Festivals

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Festivals are an integral part of every religion around the world.  Different religions and cultures celebrate their own set of festivals for various reasons.  Legends, tales and sentiments are associated with festivals.

Festivals are a time to celebrate life with food; shopping, outings, and family get together, rituals and prayers.  It is something to look forward to, which perks up an otherwise mundane life.

festivals

Hindu Festivals
Hindus celebrate festivals throughout the year.  The Hindu calendar of different regions informs the dates on which the festival falls.  Some of the reasons for celebrating festivals are to herald the seasonal change, harvesting time, remembering saints, mythological events and birth of valiant mythological figures.  Giving and sharing are two valuable values that are practiced during Hindu festivals. The 12 months in the Hindu calendar and the festivals celebrated in each of these months are:

  1. Chaitra(March – April)
  2. Vaishākh(April – May)
  3. Jyaishtha(May – June)
  4. Āshādha (June – July)
  5. Shrāvana (July – August)
  6. Bhādrapad (August – September)
  7. Āshwin(September – October)
  8. Kārtik(October – November)
  9. Mārgashīrsha(November – December)
  10. Paush/Pushya(December – January)
  11. Māgh(January – February)
  12. Phālgun(February – March)

Pooja or Vratha/Religious observance celebrated throughout the year:

  1. Shri Sathyanarayana Swamy Vratha
  2. Udaka Shanthi Pooja

Hindu festival, rituals and pooja related general information are as follows:

    1. Aarathi
    2. Aarathi Songs Lyrics: Lakshmi, Gowri, Ganesha, Tulasi Devi, Saraswathi Prarthana
    3. Gejjevastra
    4. Kalasha
    5. Mangala Drowya and Pooja items
    6. Manthrakshathe
    7. Morada Bagina
    8. Panchamrutha
    9. Shankranthi Yellu
    10. Thorana
    11. Visarjana Manthra
    12. Habbada Adige
    13. Hoovilya
    14. Upanayana

Buddhist Festivals

  1. Buddha Poornima in Vaishakh (April – May)

Jain Festivals

  1. Mahavir Jayanthi in Chaitra (March – April)

Christian Festivals

  1. New Year – January 1st
  2. Valentine’s Day – February 14th
  3. Easter – Good Friday
  4. Thanksgiving
  5. Halloween
  6. Christmas – December 25th

Muslim Festivals

  1. Ramzaan
  2. Bakrid
  3. Moharram
  4. Id Milad

Sikh Festivals

  1. Guru Nanak Jayanthi

National and State Festivals of India

  1. Republic Day of India – January 26th
  2. May Day – May 1st
  3. Independence Day – August 15th
  4. Teacher’s Day – September 5th
  5. Gandhi Jayanthi – October 2nd
  6. Karnataka Rajyotsava – November 1st
  7. Children’s Day – November 14th

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43 Responses to “Festivals”

  1. rambhai.com, on February 13th, 2009 at 4:31 pm Said:

    All you wanted to know about Indian Festivals…

    Festivals are an integral part of every religion around the world. Different religions and cultures celebrate their own set of festivals for various reasons. Legends, tales and sentiments are associated with festivals.

    Festivals are a time to cele…

  2. namita rao, on August 31st, 2009 at 12:49 pm Said:

    i belong to north karnataka married to a banglorean at pune.i am not aware of their culture.I was able to perform some rituals just coz i got all d informn. 4m ur website.thanks a million.
    it would b great if u cud tell me of all d rituals in dasara and diwali.i do want to perform them

  3. Shantha, on September 1st, 2009 at 9:43 pm Said:

    Hi Namita,
    Thanks for your comments and I really appreciate your efforts to learn new customs and trying to perform the rituals. I have already posted about Dasara and Diwali, please access the following links and hope it helps -
    http://www.itslife.in/2008/09/dasara
    http://www.itslife.in/2008/10/deepavali
    Cheers!
    Shantha

  4. namita, on September 3rd, 2009 at 3:17 pm Said:

    do v keep all the dolls 4m day one? or is it depending on whether u hav a male or female kid.anyways….i don’t hav kids rt. now,what do i do?

  5. Shantha, on September 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 pm Said:

    Hi Namita,
    Yes all the dolls are kept on the same day . It does not matter whether you have children or not.

    You can display the dolls on all the 9 days or start to display from Saraswathi pooja day onwards up to Vijayadashami day.

