Festivals

Festivals are an integral part of every religion around the world.  Different religions and cultures celebrate their own set of festivals for various reasons.  Legends, tales and sentiments are associated with festivals.

Festivals are a time to celebrate life with food; shopping, outings, and family get together, rituals and prayers.  It is something to look forward to, which perks up an otherwise mundane life.

Hindu Festivals
Hindus celebrate festivals throughout the year.  The Hindu calendar of different regions informs the dates on which the festival falls.  Some of the reasons for celebrating festivals are to herald the seasonal change, harvesting time, remembering saints, mythological events and birth of valiant mythological figures.  Giving and sharing are two valuable values that are practiced during Hindu festivals. The 12 months in the Hindu calendar and the festivals celebrated in each of these months are:

1. Chaitra (March – April)
   • Ugadi/Gudi Padwa – Paridhavi Samvatsara – 22 March 2023
   • Gangaur – 8 March to 24 March 2023
   • Rama Navami – 30 March 2023
   • Ranga Panchami – 26 March 2023
   • Chaitra Gauri Pooja – 24 March 2023
   • Hanuman Jayanthi in North India – 6 April 2023
2. Vaishākh (April – May)
   • Akshaya Tritiya – 23 April 2023
   • Basava Jayanthi– 14 May 2023
   • Shankaracharya Jayanthi – 25 April 2023
   • Ramanujacharya Jayanthi – 25 April 2023
   • Narasimha Jayanthi – 4 May 2023
3. Jyaishtha (May – June)
   • Vata Savitri Vratha / Phala Poornima – 19 May 2023
   • Kara Hunnime / Bhoomi Hunnime –  4 June 2023
   • Mannethina Amavasya – 18 June 2023
4. Āshādha (July – August) – From 29 June to 28 July 2023
   • Ashada Shukravara Lakmi Pooja –  30 June, 7 July, 14 July, 21 July, and 28 July (2023)
   • Prathama Ekadasi / Ghalipata Habba – 29 June 2023
   • Guru Poornima – 3 July 2023
   • Bheemana Amavasya / Gandana Pooja – 17 July 2023
5. Shrāvana (August – September) – From 17 August to 14 September (2023)
   • Shravana Shanivara – 19 August, 26 August, 2 September, 9 September, 16 September (2023)
   • Mangala Gowri Vrat – 22 August, 29 August, 5 September, 12 September (2023)
   • Shravana Shukravara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja – 18 August, 25 August, 1 September, 8 September, 15 September (2023)
   • Budha Brihaspathi Vratha – Wednesdays and Thursdays
   • Sampaththu Shanivara Gowri / Lakshmi Pooja – 19 August, 26 August, 2 September, 9 September, 16 September (2023)
   • Nagarchauthi – 1 August 2022
     • Chauthi Rangoli
   • Nagarpanchami /Garuda Panchami – 2 August 2022
     • Panchami Rangoli 
   • Siriyala Shashti – 3 August 2022
   • Varamahalakshmi – 25 August 2023
   • Upakarma – 29 (Rigveda) and 30 (Yajurveda) August 2023
   • Raghavendra Swamy Aradhane – 11 August – 13 August 2022
   • Raksha Bandhan – 12 August 2022
   • Nariyal Poornima – 12 August 2022
   • Krishna Janmashtami – 6 September 2023
     • Jo Jo Haadu / Lullaby
     • Song to sing while putting Lord Krishna into the cradle
     • Aarathi song for Lord Krishna
   • Swarna Gowri Vratha– 18 September 2023
     • Gowri aarathi song
6. Bhādrapad (August – September)
   • Ganesh Chaturthi – 18 September 2023
     • Ganesha aarathi song
     • Why Ganesha is also known as Ekadantha
     • Mystery of the term “Morya”
     • 21 Patra Pooja
     • 21 Pushpa Pooja
     • Eco Ganesha – Adike (Betel nut) Ganesha
     • Ganesha Ashtothra Shathamavali
   • Ananthapadmanabha Vratha – 28 September 2023
     • Ananthanagantu rangoli
   • Rishi Panchami – 19 September 2023
   • Mahalaya Amavasya – Pitru Paksha – 30 September to 14 October 2023
   • Ele Ashtami / Jyeshta Gowri – 23 September 2023
   • Onam – 21 August 2023
     • Pookalam
   • Teej – 18 September 2023
7. Āshwin (September – October)
   • Dasara – Navaratri – 15 October to 24 October 2023
     • Ayudha Pooja – 23 October 2023
     • Durgashtami – 22 October 2023
     • Saraswathi Pooja – 20 October 2023
     • Gombe Arathi Hadu – Doll arrangement Arathi Song
   • Sheege Hunnime / Sheegi Hunnimi – 28 October 2023
   • Kojagari Lakshmi Puja / Sharad Poornima – 28 October 2023
   • Diwali /Narakachaturdashi – 12 November 2023
   • Diwali /Lakshmi Pooja – 13 November 2023
     • Lakshmi Ashtakam – Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi
   • Madhwacharya Jayanthi – 24 October 2023
8. Kārtik (October – November)
   • Diwali /Balipadyami/New Year in Gujarat – 14 November 2023
     • Oiling ritual song – Yenne shastra haadu
   • Karthika Somawara – 20 November, 27 November, 4 December, and 11 December 2023
   • Uttandwadashi – 24 November 2023
     • Tulasi Arathi Haadu (Song)
   • Karwa Chauth – 1 November 2023
   • Aanai Pandige – 20 November 2022
   • Kadalekayi Parishe – 10 and 11 December 2023
   • Chhat Pooja – 28 to 31 October 2022
   • Vaikunta Chathurdashi Vratha – 6 November 2022
     • Song on Lord Vishnu
   • Hire Gowri – Dodda Gowri – Gowri Hunnime – 26 December 2023
   • Chatti Amavasya – 12 December 2023
9. Mārgashīrsha (November – December)
   • Champashashthi / Subramanyana Shashthi – 18 December 2023
   • Huttari habba – 8 December 2022
   • Shuddha Panchami
   • Ellu amavasya – 23 December 2022
   • Bhagvad Gita Jayanthi – 3 December 2022
     • Bhagvad Gita Song (prayer)
   • Hanuman Jayanthi in South India – 5 December 2022
10. Paush/Pushya (December  – January)
    • Dhanurmasa Pooja – Starts on 17 December 2023 and ends on 15 January 2023
    • Vaikunta Ekadasi – 13 January 2022
      • Song on Lord Vishnu
    • Makara Sankranti – 15th January 2023
      • Celebration of Makara Sankranthi in different regions of India
      • How to make Yellu – Karnataka style
      • How to make Origami box to distribute Sesame seeds mixture (yellu)
      • How to make Kusuri kalu – sesame seeds candy
      • How to make sakkare achchu – sugar models
      • Huggi Recipe – Pongal Recipe
      • Sakkare Pongal – Sweet Pongal
11. Māgh (January – February)
    • Madhwa Navami – 30 January 2023
    • Purandara Dasara Aradhane – 21 January 2023
    • Mouna Gowri Vratha – 22 January 2023 to 19 February 2023
    • Vasanth Panchami – 16 February 2023
    • Rathasapthami – 28 January 2023
      • Ratha Rangoli
      • Surya Sthotra
    • Bharatha Hunnime – 5 February 2023
    • Mahashivaratri – 18 February 2023
      • Story of Kiratha Arjuna or Shabhara Shankara
      • Story of Manmatha or Kama
      • Song on Lord Shiva – Jayathu Jayathu Mahadeva
      • Aarathi song for Lord Shiva
12. Phālgun (February – March)
    • Holi – 8 and 9 February 2023
      • Story of Kamadahana
    • Ranga Panchami – 12 March 2023
    • Vadirajara Aradhane  – 10 March 2023
    • Sri Raghavendra Swami Jayanthi – 26 February 2023

