions,cultural institutions and homes all over India celebrate this festival in a ethusiastic manner. People dress themselves in bright yellow and gather together before the idol of Saraswati and pray for the blessing of knowledge. Idol of Saraswati is beautifully decorated with flowers. She is offered with fruits. Students place their books before the idol and worship her to bless them with knowledge and power. Most of the Hindus wait for this auspicious day for their child to begin his education. The family priest guide the youngest child in writing the first alphabet,symbolising an initiation into the realm of knowledge.
According to another history, Goddess is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. It is believed that devotees, those soulfully pray her are bestowed with powers of speech, wisdom and learning. Her appearance very well explains her nature. She is always dressed in white symbolizing the purity and the light of knowledge. White Swan is her vahana representing Sattwa Guna or purity and discrimination. Each of her arm represents a thing. The four arms represents four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego. She has vedas or sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus in the second. With her other two hands she plays the string instrument called the Veena.
Another legend says that Saraswati literally means 'the flowing one'and hence she represents a river and the deity presiding over it. The `flowing one' in allegorical sense may mean speech also; perfect speech which denotes intelligence. Puranic legends identified her with Speech and said that Saraswati is the consort of Lord Hayagriva, and should not be confused with the Brahma's wife Saraswathi. Hayagriva represents the essence of the Vedas, and she is the sound of this essence.
This Basant or Vasant Panchami is familarly called as Saraswati puja in Bengal and in SouthIndia. Saraswati is also called as Veena Vandini, MahaVidhya, Brahamini, Vinapani, Sharada and Vagisvai is worshipped on homes and the idol is immersed on river or well on the third day of the festival. The festival is grandly celebrated in Saraswati temple at Basara in AndhraPradesh and Koothanoor Saraswati temple at Tiruvarur in Tamilnadu.
Vasantha means "Spring". Vasant Panchami marks the advent of spring . On this month the fields are seen with ripened crops in yellow colour. Yellow is a auspicious colour. Hence the ladies wear yellow colour clothes and perform poojas to the Goddess Saraswathi.
According to the history Saraswati is the consort of Lord Hayagriva,and should not be confused with the Brahma's wife Saraswathi. Hayagriva represents the essence of the Vedas, and she is the sound of this essence.
Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja is the festival celebrated in honour of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and learning. This auspicious day is believed to be the birthday of Saraswati. As Saraswati is the goddess of wisdom, art and music representing the union of power and intelligence, Educational institutions,cultural institutions and homes all over India celebrate this festival in a ethusiastic manner. People dress themselves in bright yellow and gather together before the idol of Saraswati and pray for the blessing of knowledge. Idol of Saraswati is beautifully decorated with flowers. She is offered with fruits. Students place their books before the idol and worship her to bless them with knowledge and power. Most of the Hindus wait for this auspicious day for their child to begin his education. The family priest guide the youngest child in writing the first alphabet,symbolising an initiation into the realm of knowledge.
According to another history, Goddess is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. It is believed that devotees, those soulfully pray her are bestowed with powers of speech, wisdom and learning. Her appearance very well explains her nature. She is always dressed in white symbolizing the purity and the light of knowledge. White Swan is her vahana representing Sattwa Guna or purity and discrimination. Each of her arm represents a thing. The four arms represents four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego. She has vedas or sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus in the second. With her other two hands she plays the string instrument called the Veena.
Another legend says that Saraswati literally means 'the flowing one'and hence she represents a river and the deity presiding over it. The `flowing one' in allegorical sense may mean speech also; perfect speech which denotes intelligence. Puranic legends identified her with Speech and said that Saraswati is the consort of Lord Hayagriva, and should not be confused with the Brahma's wife Saraswathi. Hayagriva represents the essence of the Vedas, and she is the sound of this essence.
This Basant or Vasant Panchami is familarly called as Saraswati puja in Bengal and in SouthIndia. Saraswati is also called as Veena Vandini, MahaVidhya, Brahamini, Vinapani, Sharada and Vagisvai is worshipped on homes and the idol is immersed on river or well on the third day of the festival. The festival is grandly celebrated in Saraswati temple at Basara in AndhraPradesh and Koothanoor Saraswati temple at Tiruvarur in Tamilnadu.
