Festivals

Kalasha

This is an important arrangement in any of the Hindu rituals/pooja.  This occupies a prominent place in the pedestal along…

Mangala Drowya and Pooje Samaanu

Mangala Drowya and Pooje Samaanu means sacred items used on auspicious occasions like marriage rituals, upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), shrimantha (arathi…

Dasara Procession in Mysore

Vijayadashami being the last day of the celebrations, a grand Jamboo Savari/procession passes through the streets of the city. The…

Mysore Dasara – Mysuru Dasara Celebrations – Mysuru Dussehra – Mysuru Navratri

Mysore looks its best during the 10-day Dasara celebration where all the major roads in the city, heritage buildings, palaces,…

Guru Poornima

Guru Poornima is the auspicious day of worshiping the Guru/Master falls on Poornima, which is the full moon day in…

Dasara – Celebration of Dussehra in different regions of India – Navratri Celebrations

In Mysore, we always looked forward to Dasara, which is the Nada Habba (festival of Karnataka state) and it is…

Onam

Onam is celebrated in Kerala with a lot of enthusiasm. It is their biggest harvest festival and it falls in…

Rama Navami

Rama Navami is a festival celebrating the birth of Sri Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. “Yada Yadaa hi…

Holi – Festival of Colors

I remember Holi being celebrated on the streets of Mysore, where the kids from the neighborhood would go begging from…

Ganesh Chathurthi – Ganesha Festival

I have extremely fond memories of Ganesha-Gowri festival. It was one of the grand festivals of the year for the…

Upakarma – Janivara Habba

Upakarma festival is solely for the men. The others also join in by preparing delicious food as naivedhyam / blessed…

Swarna Gowri Vratha – Gowri Habba – Gowri Festival

Swarna Gowri Vratha/Pooja is celebrated by girls and women in Karnataka and Andhara Pradesh. Goddess Gowri is the mother of…

Rakhsha Bandhan

Rakhsha Bandhan festival is a celebration of the brother-sister bonding, celebrated mainly in North India. It falls on Poornima /…

Mannethithina Amavasya

Manneththina Amavasya, “mannu” means mud; “yeththu” in Kannada means bullocks and “Amavasya” means no moon day. This festival is celebrated…

Ugadi, Hindu New Year

Ugadi, the name is split into Uga + Adi = Ugadi. Uga means Year and Adi means first in Sanskrit…

Mangoes – The Versatile Fruit – Mango Tree

Mangoes - The Versatile Fruit whether raw or ripe are consumed and relished the world over for its unique taste,…