Akshay Trittiya

Akshay Trittiya this year is on May 8th 2008. However in some areas of India the Akshay Tritiya muhurat is to start on May 7th 2008. Please check your local calender for accuracy, sometimes festivals appear through two days of the English calender.

Significance

The word "Akshaya" signifies everlasting or perpetual.
Starting of something or purchasing some valuable on this day
is believed to convey achievement or good luck. Buying gold
on this holy day is believed to the ultimate mark of affluence
and opulence and signifies ever present good fortune.

Akshaya Tritiya, is the third day of the bright-half of
the lunar month of Vaisakha and is considered as one of
the most sacred days of the year.The auspicious time or
muhurats on this dau surpass the best muhurats of the entire
year.According to belief, this day also marks the beginning
of the"SatyaYug" the first of the four Yugs(eras)," Satya",
"Treta", "Dwapar "& Kali", although at present we are in Kaliyuga.

Traditions and Beliefs

The day is generally observed by fasting and worshipping
Lord Vasudeva ( Sri Krishna or Lord Vishnu) with rice grains. A dip in
the Ganges on this day is also considered to be very auspicious.Vedas say
that knowledge gained or charity done on this day isvery fruitful. It is considered to be very lucky day to start new business or venture. Many people buy gold, assets or property on this day. In some traditions a fan, rice, salt, ghee, sugar, vegetables, tamarind,
fruit, clothes, are given in charity. Tulsi water cosnidered holy and
purificatory is sprinkled also in the vicinity of the idol while performing aarti.After puja, meals are allowed. Special pujas are performed by offering barley in the holy fire. All married women and unmarried girls take part in the pujas and homas.Lakshmi kunera homa is believed to be an auspicious homa to be performed on Akshaya Tritiya. The word "Akshaya" is also mentioned in "Silapathikaram" which is one of the greatest works of Tamil literature.

The various homams that can be performed on that day are
1. Ganapathy homam - For the well being of your family.
2 . Shatru shanti homa - To safeguard from ill effects and enemies.
3 . Visit Shiva Vishnu temple.


Bengalis, Jains, Jats, Tamilians all observe this festival
each with their unique rites and rituals.

Akshay Tritiiya is a holy day for Jains as well. People who observe
the year-long alternative day fasting finish their Tapsaya this day.
As per Jain legends, Rishabhdev fasted and meditated for 6 months.
After that he went out to collect food (asked for alms).However no
one knew the procedure of offering food to a monk.Rishabhdev, therefore
could not get to eat for seven months and nine days.Shreyans was the brother
of King Somaprabha. Shreyans recollected from a previous 'life' how to
offer food to a monk. Hence on the third day of the second half of Vaisaakh
(Akshaya Tritya) Rishabhdev got to break his fast.Rishabhdev was the first
Tirthankara of Jains.It is believed that Rishabha invented pottery, painting,
sculpture. So on this day Jains break their fast (Varsitap) by drinking
sugar cane juice and visiting the main temple of Risabhdeva in Palitana.

In Bengal, on the day of the Akshay Tritiiya, "HalKhata" or
ceremony to start the new audit book is performed with the worship of
Lord Ganesha & Devi Lakshmi. Poila Boisakh, the first day of Boisakh
is considered an auspicious day to start a business as well as to
perform the "HalKhata". According to the Hindu customs, many Bangalis choose
to perform the same rites & rituals as Polia Baisakh on the holy day of
"Akshay Tritiya" also. Then as per tradition, rituals are followed including
welcoming customers and holding dinners. Sweets and new year calendars are also
distributed to guests.

For the Jat farming community this festival is known as "Akha Teej".
Early morning, a male member of Jat family goes to field with shovel.
All the animals and birds encountered on the way to the field indicates omens
and predictions for rains and crops.

Akshay Tritiiya is also an occasion for weddings, which are conducted in
mass marriage ceremonies. Gujarat is famous for this traditin. It is considered
an unboojha muhurat.