KARTEEKA DEEPAM
Among the twelve tamil months, Karthigai(October-November) month is dedicated to Lord Muruga. The krithigai asterism in this month is very grandly celebrated for Lord Muruga. This day is also celebrated for Lord Shiva. In Arunachaleswarar temple at Thiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam is celebrated as the tenth day celebration of the Bramotsavam.
Symbolizing Lord Shiva in the form of fire,a huge deepam is lighted at the top of the hill with lots of ghee and bundles of cloth. A group of people reach the hill top by walk through dense forests and lit the light in the proposed time. This jothi is lighted up in krithigai asterism and Pournami thidhi. A perpendicular natural form of light arises, which the devotees worship as ShivLingam.
The legends explain why Lord Shiva is assumed to be in the form of fire. Once Lord Shiva took the form of fire to teach Lord Vishnu and Brahma, the knowledge of infinity on his occasion. Brahma assumed the form of Swan and started flying upwards to reach Shivas head. At the same time, Lord Vishnu took the VaragaAvatar and started digging downwards to reach the foot of Lord Shiva. A magizhampoo(flower) fell down from Shiva's matted hair. Brahma happened to see the flower and asked her to be a witness and say Lord Shiva that he has reached his head. The flower accepted Brahma's request and told Shiva about that. As Brahma lied, Lord Shiva cursed him not to be worshipped in separate temples. As the flower helped Brahma, Lord Shiva said that he should never be worshipped with that magizhampoo.
In south india, people light five lamps on the day before the main karthigai deepam. The next day (i.e) on Karthigai, they decorate their houses with lamps and burn crakers. The karthigai night will be glittering with lights. In villages and temples, the peculiar custom is being followed. They used to burn twigs and dry leaves which is called "Chokkapanai". This custom is beleived to be originated from the incident when Lord Shiva burnt the Chariots of some Asuras by the fire that emanated from his third eye,who were torturing the sages and innocent people.People used to make fried rice(nelpori) mixed with jaggeri and groundnuts.
There is a legend told for this practise. MahaBali was a king, who was suffering from burning sensation in every cell of his body. He pleaded Lord Shiva to free him from this sufferings. He worshipped Lord Shiva with fried rice symbolising his burnt cells. He took the same as his food ,beleiving that the burnt out rice would cool his body. Parvati Devi also worshipped Lord Shiva with this fried rice and pleaded him to free her from this sins that she did when she killed Mahishasura.
According to some legends karthigai day is also celebrated for Lord vishnu.The legends say that ,the marriage of Tulasi and Vishnu took place on this Pounami day. Hence people used to make fried rice and worship Shiva to protect them from their sins.
Symbolizing Lord Shiva in the form of fire,a huge deepam is lighted at the top of the hill with lots of ghee and bundles of cloth. A group of people reach the hill top by walk through dense forests and lit the light in the proposed time. This jothi is lighted up in krithigai asterism and Pournami thidhi. A perpendicular natural form of light arises, which the devotees worship as ShivLingam.
The legends explain why Lord Shiva is assumed to be in the form of fire. Once Lord Shiva took the form of fire to teach Lord Vishnu and Brahma, the knowledge of infinity on his occasion. Brahma assumed the form of Swan and started flying upwards to reach Shivas head. At the same time, Lord Vishnu took the VaragaAvatar and started digging downwards to reach the foot of Lord Shiva. A magizhampoo(flower) fell down from Shiva's matted hair. Brahma happened to see the flower and asked her to be a witness and say Lord Shiva that he has reached his head. The flower accepted Brahma's request and told Shiva about that. As Brahma lied, Lord Shiva cursed him not to be worshipped in separate temples. As the flower helped Brahma, Lord Shiva said that he should never be worshipped with that magizhampoo.
In south india, people light five lamps on the day before the main karthigai deepam. The next day (i.e) on Karthigai, they decorate their houses with lamps and burn crakers. The karthigai night will be glittering with lights. In villages and temples, the peculiar custom is being followed. They used to burn twigs and dry leaves which is called "Chokkapanai". This custom is beleived to be originated from the incident when Lord Shiva burnt the Chariots of some Asuras by the fire that emanated from his third eye,who were torturing the sages and innocent people.People used to make fried rice(nelpori) mixed with jaggeri and groundnuts.
There is a legend told for this practise. MahaBali was a king, who was suffering from burning sensation in every cell of his body. He pleaded Lord Shiva to free him from this sufferings. He worshipped Lord Shiva with fried rice symbolising his burnt cells. He took the same as his food ,beleiving that the burnt out rice would cool his body. Parvati Devi also worshipped Lord Shiva with this fried rice and pleaded him to free her from this sins that she did when she killed Mahishasura.