Pooja or Vratha/Religious observance celebrated throughout the year:

• Shri Sathyanarayana Swamy Vratha
  • Aarathi Song
• Udaka Shanthi Pooja

Hindu festival, rituals and pooja related general information are as follows:

1. 1. Aarathi
   2. Aarathi Songs Lyrics: Lakshmi, Gowri, Ganesha, Tulasi Devi, Saraswathi Prarthana, Satyanarayana, Tulasi
   3. Gejjevastra
   4. Kalasha
   5. Mangala Drowya and Pooja items
   6. Manthrakshathe
   7. Morada Bagina
   8. Panchamrutha
   9. Shankranthi Yellu
   10. Thorana
   11. Visarjana Manthra
   12. Habbada Adige (Festival Food)
   13. Habbada Thindi and Panaka (Festival Sweets, Savories, and Drinks)
   14. Hoovilya
   15. Upanayana

Buddhist Festivals

1. Buddha Poornima in Vaishakh (April – May – June) – 26 May 2021

Jain Festivals

1. Mahaveera Jayanthi in Chaitra (March – April) – 25 April 2021

Christian Festivals

1. New Year – January 1st
2. Valentine’s Day – February 14th
3. Easter – Good Friday
4. Thanksgiving
5. Halloween
6. Christmas – December 25th

Muslim Festivals

1. Ramzaan
2. Bakrid
3. Moharram
4. Id Milad

Sikh Festivals

1. Guru Nanak Jayanthi – 8 November 2022

National and State Festivals of India

1. Republic Day of India – January 26th
2. Labor Day – May 1st
3. Independence Day – August 15th
4. Teacher’s Day – September 5th
5. Gandhi Jayanthi – October 2nd
6. Karnataka Rajyotsava – November 1st
7. Children’s Day – November 14th
8. Engineer’s Day – September 15th

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