For tamilians, Thruthiyai is the third day after
the New Moon. Akshayam means also “ growth”. In the tamil month of Chithirai, the thruthiyai
which falls in the Shukla Paksham (valar pirai) is called Akshaya Thruthiyai. Thrythiyai occurs
ever month, but the one in Chithirai is celebrated specially. On every thruthiyai, Chandra darisanam
is considered auspicious.Candana yatra starts on this day, which is celebrated as well
as the day on which treta yuga began. Barley, one of the main ingredients for homa,
which is the yuga dharma of Treta Yuga, was also created on this day. Ganga devi is also
believed to have descended to the earth on this day. FOr tamilians, many people have special
puja on this day. They bathe in a sacred river, give charity, perform japa and offer barley
in a sacred fire, and also offer barley preparations to the deity. Akshaya Tritiya day is
believed the very auspicious day - there's no inauspiciousness or inauspicious muhurats found
today so even checking muhurthas is considered unnecessary.

The tamilian legend associated with Akshaya Trittiya is that Kuchela, the poor friend Of Krishna
went to see Krishna with some aval (poha) tied in his upper cloth. Kannan welcomed Kuchela happily and putting a handful of poha in his mouth uttered the word “Akshayam”. At once, the humble abode of Kuchela became a palace and he became a very prosperous man. Another legend is that Sri Parasurama, the sixth avatara of Vishnu was born on this day. Many people offer tharpanams to forefathers on this day. This is done to incur their blessings. It is very good to worship, Shiva Parvathi, Shriman Narayanan, Sri Lakhmi Devi on this day. Lakshmi is supposed to have chosen this day to worship Lord Kubera on this day,
to be blessed with Kubera Sampath. Krutha Yuga is said on have started this day. Just like a yuga lasts for millions of years, any action done on this day is supposed to yield, benfits, multifold times. Any new venture started on this day will last long and well. So this day is supposed to be auspicious for registering a business deal, buy a new property, open new accounts and last but not least to buy new clothes, jewellery etc. It is the most ideal day to do charity, help the physically challenged, do give financial help for higher studies for the poor. It is said that giving curd rice to others improves longevity of life. Distribution of sweets, helps to get over the obstacles in getting married. Distribution of grains and cereals, prevents accidents
and untimely death. By giving cattle feed, prosperity will increase.

Legends

There are many legends and stories realted to Akshay Trittiya.

The most famous is that according to the Vedas, it was on the
day of Akshay Tritiiya that Veda Vyasa along with Lord Ganesha
started writing the epic, Mahabharata.It is also traditionally
observed as the birthday of Sri Parshuram, the sixth
incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The Puranas speak about how Sri Parshurama
reclaimed the land from the sea. Goa and Konkan regions, even today,
are referred to as Parusurama Kshetra.

The "Puranas", holy Hindu scriptures state that when Ved Vyas Rishi requested
Lord Ganesha to help him compose the Mahabharata, Lord Ganesha accepted the offer
only after laying down certain terms. He said to Vyas Rishi that Sri Ganesh would
write the "Slokas" of the Vedas only if Vyash Rishi would match his speed of writing.
If Sri Ganesh had to stop due to Vyas Rishi, he would discontinue writing.
Vyas Rishi accepted the proposal with his own conditions, stating that Lord Sri Ganesha
had to comprehend the meaning of the "Shlokas" before he could write them down.
Vyas Rishi then started composing the epic and used complicated language. The time Lord
Sri Ganesha took to understand the meaning was enough for Vyas Rishi to compose new lines.

As legend also goes, there is a story of a brahmana who had a very good wife but was poor.
Whatever little money he got would spend. He also did not have any children. As per his wife's
requst he went to meet Vasishta Muni/Rishi to know the reason for his suffering. Vasishta
Muni/Rishi told him that in his previous life he was very rich and also had many children, but
he was very stingy and did not spend money even for the welfare of own children. So in this birth
this is the reason for his being poor and without children. The brahmana then asked Vasishta Muni/Rishi why he has a good wife. So the Muni replied that he had observed that the vrata of Vaishaka month for the last 5 days and that gave him a good wife in this birth and also his brahmana birth. The Muni advised him to fast for at least the last 7 days left of Vaishaka month, with devotion to Lord Krsna. It is belileved that since the brahmana observed the vrata of Vaishaka month as stated by the Muni and he got sons, became rich, and ultimately obtained spiritual bliss.

