Lohri is celebrated every year on 13th of January. It is a festival to worship fire. Lohri Festival is celebrated with great pomp in North India. At this time Earth starts moving towards the sun marking the auspicious period of Uttarayan. First Lohri is very important for the newly wed and the new born babies […]

The term Uttarayan is made from two sanskrit words ?uttara? and ?ayan? which means north and movement respectively. So, the word Uttarayan means the movement of earth towards earth on the celestial sphere. This process starts the day after winter solstice in January and is continued till the period of summer in June. As per […]

Pongal is celebrated in the month of January after the winter solstice. The date of Pongal usually remains same as it is reckoned according to the solar calendar that is more accurate than the lunar calendar. For Hindus the date of Pongal is extremely auspicious as it marks the sun’s entry into Makaram Rashi or […]

The Republic Day is a national holiday of India, celebrated every year on 26th January. This day celebrates the anniversary of the Constitution of India and the transition of India from a British Dominion to a republic on 26th January, 1950. After getting freedom from the British rule on 15th August 1947, India was headed […]

Vasant Panchami, also known as Basant Panchami, Saraswati Puja, Shree Panchami, or the Basant Festival of Kites is a Sikh and Hindu festival held on the fifth day of Magha (usually early February). In 2019, Vasant Panchami is a public holiday in the following regions: Bihar, Haryana, Odisha, Tripura, West Bengal. The festival marks the […]

Auspicious festival of Mahashivaratri falls on the 4th night of the new moon during Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Phalgun. The Sanskrit term, Krishna Paksha means the period of waning moon or the dark fortnight and Phalguna corresponds to the month of March – March in English Calendar. Shivaratri Festival is celebrated on […]

Holika Dahan is a great ritual of the Hindu religion while celebrating the holi festival. It is a tradition festival which celebrates the Holika death and Prahlad safety by organizing the ceremony known as the Holika Dahan. This ceremony held according to the Muhurt by Hindu calendar which specially falls during night or late evening. […]

Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri, Gudi Padwa or Ugadi (Yugadi) also known as Samvatsar Padvo, Cheti Chand or Navreh is one of the three and a half significant periods or Sade Teen Muhurat to start an event or a venture.People keep fast(Navdurga Vrat)perform Puja and Havan to please nine forms of Ma Durga. There are […]

Cheti Chand (चेटी चन्ड) is a festival which marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year for the Sindhi Hindus. The festival date is based on the lunar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, it being the first day of the year and the Sindhi month of Chet (Chaitra). It typically falls in late March […]

Lord Rama was born on Navami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. Each year this day is celebrated as birthday of Lord Rama. Lord Rama was born during Madhyahna period which is middle of Hindu day. Madhyahna which prevails for six Ghatis (approximately 2 hours and 24 minutes) is the most auspicious time to […]

As per the Hindu beliefs and mythology, the battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasur lasted for a period of long nine days and finally with the defeat and killing of Mahishasur, the war concluded. The ninth day of Navratri festival is the win of the deity over the demon with her power, strength, and wisdom. […]

Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Hanuman. On this day, the devotees keep fast. Every year, Hanuman Jayanthi occurs on the full moon day of the Hindu month Chaitra. At some places, Hanuman Jaynti is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month Kartik. Anjana was an […]

Akshaya Tritiya, which is also known as Akha Teej, is celebrated on Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya (the third Hindu date of the bright half of the Hindu month Vaishakh). It is a major festival for the people of Sanatana Dharma. On this day, donations, holy bath, Yajna, Japa, etc. give tremendous results. Akshaya Tritiya is a […]

Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, the Jagannath Rath Yatra is a very significant festival for Hindus which is organised every year at the Jagannath temple Puri. This Rath Yatra is commemorated with colossal zest and liveliness at Puri in Orissa. The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is commemorated on the 2nd day (Dwitiya) during the Shukla Paksha […]

Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, the Jagannath Rath Yatra is a very significant festival for Hindus which is organised every year at the Jagannath temple Puri. This Rath Yatra is commemorated with colossal zest and liveliness at Puri in Orissa. The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is commemorated on the 2nd day (Dwitiya) during the Shukla Paksha […]

Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon date of the Hindu month Ashadha. On this day, the Guru (teacher or mentor) in worshiped. In general terms, Guru is the person who brings us out to the light from the darkness by enlightening us with knowledge. This festival is celebrated with full faith and emotions […]

During the monsoon festival of Hariyali Teej, the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is celebrated. It honours the day when Lord Shiva accepted Goddess Parvati’s love. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati went through the birth and rebirth cycle a total of 108 times until Lord Shiva took notice of her single minded […]

There are a lot of myths and stories that go along with why this day is dedicated to snakes and why prayers are offered to them. According to mythology, a deadly snake Kalia had been poisoning the river Yamuna and it had become difficult for the residents of Braj to drink any water. Krishna, as […]

Rakhi has a lot of stories around them. During the Mahabharata, it is believed that Draupadi tied a rakhi on Krishna’s wrist when he had injured his finger while using his sudarshan chakra against the king Shishupalal. While Krishna’s hand was bleeding, Draupadi tore a piece from her sari and tied it around his hand. […]

