Saraswati Puja on Vasant Panchami 2016

Vasant Panchami day is dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami day. Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami and Saraswati Panchami. 

People worship Goddess Saraswati to get enlighten with knowledge and to get rid of lethargy, sluggishness and ignorance. 

This ritual of initiating education to children is known as Akshar-Abhyasam or Vidya-Arambham/Praasana which is one of the famous rituals of Vasant Panchami. Schools and colleges arrange pujas in the morning to seek blessing of the Goddess. 

Swami Vivekananda Jayanti

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902 C.E.) was a Hindu monk and a patriotic saint of India. According to English calendar he was born on 12th January 1863 into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta. 

However his birthday is celebrated according to Hindu calendar and this day is known as Swami Vivekananda Jayanti. Vivekananda was born on Krishna Paksha Saptami after seven days of Paush Purnima. 

As Jayanti day is decided based on Hindu calendar, it is not fixed on Gregorian calendar like Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti and Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti which are celebrated on fixed day on Gregorian calendar. 

Sant Ravidas Jayanti 2016

Guru Ravidas  was a famous saint of the Bhakti Movement. His devotional songs and verses made a lasting impact upon the Bhakti Movement. Guru Ravidas is also known as Raidas, Rohidas and Ruhidas. 

According to historians Guru Ravidas was born during 1377 C.E. at Mandhuadhe in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. There is controversy on the exact birth date of Ravidas. 

According to some scholars it was year 1399 when Guru Ravidas was born. As per Hindu calendar Guru Ravidas was born on Magha Purnima. Hence his birth anniversary is celebrated on Magha Purnima as per Hindu lunar calendar. 

His birthplace is now known as Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Asthan and it is a major place of pilgrimage for the followers of Guru Ravidas.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti 26th March 2016 (Saturday)

Shivaji Bhonsle  was a great warrior King of Marathas who established the Maratha Empire. 

He was born in 1630 to Shahaji Bhonsle and Jijabai near the city of Junnar in Pune district, Maharashtra. Shivaji Bhonsle is popularly known as Chhatrapati Shivaji. 

2016 Saphala Ekadashi this year falls on 6th January(Wednesday)

Parana means breaking the fast. Ekadashi Parana is done after sunrise on next day of Ekadashi fast. 

It is needed to do Parana inside Dwadashi Tithi unless Dwadashi is over before sunrise. Not doing Parana within Dwadashi is similar to an offence.

Parana should not be done during Hari Vasara. One should wait for Hari Vasara to get over before breaking the fast. Hari Vasara is first one fourth duration of Dwadashi Tithi. 

The most preferred time to break the fast is Pratahkal. One should avoid breaking the fast during Madhyahna. 

If due to some reasons one is not able to break the fast during Pratahkal then one should do it after Madhyahna.

Shri Tailang Swami Jayanti 2016

Tailang Swami  was a great Hindu Yogi who has divine powers. For most of his life Tailang Swami stayed in Varanasi, India. 

It is believed that Tailang Swami was an incarnation of Lord Shiva due to which few disciples referred him as The Walking Shiva of Varanasi. 

Tailang Swami lived a very long life of around 280 years. Tailang Swami was also known as Telang Swami and Trailanga Swami. 

2016 Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

Guru Gobind Singh  was the tenth Guru out of total 10 Sikh Gurus. He was born in Patna, Bihar on 22nd December 1666 according to Julian calendar. 

Julian calendar is obsolete and in present time no one uses it. Julian calendar was replaced by Gregorian calendar. This Puja falls on 16th January(Saturday).

Pongal is a Hindu festival celebrate in Tamil Nadu.

Pongal is a Hindu festival which is experimental by people of Tamil Nadu. This festival celebrate in 15 January 2016 (Friday).  Pongal is a four days festival and the most important day of Pongal is known as Thai Pongal. 

Thai Pongal which is the second day of the four days festivity is also celebrated as Sankranti. The same day is observed as Makar Sankranti in North Indian states when people take holy dip in river Ganges.

The day before Thai Pongal is known as Bogi Pandigai. On this day people clean their homes and light bonfire to throw away unused items. In Punjab the same day is celebrated as Lohri by Sikh community. This festival celebrate in all Men and women wear in new cloths.  

This is a oldest agricultural festival Akshaya "Tritiya"

This is the oldest agricultural festival in the State. On this day farmer goes to his field with turmeric powder, sandal paste, paddy seeds mingled with vermilion and rice cakes. 

He takes along with him his plough. In the field, he prays and offers ‘Bhoga’ to goddess Lakshmi and sows fistful of paddy seeds in the field after ploughing it.