Chamayavilakku Festival Kottankulangara Chavara Kollam Kerala

The Kottankulangara Festival is an once a year Hindu festival in Kerala, India in which thousands of men dress as women. The festival takes place at the Kottankulangara Devi Temple at Chavara, Kerala which is consecrated to the goddess Bhagavathy. Every year this festival is celebrated on the 10th and 11th day of the Malayalam Meenam Maasam which falls on the 24th and 25th of the year.

On the festival day thousand of Devotees visit the Temple to look for the blessings of the Goddess Bhagavathy. The men dress up in the female clothes of their choice. Some wear Set saari, Pattu saari, half saari or even dance costumes.

kartika purnima 2015 Mainley Celebrate for 5 days

The Full Moon Day or 15th Day of the Shukla Paksha  of the Kartika month is careful as Karitka Purnima. During this Month all the moral Hindus refrain themselves from eating fish, meat and egg. All of them take pre-dawn bath and visit temples as a matter of routine habit. The last five days are careful more blessed, in which there is wide sharing of devotees. Taken together the days are called 'Panchuka’ and the last day being the"Kartika Purnima". 

Every day they take food only once in the afternoon which is known as 'Habisha'. Panchuka Brata (The five days Celebration) For all the five days the women after their purification bath and wear new saree in the early morning draw beautiful flower-designs around the 'Chaura' with colour powder. Fasting for the day is commonly observed. Most of the Shiva temples get crowded with devotees offering prayer to Lord Shiva who is said to have killed the demon 'Tripurasura' on this day. 

Group singing of 'kirtans' and loud beating of 'Mrudanga' and cymbals continue for the whole day. Boita Bandana – As an Ancient Festival  that takes place in the “Kartika Purnima” morning is significant to the ancient history of Orissa. This reminds the maritime glory of the State. 
In olden days the 'Sadhabas' (Sea Traders) used to sail off to distant Islands like Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Ceylon etc. for trade by huge boats (Boita). The women of the community were giving them a hearty see off by saying ‘Aa ka Ma Boi’ which symbolizes three Oriya months i.e. Aswina, Kartika and Margashira. 

The days are now gone, but the memory is still alive. Now, people float tiny boats made out of cork and coloured paper or bark of the banyan tree remembering the past glory. This is called "Boita Bandana". The “Kartik Brata” is concluded on “Kartik Purnima” day. It is commonly observed that devotees take holy bath in Puri Sea Beach and worship Lord Jagannath on this holy day. This festival is celebrated with lot of respect by each and every individual of Orissa.

Today is celebrate Dhanteras Festival

The festival of Dhanteras falls in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight. This positive day is celebrated two days before the festival of lights, Diwali.
On Dhanteras, Lakshmi - the Goddess of capital - is worshiped to give success and well being. It is also the day for celebrating wealth, as the word 'Dhan' exactly means wealth and 'Tera' comes from the date 13th.

In the evening, the lamp is lit and Dhan-Lakshmi is welcomed into the house. Alpana or Rangoli designs are drawn on pathways including the goddess' footprints to mark the arrival of Lakshmi. Aartis or devotional hymns are sung eulogizing Goddess Lakshmi and sweets and fruits are offered to her.
Hindus also worship Lord Kuber as the treasurer of wealth and bestower of riches, along with Goddess Lakshmi on Dhanteras. This custom of worshiping Lakshmi and Kuber together is in prospect of doubling the benefits of such prayers.
People flock to the jewelers and buy gold or silver jewelry or utensils to venerate the occasion of Dhanteras.

Many wear new clothes and wear jewelry as they light the first lamp of Diwali while some engage in a game of gambling.

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of Hindu

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus, celebrated with great interest and happiness in India. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days, where the third days is celebrated as the main Diwali festival or 'Festival of lights'.

Different colorful varieties of fireworks are always connected with this festival. On this auspicious day, people light up diyas and candles all around their house. They perform Laxmi Puja in the evening and seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. The festival of Diwali is never complete without exchange of gifts. People send for diwali to their near and dear ones. 