For vaishnavites, this day also coincides with the death anniversary of Sri Vijayadhvaja Tiirtha,
in the lineage of Sri Pejawar Mutt.He is famous for his commentary upon the Srimad Bhagavatam.He lived in the 15th century and his samadhi is in Kanva Tirtha. Vaishnavites believe that there is also a pipal tree by the side of samadhi under which he is believed to have written his commentary.

During the tenure of Sri Pejawar MaTha a special festival is arranged in Sri Krishna Mutt on this
day and the akshaya paatra given by Sri Madhva is offered a special puuja. This akshaya patra
is said to have been given by the Sun god, it is the same pot that Draupadi used to cook in. It is
said that from the time of turning it upwards for use on a day the pot will provide unlimited amounts of foodstuffs for the satisfaction of the Lord.

There is another legend in connection to this pot.

On the Pandavas return to Hastinapur they resided in the palace created for them by the demon Maya Danava. Mayasura built this palace out of gratitude to Sri Krsna for saving him in the forest fire in the Khandava Forest where he was hiding when Agni devoured it. The Rajasurya sacrifice was performed, Duryodhana, being always envious of the Pandavas, came to
the mansion created by Maya Danava's illusions. Bewildered by illusions of many kinds, Duryodhana mistook the solid floor for water and lifted the end of his garment to walk forward on what he thought was shallow water but it was solid floor, and after a few more steps he fell into waist deep water mistaking it for a solid floor. Proud Duryodhana, who was wearing his crown and a costly necklace was very angry, but when he fell into the water everyone laughed, especially Draupadi and Bhima.Yudhisthira tried to check the laughing of all the women in the palace, by raising his hand and his glances. Lord Krsna however, encouraged it by the suggestive gestures of His eyebrows. Humiliated and swearing revenge, Duryodhana turned his face
downwards and went back to Hastinapura.The Kurus then made a conspiracy to trick Yudhisthira into a gambling match by which the Kauravas (Kurus) could cheat the Pandavas out of everything with the dice made from Sakuni's bones. During the match Yudhisthira lost his kingdom, wealth, jewelry, clothing and finally even gambled and lost his wife Draupadi. When Dussasana went to fetch the chaste Draupadi, she said she couldn't come to the assembly as she was undergoing her monthly period, and was only dressed in one piece of cloth (a simple 'sari'). Draupadi had a beautiful bunch of hair which was sanctified at the ceremonial Rajasurya Yajna,
but Dussasana defiled that sacred lady and grabbed her by her hair just to insult her. When he started to pull off her sari just to make her naked, Draupadi, realizing that she had no hope of help from her husbands as they too had been lost, by Yudhisthira being tricked into upholding honour codes and now had no free will to act. Draupadi then prayed to Sri Krsna, and as much 'sari' as Dussasana took from her body, that much was replaced. Lord Krsna, though protecting his surrendered devotee, decided that for their sinful behaviour the Kurus would be
inevitably killed at the Battle of Kuruksetra.

When the Pandavas were exiled to the forest for twelve years after a second gambling match, the Kurus stated that after the completion of twelve years the Pandavas had then to spend one year incognito, thus making thirteen years. If, during the final year the Pandavas's whereabouts were discovered,they again had to spend another twelve years in the forest. Because the Pandavas were concerned how to feed the 'brahmanas' who accompanied them to the forest,
Draupadi Devi was given a pot by the sun god called by Aksayapatra. This pot would never be empty until Draupadi had taken her meal and turned the pot upside down. Then it would produce no more for that day. Once Draupadi had finished cooking and had just taken her meal when the Muni/Rishi Durvasas arrived with many of his disciples. The angry sage Durvasas and his disciples had secretly been asked to go there by the Kauravas who knew that by this time Draupadi would have taken her meal, and if she was unable to offer them anything to eat,
she would incur the wrath of Durvasa. Durvasas and his disciples went to the river to bathe and freshen up before taking their meal. Draupadi, full of anxiety, prayed to Lord Krsna to help her. Lord Sri Krsna then told Draupadi that if there was a morsel of food left he would be satisfied if that were offered by Draupadi to him. Seeing a fragment of rice stuck to the side of the pot, Sri Krsna asked for it, Draupadi offered it to Sri Krsna, and simply by eating that morsel of foodstuffs, all of Rishi Durvasas' men and Durvasa himself became completely full
and satisfied, and out of embarrassment slipped away and didn't come to demand a meal from Draupadi as the Duryodhana had arranged for them to do.