    Happy Dasara and enjoy arranging the dolls.
    Shantha

  6. namita, on September 4th, 2009 at 10:30 am Said:

    thank q so much

  7. namita rao, on April 14th, 2010 at 5:06 pm Said:

    would u describe about adhik masa n d rituals 2 b followed during d same

  8. Shantha, on April 14th, 2010 at 7:23 pm Said:

    Namita,
    Sorry, I don’t know the rituals to be followed during this time. But I know that whatever phala / blessings that you get during this time is doubled. For Example: If you conduct a homa then the phala from this will be doubled.
    Regards,
    Shantha

  9. Shantha, on April 20th, 2010 at 10:05 pm Said:

    Hi Namita,
    I asked our family achar/purohit about your question and he told me the following:
    1. You can chant Vishnusahasranama with 33 others during the month.
    2. You can give 33 Bananas or 33 Mangoes or 33 Coconut along with 33 Betel Leaves and 33 Betel Nuts to anyone you like as dana / gift.
    3. You can give 33 Besan laddoos or 33 Karchikayi
    4. He says anything you to do to god during this month you will be blessed 3 times more.
    Regards,
    Shantha

  10. Niveditha Rao, on July 15th, 2010 at 9:21 am Said:

    Hi Shantha,

    Your blog is simply superb! Please post articles on what all things/items needs to be purchased for Karnataka brahmin wedding.Like pooja items, how to decorate and make nice items to be kept for vara pooje, dhare etc. how to make morada baagina, kashi yatre chatri, tamboola,aarathi plate etc look more beautiful.. My sis’s marriage is nearing.. Please help me!!!!!! Thanks in advance…

    -Niveditha.

  11. Shantha, on July 15th, 2010 at 8:25 pm Said:

    Niveditha, creating a post on a marriage requires lots of time and resources. It cannot be done immediately. I will post it sometime in the future.

    Give my best wishes to your sister.
    Enjoy the wedding,
    Shantha

  12. Niveditha Rao, on July 20th, 2010 at 10:08 am Said:

    Dear Shantha,

    Yeah I understand that it takes more time n resources. But IF POSSIBLE please post atleast some among those or simple textual information without pictures[It is okay without pictures] just as reminders if we have forgot any.. n it is okay if u post in next 4 or 5 months also.. :-)

    Thanks,
    Niveditha.

  13. Shantha, on July 21st, 2010 at 9:08 am Said:

    I will try my best Niveditha

  14. Greeshma, on July 30th, 2010 at 2:49 pm Said:

    if u have any idea about lakshmi gaddugegalu/rangolis particularly kept for lakshmi pooje/varamahalakshmi habba… pls post them

    Thanks,
    Greeshma

  15. Shantha, on July 30th, 2010 at 6:19 pm Said:

    Greeshma, sorry I have no idea of the rangoli that you are referring.

  16. Deeksha N, on August 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 am Said:

    Hi Shantha,

    Can u please post articles on festive season recipes separately.. Nice site.. was searching for a site for brahmin recipes and Vrathas.. Post some more as my thirst for varieties in all fields is insatiable like u.. :-P

    Rgrds,
    Deeksha

  17. Shantha, on August 2nd, 2010 at 9:08 pm Said:

    Thank you Deeksha for leaving this note. Please check the following link for festival recipes – http://www.itslife.in/2009/09/habbada-adige

  18. Greeshma, on August 9th, 2010 at 9:20 am Said:

    Hi Shantha,

    Pl post articles on how many uddharanes of water should be put to panchapatre during any pooja/vratha? I usually get confused with this..

    Thanx,
    Greeshma.

  19. Shantha, on August 9th, 2010 at 5:48 pm Said:

    Greeshma, even I get confused regarding this. I usually follow instructions of the priest.

  20. namita, on August 21st, 2010 at 9:53 pm Said:

    where all is bellad achhu used???

  21. namita, on September 27th, 2010 at 9:39 pm Said:

    what precisely is gaja gauri vrat?

  22. Shantha, on September 28th, 2010 at 6:37 pm Said:

    Sorry Namita, right now I do not have information regarding Gaja Gauri Vratha.

  23. sangeeta, on January 15th, 2011 at 3:53 pm Said:

    Is haldi-kumkum during sankranti a custom in karnataka?Is fasting done on haritalika festival(swarna gouri puja)in karnataka?

  24. Shantha, on January 16th, 2011 at 6:03 pm Said:

    Hi Sangeeta,
    Yes, when people come home to give yellu, we give them Haldi-kumkum and Yellu.

    No, we do not fast on Swarna Gowri Pooja.

    Regards,
    Shantha

  25. sangeeta, on January 18th, 2011 at 3:43 pm Said:

    In maharashtra,any one day before rathasapthami ,married ladies r specially invited for haldi-kumkum occasion.on this day they give haldi-kumkum n some article/item as daana.So my Que was to this reference.Is it a custom to invite ladies on any day before rathasapthami specially for haldi-kumkum purpose?

