Hindu Festivals
LOHDI / LOHRI

The festival marks the culmination of winter. Communities get together around bonfires, singing and dancing. It is a party evening. The festival is mainly celebrated in Punjab and Haryana.

VASANT PANCHAMI

Spring festival is mainly celebrated in North India in January / February. The flowering mustard fields give yellow color of the day. Devotees wear yellow dress and saffron is added to food to give it yellow color. SARASWATI, goddess of learning is worshipped on this day. There is yellow color everywhere.

MAHA-SHIV-RATRI




"Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam
Urvaruk Miva Bhandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Ma Amritat"

O sustainer of the three worlds, destroyer of illness and supporter of all !
As a ripe fruit gets its release from its pedicel, so free us from disease and give us immortal life.

Maha-Shiv-ratri is both a festival and time to make a wish.
Maha-Shiv-ratri is celebrated in all temples and devotees spend entire night singing devotional songs.
Devotees on this day abstain from food, ending the fast at midnight.
Lord Shiva is a liberator, reliever of sins, helpful and is quick and easy to please. On account of these qualities devotees worship Him throughout their life, especially on the night of Maha Shiv-ratri which is celebrated on the night prior to full dark night.
The present times of treachery, deception, falsehood, corruption and evil, demand full devotion and invocation of Lord Shiva, so that he may remove the darkness, ignorance and evil prevailing today.
Om Namah Shiva

 

HOLI

This is a colorful spring festival. Holi marks end of winter in India and is celebrated all over the land. Young and old alike celebrate this day with colors being thrown at one an other. It is a community festival. In the evening the festival is celebrated with Bonfires symbolizing burning of Holika and a victory over evil. 
The legend has it that Prince Prahlad, son of the evil King Hiranyakashipu, his father, wanted him to stop worshipping God Vishnu. In spite of persecution by the King and his aunt Holika, the Prince did not do so. Holika who was immune to fire, took the Prince in her arms and entered a blazing furnace specially built for this purpose. Holika, the demon aunt was burnt but the Prince walked out unscathed.  

RAM NAVAMI

The birthday of Rama is observed by some with a strict fast. 
This day reminds us about the righteousness of Rama, His devotion to his
teacher, removal of castes, shelter to the refugee, brotherhood, devotion to parents, monogamy, devotion to the master by Hanumanji and Angad, dutiful devotion of Garud.
Ram Navami is celeberated in all Temples.

"Raghu Pati Raghav  Raja Ram. Patti tapavan Sita Ram. Jai Raghunand Jai Sia Ram" 

RAKSHA BANDHAN


Rakhi ceremony in a U.K.
Hindu family

 In the Hindu calendar of Shravan on the full moon day the annual ritual of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated, when sisters tie Rakhi, a sacred thread, on the right wrist of their brothers and apply a tilak on their forehead. By doing so they seek protection from their brothers from evil influences. The person on whose wrist the rakhi is tied is duty bound to offer protection to the girl.
On this day priests (Brahmins) change their sacred thread.

SHREE KRISHNA 
JANMASHTAMI

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