The photos are of Hare Krsna Hare Rama devotees in Navadvipa, cooking prasadam, distributing food, cooking food, and also the deities at Navadvipa. There is also a photo of two elderly Jain ladies at a Kolkotta 2007 Akshay Trittiya festivity. There is a couple at a mass marraige ceremony. Photos of Sri Lakshmi Devi and Sri Parasurama.

Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooran, is celebrated in Thrissur (in Kerela)at Vadakkumnathan in the month of Medam (April) every year where the regaining deity is Lord Shiva. This 200 year old festival this year starts in Thrissur in Kerala on April 16 2008.

Thrissur Pooram, the mother of all temple festivals in the state of Kerala held at the two devaswams- Paramekkavu Bhagavathy temple ( the Devi temple) and Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna temple ( the Krishna Temple). The main part of the Thrissur Festivals include the displays of parasols and processions by the two rival groups form Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi representing the two parts of Thrissur.While the main participants are Paramekkavu and Tiruvambadi, close to the Vadakunnathan temple.Also participating and known as 'Cherupooram' are the suburban temples at Kanimangalam, Karamukku, Choorakkattukara, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Neithilakkavu and Chembukkavu, Panamukkampilly, altogether 8 deities.The sprawling Thekkinkadi maidan, encircling the Vadakumnathan temple, is the main venue of the festival.

This festival is celebrated with a colourful procession and parade of caparisoned elephants, parasols, drums, display of pyro-techniques. During the festival season, Thrissur, popularly known as the temple town in Kerala turns into a town of colour and celebrations.The exhibition of the paraphernalia of elephant decorative, commonly known as ‘Aana Chamayal pradarsanam’, the spectacular show of ‘Kudamattom’ in which parasols of myriad numbers, designs and colours are exchanged by the people atop the elephants. An elephant also carries the "thidambu" ( means image of the deity).

The Pooram programmes begin with the ezhunellippu of the Kanimangalam Shasta in the morning and is followed by the ezhunnellippu of the other six minor temples on the Pooram Day. The ezhunnellippu programme which is considered to be a ritual sybolising the visit of the Devi from the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples to the Vadakkunnathan temple.

A major event of the Pooram festival is the Panchavadyam in which about 200 artistes from the musical disciplines of Thimila, Maddalam, trumpet, cymbals and Edakka participate. Another major event of the pooram begins with the setting off of the ‘Pandemelam’at noon in which about 200 artistes in the musical disciplines of drums, trumpets, pipe and cymbals participate. The grand finale of this festival of grandeur, music and fire works would be marked with a function of bidding farewell to the deities of the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswams in front of the Western Gate of the Vadakkunnathan Temple.

The Pooram festival is concluded with a spectacular fire works display, which is held in the wee
hours of the day after the Pooram. The Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswams present many innovative patterns and varieties of fire works festival.

The religious significance of Pooram -

The legend behind this festival is that the word "pooram" literally means a group or a meeting, it was believed that every year the dynastic gods and goddesses of neighbouring province met together for a day of celebration. This usually happened on the pooram asterism of one of the spring months. The gods and their entourage arrived for the meeting on colourfully decorated tuskers/elephants. Accordingly the two most prominent opposing groups from the Krishna temple at Thiruvambadi and the Devi temple at Paramekkavu display their parasols and elephants in what symbolises an assemblage of suburban deities before the presiding deity at the Siva temple in Thrissur.

At the close of the Pooram both these rival groups enter the temple through the western gate and come out through the southern gate to array hemselves, face to face, one from the round and other form the Municipal Office road. Although this grand festival is known as Thrissur Pooram, it is in fact the conclusion of the eight - day Utsavam of nine temples.