  26. nagashree, on January 18th, 2011 at 5:02 pm Said:

    Hi sangeeta,

    I think i can answer to this…

    In Karnataka we give away yellu, sakkare acchu, fruits, coconut,sugarcane piece, arishina kumkuma packets, blousepiece in a tray etc. on sankranthi day to muttaides.. If you are a newly married lady, for first 5 years in multiples of 5 like 5,10,15,20,25 u give bananas to them along with arishina kumkuma.. This is done on sankranthi day specifically…

    Again on ratha sapthami day you give arishina kumkuma kosambari for married women that is specific for that day again…

    Regards,
    Nagashree.

  27. Shantha, on January 18th, 2011 at 6:42 pm Said:

    Thanks Nagashree for the reply.

    Sangeetha – In Karnataka we give Haldi – Kumkum to married and unmarried women who visit home before they leave. On festival days, it is accompanied by many other things as Nagashree has explained.

  28. sangeeta, on January 19th, 2011 at 3:34 pm Said:

    Thanx Nagashree n Shantha.My doubt was abt d haldi-kumkum occasion only during period betn sankranti & rathasapthami.

  29. nagashree, on February 3rd, 2011 at 3:36 pm Said:

    Shantha,

    How about you considering an idea of publishing books on Festivals and Recipes especially Habbada adige, Gardening as it would be helpful for people who dont browse much and read hard copy magazines. I thought of telling u this bcoz few women nearby my mom’s home [including my ajji and also mom] till today read and appreciate Sudha,Taranga and other magazines and i always feel that they would be very happy if they get a hard copy book of your website neatly structured.. :-) Even i would love to have one hard copy.. ;)

    Pls consider and analyse this request if possible…. :-)

    Regards,
    Nagashree.

  30. Shantha, on February 3rd, 2011 at 7:48 pm Said:

    Hi Nagashree,
    Even I love reading books and magazines. But I have no plans of publishing a book right now. I am happy with this website and the readers I have online.
    Regards,
    Shantha

  31. mahesh, on May 30th, 2011 at 2:40 pm Said:

    Hi all,

    Can anyone please let me know or send e-mail to my mail id how to go for the temple ambegalu krishna near channapatna mysore

  32. Shantha, on June 1st, 2011 at 7:06 pm Said:

    Hi Mahesh,
    The Krishna temple is in Mallur, which is bang on the Mysore – Bangalore highway few Km away from Channapatna.
    Please check the link below:
    http://www.itslife.in/2008/07/mallur
    Regards,
    Shantha

  33. Saraswathy, on August 4th, 2011 at 3:01 pm Said:

    Hi Shantha,

    Thanks a ton for this site, its just awesome. Can you please tell me atleast some information on some pre marriage/marriage/post marraige rituals that has to be done in Brahmin style. need this information urgently, please help. Will ever be grateful to you

  34. Shantha, on August 4th, 2011 at 7:44 pm Said:

    Hi Saraswathy,
    Thank you for appreciating. I am no expert in this area, please inquire with your family priest. One ritual is the Hoovilya – http://www.itslife.in/2010/07/hoovilya
    Regards,
    Shantha

  35. abcd, on November 8th, 2011 at 2:55 pm Said:

    Shantha,

    do u hv information on saade saathi like what are all the good and bad effects…

    Thanks,
    abcd

  36. Shantha, on November 8th, 2011 at 6:37 pm Said:

    No abcd, I do not have info on saade sath.

  37. seema, on December 13th, 2011 at 11:45 pm Said:

    hai Shantha,

    grt job in posting namma kannada habbada vishaya. I have a request to make. do u have any link or post for kannada festivals only in a calendar format?. its so hard to find a kannada “only” calendar format.
    Any help is truly appreciated.
    Thanks.
    its funny- my sister’s name is Shantha as well :)

  38. Shantha, on December 16th, 2011 at 6:25 pm Said:

    Hi Seema,
    Thanks for visiting. Kannada calendar’s are avaiable in any of the book shops.
    Regards,
    Shantha

  39. Rajani Vijaya Kumar, on January 9th, 2012 at 1:38 pm Said:

    Hi Shantha,

    Hope you are doing great.

    I just wanted to know weather this site will be updated for this year?

    Hopefully
    Rajani Vijaya Kumar

  40. Shantha, on January 10th, 2012 at 8:15 pm Said:

    Hi Rajani,

    Yes, the festival dates will be updated for this year.

    Keep visiting,
    Shantha

  41. Radhika.N, on May 8th, 2013 at 6:18 pm Said:

    Hello,

    This is the first time iam sending mail. but i am a regular visitor to your website.
    I need a help from you.
    My nephew is geeting married in July. We are smartha brahmin.
    Could you please let us know what things to be given to the girl on varapooje day. As you have given details in the gerneral catagory about hoovilya with pictures.
    Please send some photographs also

    Thankyou in advance, Have a great day!

  42. Rajani Vijaya Kumar, on May 9th, 2013 at 11:36 am Said:

    Please update the dates of this year…

  43. Shantha, on May 13th, 2013 at 6:21 pm Said:

    Sure Rajani. Thanks for the reminder.

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