Annakut Festival

Annakut Festival

Annakut festival is the festival that is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Anna means food and kut means mountain.  In this day there is a huge food distribution in Lord Krishna Temple. People from around the corner of the country visit temple to watch the distribution of the food. Food is placed in a mountain and after performing the puja people take away the food with them.

On this day, it is believed that people who take away more food do get more prosperity and wealth throughout the year.  And on the same day of this festival, Gowardhan puja is also performed. According to the legend, it is believed that once Vishnu planned to test king Bali. Vishnu took the avatar of Vammana and begged for three step land from king Bali. Bali allowed him to take the land from his kingdom. By listening this, Vishnu increased his size and measured whole earth and heaven in two steps. Later, he asked the king where the third step should be kept. King Bali then offered his whole kingdom to him and bowed his head for the third step.

Annakut festival is largely celebrated in Gujarat. This festival is celebrated in the first half of month of Karthik and in the autumn festival. It is the festival of food. At the temples in Gujarat, the image of Shrinathji and 7 other idols of Krishna with the pile of food baskets and earthenware vessels are kept before them.

People visit this temple with large crowds and try to get more and more food to carry with them while returning. Many people have different belief on this festival and take the blessings of Lord Krishna at the temple. The Swaminarayan Temple in Gujarat is the temple where this festival is largely celebrated.

Celebrating Dhanteras

Celebrating Dhanteras

India is the country of festivals; there are hundreds of small and big festivals that are celebrated. One of these festivals is Dhanteras, the festival of wealth. This festival is celebrated in the time of Diwali. Dhanteras is celebrated by worshipping lord Yama, to provide prosperity and well being.

In the day of dhanteras, people buy gold and silver jewelry as it is considered to be most auspicious. Dhanteras holds the special place in business areas. People start with their new business on this day. This day is known as the beginning of Diwali.

In Dhanteras, Dhan means wealth and Teras means 13. This day is celebrated 2 days before the diwali. On this day, homes and offices are cleaned and puja are performed so that business and home will get prosperity.  At the entrance of the home rangolis are designed so as to welcome wealth and prosperity. Goddess Laxmi is worshipped on this day. At the entrance of the house, diyas that are made up of clay are lightened up and kept outside of the home.

People on this day buy car, home as it is considered to be the most auspicious day. People perform laxmi puja and design the footprint of Goddess laxmi in the entrance of their home. Goddess laxmi is called as God of wealth.

According to the legendary story, Lord Dhanvantri, the physician of god and incarnation of Lord Vishnu, emerged from the sea which was churned by demons and Gods. She emerged out with Ayurvedic to do the welfare of mankind. This incident happened in the day of Dhanteras.

During this day, whole India celebrates the day of wealth and after 2 days people celebrate Diwali, India’s biggest festival. People on this day distribute sweets and wear new cloths and take early morning bath.
Dhanteras is really the festival of wealth.

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Celebrating Onam

Celebrating Onam

Onam is biggest festival of Kerala. It is also called as the harvest festival and is celebrated in joy and happiness.  People of Kerala eagerly wait for this festival and it is known to celebrate to welcome king Mahabali. It is said that Mahabali visits the home of Kerala in the different character.

Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, and is the first month of Malayalam calendar. This festival is celebrated in the month of August-September. During this festival, people of Kerala prepare themselves for the boat race. Apart from this, there are also folk dance and energetic games takes place.

According to the legends, it is believed that during the regime of king Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. But the only negative thing of his character was his egoistic nature which made god to bring the end of his regime. However, god granted him a wish that, he can visit once in a year and meet those people with him he is so attached to. So the day is called as Onam.

The rich culture of Kerala comes out during this festival and whole Kerala energizes with different cultural activities. During this festival, people of Kerala prepare special dish called as Onasadya. It is nine course meals which is prepared in 10-13 essential dishes.

The other most attraction in this festival which can be seen is the Vallamkali, the snake boat race which takes place in the large occasion. People decorate their boats and there are around 20-30 people sitting on this boat and race with each other. This scene is extremely breathtaking and hundreds of people come to see this boat race.

Women make flower design in front of their home to welcome king Mahabali. Apart from this there are also some folk dances that take place in places. Kerala really lights up to celebrate Onam.

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Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth

Indian’s are known for their fasting in every occasion, especially women’s. So the Karwa chauth celebration takes place for such women’s. On this day married women undertake fast for in the name of their husbands and pray for their long life. Karwa chauth falls in the ninth day of diwali. This day is largely celebrated by the north Indian women’s.

In this day women don’t eat or drink water right from the sunrise to the sunset till the moon appears. They keep on looking at the sky and wait for moon to appear and they offer prayers to moon and later break their fast by just seeing the moon through sieve. Later, the fist sip of water is taken from the hands of their husband to break their fast.

Special puja takes place in the house where women who are also called Baya present in the puja. The puja place decorated with Kharia mitti, which is kept for soaking for 2-3 hours and later it turns into liquid.  Whole puja decoration should be placed against the wall, where decorated patta is kept, on which Gaur Mata resides. Gaur Mata is made up of cow dung, it was on earlier days. But now an idol of Goddess Parvati is kept.

