Author: Abhishek Singh

“Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti” is mainly celebrated by the people belonging to “Valmiki” (Also called Balmiki) to commemorate the birth of Maharishi Valmiki. The Valmikis claim to be the descendents of Maharishi Valmiki, who is credited for being the harbinger of Sanskrit Literature and also for being the first ever Sanskrit poet. “Maharishi Valmiki” composed the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, sometime during 5th to 1st Century B.C. Maharishi Valmiki was recognized as a literary genius and the fact that he composed one of the Hindu religion’s most read and revered epic – Ramayana; his jayanti (anniversary) is celebrated by the whole Hindu community irrespective of caste or creed. Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti is celebrated as “Pargat Divas” in the western state of Punjab. Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti 2019 Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti 2019 is on Sunday, 13th October 2019. When is Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti Celebrated Maharishi Valmiki lived around the same time as Lord Rama, around 500 B.C. though his exact date of birth is not known as is the case with Lord Rama, and still remains a matter of debate for historians and religious masters. However, his birth anniversary is celebrated on Ashwin Purnima (full moon in Ashwin month) as per the Hindu Lunar calendar, usually falling in the Gregorian calendar months of September-October. Legends of Maharishi Valmiki There are a few interesting stories based on the life incidents of Maharishi Valmiki...

“Dev Uthani Ekadashi” is a Hindu festival celebrated with reverence to Hindu God Vishnu. The festival is also called “Prabodhini Ekadashi” and “Devutthana Ekadashi”.  Prabodhini Ekadashi is mainly celebrated in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra and also in some southern states. It also marks the beginning of sugarcane harvest and sugarcanes have a significant place in the performance of rituals. Dev Uthani/Prabodhini Ekadashi 2019 (Date and Time) Prabodhini Ekadashi Vrat 2019 will be observed on Friday, 8th November 2019. The Ekadashi Tithi begins at 09:55 A.M. on 7th November 2019 and ends at 12:24 P.M. on 8th November 2019. The fast should be observed on Friday, November 8th 2019, and the Parana time falls between 06:42 A.M. to 08:51 A.M. on 9th November 2019. Parana means breaking the fast, and it is made post dawn the next day of Ekadashi fast (Vrat). It is mandatory to end the ekadashi vrat on Dwadashi (the next day or 12th day) and during early morning hours; however, if one is unable to break the fast early morning then s/he must break it post afternoon. When is Dev Uthani Ekadashi Celebrated Dev Uthani Ekadashi or Prabodhini Ekadashi is celebrated in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik on the 11th lunar day (ekadashi) in the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha). Shukla Paksha is the first fortnight between...

“Chhath Puja” is a major Hindu festival celebrated in Indian subcontinent, most significantly in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. The festival is also popularly known as “Dala Chhath, where “dala” signifies a basket usually made of bamboo. The festival is also celebrated in other Indian states which have migratory population from the said states. It is also reverently celebrated in the central regions of Nepal called “Madhyadesh” in local dialects. Chhath Puja holds the distinction of being one and only Hindu festival which doesn’t involve idol worship. The festival mainly involves reverence of Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya, who is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi, wife of Lord Shiva. The rituals of Chhath Puja are observed over a span of four days and are the most rigorous of any other Hindu festival. Every ritual and custom should be strictly followed without any excuses, in order to evoke the blessings of Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. Chhath Puja 2019 The Chhath Puja in 2019 commences on Thursday, October 31st and continued till Sunday, November 3rd. The ritual of “Nahaye Khaye” will be observed on October 31st; “Kharna” on 1st November; “Sandhya Arghya” or “Pehla (first) Arghya” on 2nd November and “Doosra (second) Arghya” on 3rd November. When is Chhath Puja Celebrated? Chhath Puja is performed in the Kartik month, as per the historical Hindu...

Dussehra or Vijayadashmi is a popular Hindu festival of India celebrated in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin. It also marks the end of Navratri festival. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil and is celebrated throughout India by many cultures with ritualistic variations. It also sets the stage for one of the Hindu’s most significant festival – Deepawali or Diwali, which is celebrated 20 days after Vijayadashmi. Dussehra festival is celebrated with reverence to two of the most significant Hindu deities – Goddess Durga and Lord Rama. Some cultures venerate different incarnations of Goddess Durga like – Saraswati, Lakshmi etc, as per their faith and belief. Nevertheless, the festival is largely celebrated as symbolic to the victory of good over evil. Dussehra 2019 Vijayadashmi festival in 2019 will be celebrated on Tuesday, 8th October 2019. Rituals like Shami puja and Aparajita puja should be performed during the Aparahna time – 13:24 Hrs to 15:44 Hrs on 8th October 2019. Meaning of Dussehra/Vijayadashmi Some religious specialists believe that the word Dussehra is obtained by joining two Sanskrit words – “Dus” and “Ahara”. Former means 10th and the latter – day. Therefore “Dussehra” implies 10th day or the 10th day of victory.  Another theory about the derivation of name “Dussehra” is that it is formed by combining “Dush” and “Har”; former meaning evil and the latter means to...