According to some legends karthigai day is also celebrated for Lord vishnu.The legends say that ,the marriage of Tulasi and Vishnu took place on this Pounami day. Hence people used to make fried rice and worship Shiva to protect them from their sins.
MAHA SANKRANTHI - PONGAL
MakaraSankranti, generally termed as 'Pongal' in Tamilnadu , is a famous festival of SouthIndia. It is celebrated with a popular dish with the same name. Pongal is celebrated in the first day of the Tamil month of Thai, corresponding to the English month of January. Lord Shiva is said to behighly pleased by the burnt offering on Sankranti day, of tila(sesame) mixed with or soaked in ghee and consequently bestows prosperity on the observers of this Vrata which is given the name of Maha Tila Deepa Vrata.Kolams(Rangoli) and prayers constitute the celebration of the festival. It is on this day, once in every twelve years the Great Kumbh-Mela is held at Allahabad. According to the traditional Tamil calendar, three consecutive days in that week are devoted to celebrations. The first day celebrated as 'Bhogi pandigai' correspondingly means 'the festival of physical enjoyment'.
Pongal festival is celebrated on second day, where people celebrate it in honour of Lord Surya. People adorn their doorways with strings of Mango leaves and Plaited coconut leaves. People cook 'pongal' and offer to Lord Surya with the long shalks of sugarcane. Kolam designs(Rangoli) and Prayers are the two important things followed on that auspicious day. The legends tell that Aandal prayed to Lord Thirumal in this month to marry him.The South Indians used to wake up early in the morning and draw beautiful kolams(rangoli)with nice colours in the month of Margazhi and pray to marry a groom as they wish.Pongal is the first day of the month Thai next to margazhi. Hence they celebrate the festival in a very grand manner.
According to the Hindu legends Samja was one of the wives of Suryabhagvan.She went into the forest to perform penance to obtain sufficient strength to bear the effulgence leaving her shadow (Chaya). Suryabhagvan went in search of her in the forest. He changed himself as a horse to marry a beautifull mare. Their children were Yama And Yamuna.Chaya took care of them whose children were Saturn and Tapati.
In South Indian villages, the people worship Surya Bhagvan as they believe that he shows his grace during their harvest.In olden days they used to harvest their paddy during this month. Hence in Tamil it is also called as "Aruvadai Thirunaal","Aruvadai" means "Harvest" and Thirunaal means "holy day".On this day the people used to cook pongal in a mudpot tied with Manjal(turmeric) and ginger and perform pooja in the open area where the sunlight falls.They clean the place with cowdung mixed with water.They used to perform the pooja with sweet pongal and Sugarcane. Pongal is grandly celebrated mainly in rural areas.
Pongal festival is celebrated on second day, where people celebrate it in honour of Lord Surya. People adorn their doorways with strings of Mango leaves and Plaited coconut leaves. People cook 'pongal' and offer to Lord Surya with the long shalks of sugarcane. Kolam designs(Rangoli) and Prayers are the two important things followed on that auspicious day. The legends tell that Aandal prayed to Lord Thirumal in this month to marry him.The South Indians used to wake up early in the morning and draw beautiful kolams(rangoli)with nice colours in the month of Margazhi and pray to marry a groom as they wish.Pongal is the first day of the month Thai next to margazhi. Hence they celebrate the festival in a very grand manner.
According to the Hindu legends Samja was one of the wives of Suryabhagvan.She went into the forest to perform penance to obtain sufficient strength to bear the effulgence leaving her shadow (Chaya). Suryabhagvan went in search of her in the forest. He changed himself as a horse to marry a beautifull mare. Their children were Yama And Yamuna.Chaya took care of them whose children were Saturn and Tapati.
In South Indian villages, the people worship Surya Bhagvan as they believe that he shows his grace during their harvest.In olden days they used to harvest their paddy during this month. Hence in Tamil it is also called as "Aruvadai Thirunaal","Aruvadai" means "Harvest" and Thirunaal means "holy day".On this day the people used to cook pongal in a mudpot tied with Manjal(turmeric) and ginger and perform pooja in the open area where the sunlight falls.They clean the place with cowdung mixed with water.They used to perform the pooja with sweet pongal and Sugarcane. Pongal is grandly celebrated mainly in rural areas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
