Festivals/सण उत्सव : Captures from various Hindu Festivals !!!
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Diwali - festival of lights !!!
Diwali (Deepawali or Dipawali) is a Hindu festival. Diwali means rows of lighted lamps. It is a festival of lights, and all Indian celebrate it joyfully. In this festival, people light up their houses and shops. During this festival, people worship Ganesha, the elephant-headed representation of God and Lakshmi, goddess of light, wisdom and fortune.
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Fireworks on the Eve of Diwali 2013 at Swaminarayan Temple : Toronto Canada
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Makar Sankranti has an astrological significance, as the sun enters the Capricorn (Sanskrit: Makara) zodiac constellation on that day. This date remains almost constant with respect to the Gregorian calendar. However, precession of the Earth's axis (called ayanamsa) causes Makar Sankranti to move over the ages[citation needed]. A thousand years ago, Makar Sankranti was on 31 December and is now on 14 January. Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. Makara Sankranti commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the Sun from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makara in Sanskrit, this occasion is named as Makara Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14 January
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It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, and other regions of the world with significant populations of Hindus or people of Indian origin. The festival has, in recent times, spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love, frolic, and colours.
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गुढीपाढवा - हिंदू नूतन वर्ष
The first day of the year according to the National Calendar of Bharat (in some parts, the Shalivahana Shaka and in the rest, the Vikrama Samvat - corresponding to the era beginning 78 A.D. and 57 B.C. respectively) is significant both for its historical import and for the advent of bountiful nature. The day falls in the beginning of spring - Vasanta Ritu - When the Goddess of Nature gets bedecked as a divine bride.
The day aptly carries the assurance to human life, "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?" It fills the human spirit with optimism and hope about one's future and injects into him courage and confidence in facing the trials and tribulations of life - both individual and national.
In some parts of Bharat, the tender leaves of neem mixed with jaggery are distributed on the occasion. The neem, extremely bitter in taste, and jaggery sweet and delicious, signify the two conflicting aspects of human life - joy and sorrow, success and failure, ecstasy and agony. The neem-jaggery blend is offered to God as naivedya and then distributed as prasaada. This embodies one of the highest philosophical attitudes taught by the Hindu spiritual masters. Sri Krishna says -
Duhkheshwanudvignamanaah Sukheshu vigatasprihah |
Veetaraagabhayakrodhah sthitadheermuniruchyate ||
Veetaraagabhayakrodhah sthitadheermuniruchyate ||
Not being agitated in sorrow, and free from desire for pleasure, sensual attachments, fear and anger - such a person is called Sthitaprajna - one who has acquired equanimity.
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