Tag Archives: Uttarakhand Festivals Culture & Traditions

Navratri / Durga Puja Festival — Navratras are observed twice a year, once in Chaitra, preceding Rama Navami, and then in Ashvin (September – October) preceding Dussehra. The nine-day Navratra commences with the new moon of Ashvin and terminates with Maha Navami, on the ninth lunar day of the bright half of the month. During these nine days, devotees keep strict …

Ahoi Ashtami is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik, which falls approximately between September and October according to the English Gregorian calendar. Ahoi Ashtami is widely observed in the Northern states of India. It usually falls on the eight day of the waning period of the moon (the dark fortnight). On the Ahoi Ashtami day, women fast from morning …

In Hindi, the word ‘Amavasya‘ refers to a no-moon day and ‘Hariyali’ refers to greenery. Hariyali Amavasya is thus a festival which is celebrated on a no-moon day to welcome the month of monsoon. It is celebrated on the first Amavasya of Saavan which is the period of July-August as per the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated by people in …

Baisakhi festival derives its name from the month of Vaisakha (April-May) in which this day occurs. It invariably falls on the 13th of April every year,though once in 36 years it occurs on April 14th. On this day people bathe in the sacred tanks, rivers, pools and wells early in the morning, dress themselves in festival clothes, and visit shrines, …

On Chaitra Shukla Purnima, i.e., the full moon day of March-April, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated all over the country. The monkey-God Hanuman is worshiped everywhere in India either alone or together with Lord Rama. Hanuman temples dot the entire length and breath of the country. Every temple dedicated to Rama invariably has an idol of Hanuman. In other temples also …

Rama Navami (Ramanavami) the birthday of Lord Rama is a major Hindu festival celebrated all over the country by devout Hindus both Vaishnavas and Shaivas. Rama, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu was born on the ninth day of the bright half of the Chaitra (March – April) in Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh, India), in the Treta Yuga, the Second Age. There is …

According to Hindu lunar calendar, Paush Purinma falls on full moon day of Magha month. The auspicious day of Paush Purnima holds great importance among devotees. Starting from Paush Purnima, devotees take holy dips in Ganga or Yamuna River throughout the Magha month. Magha month starts from the next day of Paush Purnima as per the north Indian lunar calendar. …

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 …

Vivaha Panchami is an auspicious Hindu festival, which is celebrated to commemorate the divine marriage of Lord Ram (the prince of Ayodhya) and Sita (princess of Janakpur). It is observed on the fifth day of shukla paksh (the bright fortnight) in the month of Margashira as per the Hindu calendar. The festival is generally marked in late November and early …

Ganga Saptami is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly in Northern parts of India. It is also known as Ganga Pujan or Ganga Jayanti. It is believed that on this day the day the holy river Ganga descended onto the earth. This day falls on the seventh day of the  in Vaisakha month. River Ganges is considered to be the most …