The historical significance of Pooram -

Before the advent of Thrissur Pooram, the largest temple festival during summer in central Kerala was the one-day festival held at Aarattupuzha, 12 km south of Thrissur. Temples in and around Thrissur were regular participants of this religious exercise until they were once denied entry by the responsible chief of the Peruvanam area of Cherpu, known for its Namboodiri supremacy. As an act of reprisal, Prince Rama Varma (1751-1805), also known as Sakthan Thampuran who was then the ruler of the erstwhile Cochin state invited all these temples to bring their deities to Thrissur where they could pay obeisance to Lord (Sri) Vakunnathan ( Lord Shiva), the deity of the Vadakunnathan temple. It was he who made the sprawling Thekkinkadu Maidan the major venue of Thrissur Pooram. He entrusted the onus of holding the festival to the two public temples- Tthiruvampadi and Paramekkavu temples .He himself is said to have drawn up the 36-hour hectic schedule of the Pooram festival.

Ugadi Festival

The New year festival or Ugadi ( as it is known in Andhra Pradesh) comes along with Vasant Navratra. The name Ugadi has been derived from Yuga Aadi (Yuga + Aadi means "Beginning of New age"). The ages starting from a major reference point are Golden age, Silver age, Copper age and Iron age and also known in Hindi as Satyuga or Krutha yuga, Treta yuga, Dwapar yuga and Kaliyuga. The very end of Iron age i.e. the Kaliyuga is refer to hell or "Naraka" or the age of ignorance, which our Puranas or even in Srimath Bhagavath Gita mentioned that the Kaliyuga is "the night of the Brahma, the creator of new world and the Satyuga is the Day of Brahma".Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit. On this day, people chant mantras and the pundits make predictions for the coming year.

It is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day - Chaitra suddha padhyami or the Ugadi day. Also the great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya's calculations proclaimed the Ugadi day from the sunrise on as the beginning of the new year, new month and new day. The onset of spring also marks a beginning of new life with new plants, shoots and leaves.

Traditionally, on this day the panchangasravanam or listening to the yearly calendar was done at the temples but now one can get to hear the priest-scholar on television sets right in one's living room.

Like any festival it brings with it special recipes and food prepared for this day. "Ugadi pachchadi" is one such dish that has become synonymous with Ugadi. It is made of new jaggery, raw mango pieces and neem flowers and new tanarind which truly reflect life - a combination of sweet, sour and bitter tastes! See the recipe at www.desifoodtv.blogspot.com.
Jaggery represents Krutayuga and Tretayuga which is full of purity, prosperity and peace. Neem leaves represents Dwaparyuga and Kaliyuga which consists of sorrow, chaos and impurity.

The inner significance of Ugadi Pachadi is to indicate that life is a mixture of good and bad, joy and sorrow and all of them have to be treated alike. All experiences have to be treated with equanimity. Every one should make a resolve that he will face calmly whatever happens in this year, accepting it with good grace. Welcome everything. Consider everything as for one’s own good. Men should rise above sorrow and happiness, success and failure. This is the primary message of the Ugadi festival.

Also eaten on this dau id Raw Mango Rice or Mammadikaya Pulihora. In Andhra Pradesh, eatables such as "pulihora", "bobbatlu"( similar to the maharashtrian "puran poli") and other dishes with raw mango are made.

While this festival is called Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, in Maharashtra it is known as "Gudipadava".

Prior to Ugadi, houses are cleaned thoroughly, new clothes and other puja and festival requirements are bought. On Ugadi day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after which they decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves.ugadi Pachadi is eaten. Ugadi is also the most auspicious time to start new ventures.

As per legend it is said that Kartik (or Subramanya or Kumara Swamy) and Ganesha, the two sons of Lord Siva and Parvathi were very fond of mangoes. As the legend goes Kartik exhorted people to tie green mango leaves to the doorway signifying a good crop and general well-being.