Karwa chauth has very importance in women’s life. However, as the trend is changing the style of celebrating this day has also changed. In some place instead of puja, parties take place. On this day, women apply mehendi in their hand, which most of the women like to do. This day is largely celebrated in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat.

This is special day for women and they celebrate it whole heartedly. They pray for their husband who is their protector and life partner.

Celebrating Nag Panchami

Celebrating Nag Panchami

Nag Panchami is the day when people worship Snakes. Snakes are meant to be dangerous reptile of all as its bite can lead the person into death. Nag-Panchami is the festival which falls in fifth day of moon light in the month of Shravan. This is day when serpents come out of the hole to drink milk that is served by the worshiper.

Snakes are known as the important God and the very angry minded. So people are very careful while performing puja of Lord Nag. They are also symbol as the five headed snakes, which are rarely seen. Every religion and caste has different perspective on Nag-Panchami. In Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism snake is regarded as the divine qualities. In India, there are many temples where snake gods are worshipped and special puja’s are performed on Nag Panchami.

People on this day observe fast and visit temples that are constructed for snake god or Lord Shiva. During this day people also visit Shiva temple as snakes are largely found in this temples and people offer milk to Nag Devta.  People even visit forest and look for any snakes to offer milk and perform puja.
In Bengal and Orissa people take the blessings of Mansa, the queen of serpents. And people ask for protection from the snakes harm.

In Punjab, Nag Panchmi is celebrated on the day of Shukla Navami. People prepare a huge idol of snake and perform puja by offering flowers and milk.

In Maharashtra, people perform puja in a special manner. Women on this day take early bath and wear saree which is called as nav-vari and visit sake temple to offer puja.

Every state celebrates Nag-Panchami in their traditional manner. But the only thing is they all worship snake god, from whom they fear the most.

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Srila Prabhupada –Founder of ISKCON

Srila Prabhupada –Founder of ISKCON

Srila Prabhupada was born in Calcutta, India. He studied in British schools under the colonial rule and went again to Calcutta University to study English, Sanskrit, Philosophy and Economics. At the time when he was studying in university, he joined Gandhiji to support India’s Independence movement. As a supporter India freedom, he only dressed white handloom cloth and also even declined to accept the degree from university.

 In the year 1918, to support his family earning he started to work in pharmaceutical company and later he opened his own company, which is called as The Prayag Pharmacy in Allahabad. In the mean time, he met his spiritual master Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. In the year 1936, he wrote a letter to his mater asking him if anything he can do for him. After some time, Srila Prabhupada rececived the reply in which his master asked him to spread the message of Lord Krishna consciousness in English speaking world. So from here the journey of spreading message of Lord Krishna to whole world started.

He wrote an English commentary on Bhagvad –Gita and later in 1944, he began a magazine named as Back to Godhead. In 1950, Srila Prabhupada retired from his business so that he can devote full time for the mission. In 1959, he entered to the stage of sanyasa and began his masterpiece Srimad-Bhagvatam and later sold the book to the major cities of India.

In 1965, Srila Prabhupada traveled America and teaching people about Vaishnava tradition.  From the year 1971 to 1977, Srila Prabhupada and his followers began developing ISKCON across world and began teaching of Lord Rama and Krishna. Apart from temple, they also established restaurants, farm, along with Bhaktivendanta Institute.

Between 1966 and 1977, Srila Prabhupada travelled 14 times on lecture tours and in between he also wrote his books on teachings. His writings are being translated to 50 languages and his publishing house became the world largest publisher.

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Benefits of Yoga

Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is known as the most important and unique way of medication to heal the health problem. It is the medication which is done with the help of some unique postures and breathing techniques to increase relaxation and improve strength. It’s upon you how you practice yoga whether by relaxing, stretching, breathing, meditation you may find numerous advantage of yoga session.
Below mentioned are some of the benefits of practicing yoga:

•    There are numerous benefits to your body by doing proper yoga. Yoga keeps body muscles strong and helps the body to hold and balance asana. There are various yoga asana which can help your body muscle to bring strength.

•    Yoga practice like breathing, stretching helps to improve increase body flexibility, helping joints and muscles to stay limber. People suffering from various diseases perform yoga as it helps to heal various diseases.

•    People who are from athletic or any other sports perform yoga session such as Bikram yoga, vinyasa yoga, power yoga. These asana can help to make your muscles strong and growth. Bikram yoga which is largely performed requires keeping your body in constant motion and helps in strengthening cardiovascular workout.

•    Yoga helps in healing minor injuries that creates problem in your body muscles, knee and back injuries. But before perform any of this yoga sessions consult your physician.

•    Yoga helps in mental health and is the great medicine for psychological treatment. The breathing process of yoga helps in mental relaxation and increases mental strength.

•    Yoga is the process of meditation, so it results in mental peace.
Yoga in the daily life can help your body to get relax a lot and to maintain the energy. So the regular practice of yoga can benefit your body a lot. You can log onto any website of yogic posture and try to do that posture for your health benefit.

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