Diwali is an important festival for Hindus. The name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali varies greatly among Hindus, based on the region of India. In many parts of India, the festivities start with Dhanteras(in Northern & Western part of India), followed by Naraka Chaturdasi on second day, Deepavali on the third day, Diwali Padva dedicated to wife–husband relationship on the fourth day, and festivities end with Bhau-beej dedicated to sister–brother bond on the fifth day. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra.

DIWALI FESTIVAL DATES:

• 9 Nov 15 - Dhanteras
• 10 Nov 15 - Choti Diwali
• 11 Nov 15 -Diwali
• 13 Nov 15 - Bhai Dooj

Aavani Moolam Special Pooja. Pooja will be performed at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple for Sundareswarar (Shiva)

The Aavani Moolam festival celebrated in Madurai on the Moolam day in the month of Aavani (August-September) depicts the famous sports of Lord Shiva at Madurai. It is a pleasing festival with individual local colour and eating of pittu (Puttukku Mansumantha Leela Festival) is a part of the day's commitment for the devotees.

The Panchamoorthies would be full around in demo along streets. During this festival the ten miracles performed by the Lord of Madurai would be enacted by the Sivachariars.This Festival God and Goddess wear in blue color pata saree. 

Pooja will be performed at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple for Sundareswarar (Shiva).

2015 Govardhan Puja, Annakut Puja

Most of the time Govardhan Puja day falls next day after Diwali Puja and it is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna beaten God Indra. Sometimes there might be one day gap among Diwali and Govardhan Puja. 

In sacred texts, Govardhan Puja celebrations are suggested during Pratipada Tithi of Kartik month. Depending on starting time of Pratipada, Govardhan Puja day might fall one day before on Amavasya day on Hindu calendar. 

Gowardhan Puja is also famous as Annakut Puja. On this day food made of cereals like wheat, rice, curry made of gram flour and leafy vegetables is cooked and offered to Lord Krishna. This festival celebrate in all odia People and wear new dress.  

In Maharashtra the same day is celebrated as Bali Pratipada or Bali Padva. The day commemorates victory of Vamana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, over King Bali and subsequent pushing of Bali to Patal Lok (the underworld). It is believed that owing to boon given by Lord Vamana, Asura King Bali visits the Prithvi Lok from the Patala Lok on this day.

Most of the time Govardhan Puja day coincides with Gujarati New Year day, which is renowned on Shukla Paksha Pratipada of Kartik month. Depending on opening time of Pratipada Tithi, Govardhan Puja revelry could be done one day before Gujarati New Year day. 

Kalashtami, or Maha kala Bhairavashtami Festival

Kalashtami, or Maha kalaBhairavashtami, is the most positive day dedicated to Lord Kala Bhairava. Lord kala Bhairava is a expression of Lord Shiva. Kala Bhairava is the God of Time – Kal means 'time' and 'Bhairava' the expression of Shiva. Ashtami after Poornima, the eighth day after full moon, is careful the ideal day to propitiate Kala Bhairava. In 2015, Kala Bhairavashtami is on Dec 03.
Lord Kala Bhairava is also known as Kshetrapalaka, the warden of the temple. In honor of this, keys to the temple are ceremonially submitted to Lord Kaala Bhairava at temple closing time and are received from him at opening time.

The vahana (vehicle) of Lord Kaala Bhairava is the dog. Feeding and taking care of dogs is another way of showing our devotion to Lord Kaala Bhairava.

There are eight types of Bhairavas and they are called ashta Bhairavas. They are Asithanga Bhairavar, Ruru Bhairavar, Chanda Bhairavar, Krodha Bhairavar, Unmatta Bhairavar, Kapala Bhairavar, Bhishana Bhairavar and Samhara Bhairavar. Apart from these eight forms there is yet another form called Swarna akarshana Bahiravar. Maha Bhairavar is said to be Shiva himself.

The Swarna akarshana Bhairavar has red nature and clothed in golden dress. He has moon in his head. He has four hands. In one of the hands he carries a golden boat. He gives wealth and wealth.