Another Ugadi tradition has become the Kavi Sammelanam or poetry recitation and is a typical Telugu Ugadi feature.Ugadi Kavi Sammelanam is also a launch pad for new and budding poets. It is generally carried live on All India Radio's Hyderabad "A" station and the Doordarshan,(TV) Hyderabad following "panchanga sravanam" (New year calendar) narrating the way the new year would shape up in the lives of people and the State in general.

Ugadi Subhakankshulu! Wishing you all a great year ahead!

The photos are of a Sammelan, an Ugadi rangoli, Sai Ashram decorated on Ugadi and Sri Sathya Sai's Ugadi darshan.

Gudi Padva

Gudi Padwa, also known as Ugadi, is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra. This year it falls on April 6th 2008.

According to legend, this is the day on which Brahma created the world after the deluge and time began to tick from this day forth.

India is still largely an agrarian community and there is a theory that the word 'padwa' might have its roots in the Sanskrit word for crop, which is 'Pradurbhu.' The word 'padwa' as used contemporarily means 'New Year', but this day also marks the end of one harvest and the beginning of a new one, which for an agricultural community would signify the beginning of a New Year. Gudi stands for the Gudi that is hoisted outside most Maharashtrian homes. A 'gudi' is a pole on top of which an upturned brass or silver pot called a kalash is placed. A bright green or yellow cloth adorned with brocade (zari) is tied to the tip of a long bamboo over which gathi (a type of sweet), neem leaves, a twig of mango leaves and a garland of red flowers is tied. This is then hoisted by placing a silver or copper pot placed in the inverted position over it. it is also known as Brahms's flag or Brahmadwaj Some also refer to it as ‘the flag of Indra’ (Indradhvaj). On Gudi Padwa, you will find gudis hanging out of windows or otherwise prominently displayed in traditional Maharashtrian households.

Typically like most of our festivals prior to Gudi Padwa house spring cleaning is a must. On the day itself a bath early in the morning, wearing new clothes and meeting and eating meals and prasad with relatives and friends is tradition.

This festival is predominantly celebrated by Maharashtrians as "Gudi Padwa" and special festival foos like puran poli, shrikand puri and soonth phanak are eaten on this day.

Traditionally, the festival begins also by eating the bittersweet leaves of the neem tree. Sometimes, a paste of neem leaves is prepared and mixed with ajwain (carrom seeds), gram pulse, tamarind (imli) and gudh (jaggery).

Gudi Padwa also represents auspiciousness and is one of the best muhurats of the year to start anything important. The day is in particular considered auspicious for building or entering a new house, putting a child to school, or starting a business. With this day begins the new season, the spring.

It is believed as per legend that on 'Gudi Padva' :

* The Universe was created by Brahma.
* Satyuga (The Age of Truth and Justice) began.
* King Vali was killed by Rama.Shri Rama returned to Ayodhya victorious.

This festival is known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It has become a custom to hold Kavi Sammelans (Poetry recitals) this day.

Chaitra Navratri

We have all heard of the nine day Navratri festival that takes place in October - November every year. There are however two Navratri's in a year not one. The first Navratri ( which is lesser known and lesser celebrated ) is called Vasant Navratri or Chaitra Navratri. It takes place in the earlier half of the calender year ( usually around March or April) . This Navratri is more celebrated in North Indian states like Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. The second Navratri ( in October- November) is celebrated as Durga Puja in Bengal and also as Garba in Gujarat.

This rear in 2008 the Vasant Navratri starts of April 6th 2008, Sri Durga Ashtami is on 12th APril 2008 followed by Ram Navmi. Vasant Navratri also herald the start of the Hindu new Year. This Year it will be the start of the Hindu year 2065.

Legend has it that this first Navratri was the original nine day Navatri during which Sri Durga is worshipped and that Lord Sri Ram changed the period of Durga Puja. Sri Ram invoked the blessings of Goddess Sri Durga before beginning his war with Ravana ( King of Lanka) to gain victory in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin ( October - November) . This is also why Durga Puja ( celebrated in bengal in October - November is known as "Akal Bodhon" in Bengali which means untimely invocation.

Vasant Navratri is also known as Ram Navratri because Ram Navmi falls on the nine day of Chaitra. This Spring Navratri or Vasant Navratri festival is dedicated to Mother Gauri or Parvati. It marks the change of the seasons and the onset of summer and so its name of Vasant or Basant Navratri.

