Diwali

Five Days Of Diwali
Deewali is a festival of joy, splendor, brightness and happiness. It is the festival of lights and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all Indians all over the world. The uniqueness of this festival is its harmony of five varied philosophies, with each day to a special thought or ideal. People celebrate each of its five days of festivities with true understanding, it will uplift and enrich the lives.

The first day of Diwali: DhanterasThe first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. It is in fact the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik. On this day, Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for mankind. This day marks the beginning of Deepawali celebrations. On this day at sunset, Hindus should bathe and offer a lighted deeya with Prasad (sweets offered at worship time) to Yama Raj, the Lord of Death and pray for protection from untimely death. This offering should be made near a Tulsi tree, the Holy Basil or any other sacred tree that one might have in their yard.

The second day of Diwali: Choti DiwaliThe second day of dipawali is called Narak Chaturdasi. On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear. On this day, one should massage the body with oil to relieve it of tiredness, bathe and rest so that Diwali can be celebarated with vigour and devotion. On this night, Yama Deeya should not be lit. The Shastras (Laws of Dharma) declares that Yama Deeya should be offered on Triodasi night with Prasad. Some people mistook it to mean that because Yama Deeya was lit on that night, that it should always be lit on the night before deepavali. This is absolutely not true. It is advisable that one consults with a learned Pandit or Hindu Astrologer for proper guidance on this matter.

The third day of Diwali: Lakshmi Puja on Diwali This is the day when worship unto Mother Lakshmi is performed. Hindus cleanse themselves and join with their families and their Pandit (priest) and they worship the divine Goddess Lakshmi to achieve the blessings of wealth and prosperity, the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

The fourth day of Diwali: Padwa & Govardhan PujaOn this day, Govardhan Pooja is performed. Many thousands of years ago, Lord Krishna caused the people of Vraja to perform Govardhan Pooja. From then on, every year Hindus worship Govardhan to honour that first Pooja done by the people of Vraja.

The fifth day of Diwali: Bhai DujThe fifth day of the Diwali is called Bhratri Dooj. This is the day after Goverdhan Pooja is performed and normally two days after Diwali day. It is a day dedicated to sisters. Many moons ago, in the Vedic era, Yama (Yamraj, the Lord of death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day. He gave his sister a Vardhan (a boon) that whosoever visits her on this day shall be liberated from all sins. They will achieve Moksha or final emancipation. From then on, brothers visit their sisters on this day to enquire of their welfare. This day marks the end of the five days of deepavali celebrations. This is also known as Bhai fota among Bengalis. Bhai fota is an event especially among Bengalis when the sister prays for her brother's safety, success and well being.

Navaratri

The Festival of Dasara concludes the festival of Navaratri, and the holy day also commemorates the triumph of good over evil.[2] Forms of celebrations can take on a wide variety of manifestations, ranging from worshipping the goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) to exhibiting colorful toys on the day of bombe habba in Karnataka.
There is a legend related to the exhibition of toys that is known as "Bombe habba" in Karnataka and Golu (spelled Kolu in some regions) in Tamil Nadu. Since the goddess Durga needed tremendous power, all other gods and goddesses transferred their power to Goddess Durga and they all stood still as statues. To respect the self-sacrifice of these deities during the festival days, Hindus revere morities (small statues representing gods and godesses) that are in shape of particular gods and goddesses.
The festival is celebrated on the tenth day of the Ashwini month (around October) according to the Shaka Hindu Calendar. This is one of the 3 and a half days in the Hindu Lunar calendar, whose every moment is considered auspicious. On the last day (Dasara day), the morities installed on the first day of the Navratri are immersed in water. This day also marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. People visit each other and exchange sweets. On this day, people worship Aapta tree and exchange its leaves (known as golden leaves) as symbol of gold and wish each other a bright prosperous future . There is a legend involving Raghuraja , an ancestor of Rama, Aapta tree and Kuber. There is also another legend about Shami tree where the Pandava hid their weapons during their exile. In Maharashtra, people also ritually cross the border of their village / town. This ceremony is known as seemollanghan.

Ganesha Habba

I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY GANESHA HABBA

Online Ganesha Pooja

Online Ganesha POOJA
Lord Ganesha is the God of knowledge and the remover of obstacles. He is the older son of Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha is also called Vinayak ( knowledgeable ) or Vighneshwer (god to remove obstacles).
http://www.bindaaspoll.com/festivals/Ganesha2009/index.htm

Vara Mahalakshmi Festival (31/07/2009)

Mahalakshmi is the goddess of wealth, auspiciousness and prosperity. She is worshipped for healthy progeny, as well as the health and long life of the husband. Vratha is observed on a Friday that falls before the full Moon day of the month of Shravanamasa (August - September).
The Vratha is as follows. Early in the morning women after taking bath, make a rangoli on the place where the kalasha is placed. They draw a lotus with 8 petals. The sacred Kalasha (brass/copper/silver) filled with rice and topped with fresh mango leaves, a coconut and cloth are placed on the mandala and Lakshmi is invoked. Goddess is invoked by decorating the Kalasa with flowers, jewellery, vastra (new clothes – saree) fruits, dry fruits, fresh grains, sweets and savouries. Some place coins, or rupee notes or make a garland of notes. The Vratha is performed with the beginning of Puja to Lord Ganesha. Then the main worship of Varalakshmi begins. The raksha is worshipped for a second time and tied to the right hand of the woman. Articles are given as charity to sumangalis (married woman).In Sount India, savouries like obattu, kosumbari, puliyogare, huli anna, hesaru bele payasa are made on this festival. In the evening women visit other houses and exchange sweets and offerings.
Lord Narayana/Vishnu/Hari husband of Lakshmi, an embodiment of Shuddha Sattwa, is the preserver of the world. He is also called the Ashta Lakshmi Padhi. Lakshmi has 8 avthars (incarnation):

Nagara Panchami

Nagara Panchami ( July 26/07/2009)

It comes in "shravana shukla panchami day"
on this day we worship "lord subramanya."/ Snake
previous day to this habba ,we have to put all clothes for madi (for all family members),and take head bath(oil bath)
on this day have to take head bath(but not to use any shikakayi or something)just wash with water
not to drink coffee also
perform the pooja with hasi halu(milk),ghee,water,hasi akki hittu,soaked kadale kallu,aralu,arishina,kukuma,hoovu.
take thirtha(water mixed with hutada mannu)
prepare chigali,tambittu,Akki kadubu with Turmeric Leaves ,sihi kayi kadubu do naivedya
oda hutidavaru(brothers and sisters) "tani eraedu kolluvudu"(means -have to apply milk and ghee on their back and navel) to each other
have to give elle adikae and dakshinae
prepare habbada adigae ,not to prepare any thing in oil this particular Day

Pavanesh