The story of India’s colonialisation began with the arrival of the East India Company to the country in 1600s. The merchants who came to trade in India, soon started to exercise military and administrative control. Due to their massive military strength, they started to overpower and suppress the local kingdoms, and ruled some parts of […]

Hartalika Teej is one of the three significant teej festivals in the country. On this auspicious day, Lord Shiva and Parvati are worshipped for achieving marital harmony. Hartalika Teej 2018 is celebrated in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from it, the other two important teej festivals are Hariyali Teej and Kajri Teej. […]

Janmashtami, or more popularly known as Krishna Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna which is celebrated with great fervor and zeal in India during the monsoon month. If we go by the Hindu calendar, this important day falls on the Ashtami or eighth day of the Krishna Paksh or dark fortnight of Bhadon month. […]

There are many stories that do the rounds when it comes to tracing the history of this festival but the most relevant one dates back to the time when Parvati, Lord Shiva’s wife, created Ganesha. As the story goes, Parvati used sandalwood paste and created Ganesha so that he could guard while she was bathing. […]

According to Vaishnava mythology, Mahabali defeated the gods and took over all three worlds. This made the gods unhappy and they sought the help of Lord Vishnu against Mahabali. Vishnu said he would aid them but did not want to be involved in a battle with Mahabli (since Mahabali worshipped Vishnu). So, he transformed into […]

The legend connected with the festival is didactic, rather than explanatory, in nature. One day, a Brahmin, Kaundinya, and his wife, Sushila, were on their way home. They stopped by a river because Kaundinya wanted to take a bath.  While he was away, Sushila observed some women praying. When she enquired, they told her that […]

While there are various reasons behind the celebration of the nine-day festival, all the stories from folklore have one theme in common – the victory of Good over Evil. There are primarily two stories which form the basis of history of the divine festival. First of the two legendary stories is the one which is […]

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated in India on 2nd of October every year. A great leader Mahatma Gandhi was born in the year 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat. He was also known as the “Father of the Nation.” He is remembered for his unforgettable contribution in the struggle of freedom. His aim was to build a […]

Maha Navratri or Sharad Navratri is the most significant of the four Navratris and Mahanavami falls on the ninth and last day of the Navratri festival. This year, it will be observed on October 18, 2018. Advertising It marks the final day of the long drawn battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura, who was defeated […]

India is highly popular for its many festivals and various colours associated with each festival. September-October is a great time to be in India as it is festival season and the country is illumnated with lights. One such festival which is celebrated with great enthusiasm around this time is the Mahashtami or Maha Durga ashtami. […]

Performed on the 10th day of the Sharad Navratri, the Dashmi tithi is commemorated as the day when the cluster of Shardiya Navratri comes to an end. Its always been a mystery as to when the Parana must be observed, i.e. either on the Navami or on the Dashami. As per the Mimansas, the Navaratri […]

Vijayadashami or Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Navratri festival. In the northern and southern states, it is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana. While in eastern and northeastern states of India, it commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, the demon king, and also marks the end […]

Karva Chauth is celebrated on the fourth day of the dark half in Hindu month Kartik. On this day, married women keep fast to elongate the life of their husband. Those who are unmarried, keep this fast to get a good husband in future. Festival of Karwa Chauth is celebrated with great zeal and gusto […]

Celebrated on the thirteenth day of the Kartik month of the Dark Lunar fortnight (Krishna Paksha), Dhanteras graces the lives of the masses with affluence. Known by two names, Dhantrayodashi and Dhanvantri Jayanti, the festival lauds the discovery of the ‘Amrit Kalash’ by the Father of Ayurveda, God Dhanvantri by churning the sea. When the […]

It is since ancient times that Diwali has been celebrated. It is not easy to say now what really was the reason behind its origin. Different people believe different events to be the cause behind this festival. Here are ten mythical and historical reasons that are possibly behind the Diwali (Deepavali) celebrations. The most well […]

According to the Hindu epic and legend, the “Vishnu Puraan”, the people of Gokul, Mathura used to worship Lord Indra for providing them with rains. They believed that it was him who blessed them with the rains for their welfare.   But Lord Krishna explained to them that it was mount Govardhan (a small hillock […]

Bhai Dooj is a Hindu festival which celebrates the love between a brother and sister. On the occasion of Bhai Dooj, women pray to the Gods for long and prosperous lives for their brothers. It is celebrated two days after Diwali. This year, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on November 9. On Bhai Dooj, women […]

It is said that the rituals of Chhatth Puja may even dates back to ancient era, in which it finds a mention in the ancient Vedas, as the Rigveda features hymns adulating the Lord Surya and exemplifies similar customs. The custom also finds a reference in the Sanskrit Epic poem of Mahabharata in which Draupadi […]

Children’s day (also known as Bal Divas) in India is celebrated every year on 14th of November to increase the awareness of people towards the rights, care and education of children. Children are the key of success and development of the country as they would lead their country in different and new technological way. They […]

This Christmas story originally appeared in a Columbus, Ohio newspaper on December 24th, 1887. It was subtitled ‘As Compared to the Ordinary Christmas Day’. It is shared here in its complete form, with punctuation, spelling and vocabulary exactly as it was printed in the original. Such humorous stories were very common in local newspapers of […]