Almost all the rituals observed during Navratri (held in October-November) are also observed during Vasant Navrati including the nine day fasting.

People also like to have jagran, chooki, in the Navratri time. On the eighth and the ninth day people like to end Navratri by calling small girls to their home and giving them delicious items to eat. This is also called as kanya poojan.

This festival is also known as Navratra ( upnorth) or Kanjakaan ( in Punjab and Haryana). Punjabi's give this celebration the name "Kanjakaan" due to the worship of "Kanjaks" which means little girls who have not yet started their menstrual cycle. The "Kanjaks" are symbolic of Goddess Sri Durga so they are invited home in odd numbers ( 3 or 5 or 7 or 9) on the day of Sri Durag ashtami and are worshiped. First their feet are washed by the women observing the fast of Navratri. Their head and shoulders are then covered with red chunis with gold gota work on it and tilak is put on their foreheads. They are then fed Kala Choley, Puris and Halwa ( Kala Choley is an Indian recipe for Black Chick Peas, Puri is an Indian bread that is deep fried and Halwa is a dessert, see the recipes at www.desifoodtv.blogspot.com). After eating they are sent away with gifts of steel utensils ( usually a plate, glass and katoris). Originally the gifts were probably semi precious metals like gold and silver but with the onset of the modern age steel has replaced these as gifts.
All these rituals are performed by the women who have observed the fast.

I have seen these rituals performed several times in my grandmothers house as a child. In some house this puja also brings in several family traditions, so sometimes these rituals may differ slightly from family to family.

In case of Kanjakaans , persons who fast during these 9 days of Navratri usually eat only one meal a day that too consists of Singhada Atta ( waterchestnut flour) rotis and potatoes in some cases without salt. Some people even drink only milk and go without eating. The idea being that all things that grow with seeds are not to be eaten as Godess Sri Durga also represents the earth mother. No intoxicating drinks or meat or sex is permitted during this time. Some male devotees even do not shave off their beards or cut hair during this period.

Himachal Pradesh hosts every year a huge Chaitra Navratra Fair. Some of the temples that will celebrate Vasant Navratra are Naina Devi, Jawalamukhi, Chamunda ji, Chintpurni, Bajreshwari(Kangra), Hatkoti, Bhimakali (Sarahan), Trilokpur (Sirmour), Mansa Devi.

This festival is also celebrated by other communities such as Bania Aggarwals, Kashmiri pandits and son on in all parts of the country. If you have any knowledge of how this festival is celebrated in your community or home please feel free to add your celebrations or rituals to this blog either as a comment or by writing to me.

The photos are mostly of Godess Sri Durga, kanjaks, devotees having a dip in the Jammu Tawi river during Chaitra Navratri, Ambaji Temple and of kanya puja amongst others.

The Festival of Holi

On Saturday ( 22nd March 2008) the Festival of Holi was celebrated. This festival is celebrated on account of the victory of good over evil.

As per legend on the evening before Dhuli Vandan ( Holi) the rakshasi ( means demoness) Holika was burnt by Sri Prahlad ( believed to be an incarnation or avatara of Sri Hari Vishnu ). This is symbolised even today by the burning of bonfires the night before Holi.

In Braj, Vrindavan and Mathura this festival lasts a week and has some special celebrations such as Laathmaar Holi (where women beat the men with laathis) and KapdaPhad Holi ( where people tear each others clothes) .

This is also the only festival and the only day in India where "Bhang" ( means Marijuana) is sold freely mixed and drunk freely ( in any quantity) with or without milk or eaten as Bhang Pakora (Marijuana Savouries) without it being illegal or without having the police drop by your doorstep.

Read more about Laathmar Holi at http://www.dubbagol.com/Amazing/Lathi_Maar_Holi/.

Here are some pictures of this festivals of colours from March 2008. The first is of a group of friends at the Taj Mahal, the second is of actress , politician and social activist Shabana Azmi and her husband Javed Akhtar, the third is a photo of Laathmar Holi and the fourth is a photo of a beach in Orissa.