Category: Festivals
-
Maha shivaratri 2025: reflecting on the five faces of Shiva
Maha Shivaratri is the most powerful day in the year to connect with Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hindu Dharma. Shiva is the form of the Absolute associated with the dissolution of the Universe. In Hinduism, cosmic time and creation is cyclical and hence destruction is a necessary step for new growth, Shiva…
-
Vasanta Panchami and Saraswati Puja
Vasant Panchami is the sacred day of Saraswati, the Devi of creative energy, knowledge, language and speech. Saraswati is associated with education and all forms of artistic expression, hence Vasant Panchami is an important time for students, academics and artists. In Bharat, this festival signifies the arrival of Vasant Ritu (spring), the season of new…
-
Hindus observe Pongal, Lohri, Bihu and other variants of Makara Sankranti
Hindus mark Makar Sankranti today. Lohri, Pongal, Magh Bihu and Uttrayan are some of the regional variations of this festival that are observed either on the eve or actual day of the Sankranti. Marked as per the Hindu Solar calendar, Makar Sankranti occurs just after the winter solstice and marks the arrival of warmer and…
-
Festival of Shiva, the Cosmic Dancer
Arudra Darshanam (Thiruvathirai) occurs during the Hindu solar month of Dhanu (Margazhi) when the Ardra constellation appears with the full moon. This festival marks the occasion when Shiva took the form of ‘Nataraja’ (the king of dance), to perform the cosmic dance; ‘tandava’. The festival is largely observed by Shaiva Hindus from parts of Southern…
-
Gita Jayanti: Narayana imparts teachings of Yoga to Nara
Gita Jayanti is observed on the Ekadashi before the full moon during the Hindu Lunisolar month of Margashirsha. The 700 verses of this text (teachings of Krishna to Arjuna) summarise the Upanishads, the philosophical section of the Vedas. Contained in the 6th book of the Mahabharata; the Bhagavat Gita carries the essence of Samkhya, Bhakti,…
-
Diwali 2024 celebrated by NHS staff
Monday 30th October 2024: Over 100 Hindu medics at Manchester Royal Infirmary came together to mark Diwali. In addition to switching on lights across the Oxford Road Campus, Lakshmi Puja was performed inside the Board Room of the Manchester Foundation Trust (MFT). Covering 11 hospitals, the MFT is the largest NHS trust in the UK.…
-
Ayodhya Diwali 2024: 2.5 million Divas illuminate banks of Sarayu
On the eve of Diwali (30th November 2024), Ayodhya set a new world record by lighting 2.5 million divas (oil/ghee lamps) along the Sarayu River. This was the first Deepotsav celebration following the consecration of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya with a total of 80,000 divas being arranged, in the shape of a…
-
Chhath across the diaspora 2024
The festival of Chhath Parva was marked during the first week of November. Originating from Bihar and parts of neighbouring states this festival is dedicated to Shashti Devi (Chhathi Maiya) and Surya Deva. Chhath involves a set of very rigorous personal disciplines spanning 4 days. In addition to a 36-hour waterless fast, those observing must…
-
Diwali: festival of inner illumination
This week, Hindus across the world celebrate Diwali which can span up to 6-7 days. There are several puranic narratives and rituals associated with the many days of Diwali celebrated by different communities. Cutting across diverse regional customs is the ritual of lighting rows of lamps signifying the cultivation of truth, knowledge and inner divinity…
-
Hindus observe the festival of victory
Today is the festival of Vijayadashami; Dussehra, Dasara, Dashain and Bijoya.This sacred day marks the end of the Navaratri/Durga rituals and marks Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. Rama also observed Durga puja and secured the Devi’s blessings which led to his victory over Ravana, which is also observed today. The day also recalls the Mahabharata, where…
-
Durga’s Autumnal Festivals
This month, Hindus across the globe kick off the Hindu Autumn festival season with observances dedicated to Adishakti (feminine cosmic power) in the form of Durga. The embodiment of unconquerable force, the fierce Durga manifests from the combined powers of the Devas as a mighty warrior who vanquishes the Asuras Mahishasura, Shumba-Nishumba, Chand-Munda etc. Hinduism…
-
Vishvakarma Puja: festival of the divine architect
Vishvakarma is the Hindu deity of crafts and architecture and is largely worshipped by Hindu artisan and craft communities. In the Puranas and Itihasas, Vishvakarma is credited for designing Krishna’s Dwarka, the Pandava’s Indraprastha and Ravana’s Lanka as well as creating the weapons of the great Devas such as Vishnu’s Chakra and Shiva’s Trishula. Vishvakarma…