Tag Archives: Indian Festivals Legends & Stories

Shivaji Jayanti is celebrated on 19th February. Shivaji Jayanti or the birthday of Shivaji Maharaj is celebrated on a majestic scale in Maharashtra. Shivaji was born on 19th February, 1627. His parents Jijabai and Shahaji Bhonsle named him Shivaji after local Goddess Shivai. Shivaji was the creator of the Maratha nation. He was instrumental in uniting the Maratha chiefs of …

Maha Shivaratri Festival or the ‘The Night of Shiva’ is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity. Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the month of February – March in English Calendar. Celebrating the festival …

Valentine’s Day — There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine’s Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note …

Shab-E-Barat: India is a home of many religions and cultures; every religion celebrates their specific festivals. Muslim community also contributes to Indian population. Muslims from across the world commemorate the festival of Shab E Barat with splendor and zest. They believe that the god writes the future of all men by accounting for all the past deeds committed by them …

Basant Panchami: Saraswati Puja Festival: Vasant Panchami, sometimes referred to as Basant Panchami or Shree Panchami, is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Indian month Magh (January-February), the first day of spring. Traditionally during this festival children are taught to write their first …

Mauni Amavasya: Freezing cold water of the Ganges and the mist enveloping the bathing Ghats casts its magical spell over lakhs of devotees who head to Allahabad on Mauni Amavas. The festive occasion of Mauni Amavas is considered to be the holiest day to take a dip in the Ganges and rinse oneself of their past sins that they might …

Pongal is an important festival in India, with prayers to the Sun God on this occasion. Pongal is one of such highly revered festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu to mark the harvesting of crops by farmers. The house is cleaned, and all maintenance jobs are done before this festival. Pongal Harvest Festival: Held in the middle of January, it is …

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South …

Dhanu Sankranti marks the day when Sun enters in the Sagittarius or Dhanu Rashi. Dhanu Sankranti marks the beginning of the ninth month in Hindu Solar Calendar. This  symbolizes the beginning of the auspicious Dhanur mas for the Vaishnava sect. On this day, Lord Surya or the Sun God is worshiped. Devotees take a dip in the sacred rivers like …

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that occurs in December (the Hebrew month Kislev), also spelled Chanukah, (also called The Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, Feast of the Maccabees) marks the reconsecration of the Temple of Jerusalem (Israel) after its recapture from the Syrian Greeks c.165 BC. A miracle recorded in the Talmud – the burning of a day’s supply …