Popular Indian Festivals

All About Gudhi Padwa The Sacred festival, which signifies the beginning of the New Year, new month, and a new day for Hindus, falls on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (the first day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra). It is known as Gudhī padwa (Maharashtra) or Yugaadi (Ugadi) (Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh) in India. On this very day, Deity Brahma created the universe. Therefore for Hindus, this day carries particular attention. The day is praised with a propitious bath, followed by decorating the main entrance with a garland (toran), offering ritualistic worship, and hoisting the DharmaDhwaj or Gudhi (flag). The word Padwa is derived from two syllables, Pad and Waa. Pad: Means tending towards perfection or maturity. Waa: In spirituality, the word ''Waa" indicates that which increases growth. Deity Brahma dev's creation of the universe, i.e., a complete picture of the universe when ready is pad. Later more was added, or some alterations were made t...

Holi - A colourful festival of love and bliss Holi is a fun-filled and boisterous festival which is celebrated on the full moon day of Phalgun month of Hindu calendar. The celebration begins with lightening of a bonfire on Holi eve. At the very next day, hoards of people come out of their houses and smear each other with bright coloured 'Gulal' on each other's face  and 'Abeer' on foreheads , They pour colourful waters on each other using balloons and pichkaris and wish them "Bura Na Maano Holi Hai". Holi also allows blessing and loving near and dear ones by offering them Holi gifts. Holi has a great historical and religious significance and is mentioned in many ancient Hindu kinds of literature. According to a famous legend, there was a king named 'Hiranyakashyapu' who ordered his people not to worship God but him. But Prahlad, the king's son, was a verdant devotee of Lord Vishnu and denied to obey his father. This made the king infuriat...