Hindu Vrat Indira Ekadashi 2016 Date Time

Indira Ekadashi 2016 = 26th September (Monday)

If you want to getting rid of your past sins committed by someone and ancestors in the family can be achieved by observing fast on Indira Ekadashi day. The festival is celebrated and observed in the month os Ashwin and has a particular significance for the devotees in the northern part of India.

Legends of Indira Ekadashi

A powerful King named as Indrasena ruled a Kingdom. The King was honest and known for his judgment and betterment of his subject. So he was very popular throughout the region. One day, Narad Muni made a visit to the palace of the King. He told the reason of his visit to come in palace to the abode of Lord Yama (the God of death). Narad Muni told the King about his meeting with Indrasena’s late father. The King’s father did not get Moksha and was living in the house of Lord Yama.

The late king had told Narad Muni to tell to Indrasena that he should observe the Indira Ekadashi fast. This would help the late king to get Moksha and find the place in the feet of Lord Vishnu.

Narad Muni suggested to King Indrasena to observe the Indira Ekadashi fast so that his father could attain Moksha and could find the place in Lord Vishnu’s abode. After that, the King observed Indira Ekadashi fast with full devotion and there after his father could head to his final resting ground.

Indira Ekadashi Rituals

A day before the Indira Ekadashi, Shradh rituals need to be performed in honor of dead ancestors and parents. It is advised to take food only one time on this day. However, the devotees may observe the full day fast on this day.

The devotees need to continue throughout the day on Indira Ekadashi. On this day, the noon hours are considered auspicious for praying for the dead forefathers and other family members. Night hours need to be spent in narrating stories and listening to various events that occurred during life of Lord Vishnu.

The fast of Indra Ekadashi needs to be broken the next day morning and the devotees should take the morning Prasad with other family members. It is believed that if any member of family keeps the fast on this auspicious day with full religious devotion, the ancestors and dead parents attain Moksha and spend their after lives comfortably.

To know the Procedure of keeping fast click on IndraEkadashi Fast Process

 

Durga Puja 2016 Dates

Durga Puja 2016 Dates - Durga Puja Calendar in 2016 with Time

Durga Puja is the biggest festival dedicated Goddess Durga in Hinduism.
Durga Puja is also known as Durgotsava.

Durgotsava denotes to all five days festivity and these five days are observed as Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami.

The Durga Puja traditionally starts on the Mahalaya in A

Another important date, before the start of Durga Puja, is Mahalaya. On this day, Goddess Durga is welcomed to come to the earth, and the eyes are drawn on the idols of the Goddess. In 2016, it falls on September 30.

Durga Puja 2016 dates in India
September 30, 2016 - Shubho Mahalaya
October 7, 2016 – Maha Sashti
October 8, 2016 – Maha Saptami
October 9, 2016 – Maha Ashtami or Mahashtami
October 10, 2016 – Mahanabami or Mahanavami
October 11, 2016 – Vijaya Dasami or Vijayadashami

On the Shashti day, Kalash is prepared and it is kept in the house and with it starts customs and celebrations.
shwin month, a day when Chandi Stotram is recited as an invitation for Goddess Durga to descend to earth.

Observe Bhadrapada Purnima Vrat 2016 Celebrations

Bhadrapada Purnima Vrat 2016 = 16th September(Friday)

According to Hindu calendar, Bhadrapada is an auspicious and sacred month. The celebrations of this Vrat are dedicated to Ganesha in this month. However, As an exception, This Purnima is the festivities on this day are dedicated to Satyanarayana.

The festivities are celebrated with great devotion in the state of Gujarat.

How to celebrate Bhadrapada Purnima In 2016

The day is celebrated by the people with great zeal throughout the state of Gujarat. All the devotees take special measures to offer worship to Goddess Ambaji. A special fair is organized at Ambaji Temple and devotees coming from all the corners of Gujarat state seek the blessings of the Goddess on this day.

It Ambaji temple, folk dances are organized by Gujarati women and get her blessings. As per Hindu mythology, the temple is located at the place where the heart of Goddess Sati fell after her body was cut by Lord Vishnu.

 The temple has its own unique sense that it does not have any idol of Ambaji, yet her glory continues to attract the people from all regions across India. Goddess Ambaji is represented by a symbol of Shri in the temple. This symbol is covered by a triangle and is known by the name of Vishwa Yantra across the world.

Rituals to Perform Bhadrapada Purnima

On this auspicious occasion of Bhadrapada Purnima, Satyanarayan, who is a form of Vishnu is worshipped by the devotees. People offer fruits, supari, til, and pan to Lord Satyanarayna and decorate the idol of Satyanarana with Kumkum and roli. Panchamrit is offered to the Lord. A paste prepared by using red sandalwood is also applied to Lord Satyanarayana on Bhadrapada Purnima.

Devotees observe the fast on this day. They take mixture of sugar and wheat at evening time before breaking the fast. Different stories of Satyanarayna are narrated on this day and devotees listen to the same along with the stories of Lord Shiva, Brahma and Goddess Laxmi.

On the occasion of Bhadrapada Purnima, the devotees donate clothes and food to Brahmins. To make this day auspicious, all the devotees take a bath in Holy Rivers throughout the country. Performing Satyanarayana Puja on Bhadrapada Purnima brings good luck for the people. The day is also considered auspicious for Griha Pravesh ceremony.

Read further about BHADRAPADA PURNIMA in detail....

Kerala Onam 2016 Festival Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvonam 2016 Dates India

First Onam 2016 = 14th September(Tuesday)

Thiruvonam 2016 = 15th September(Wednesday)

Onam is one of the greatest and grand festivals of Kerala, Indian state. This is the festival which is celebrated by Keralites with great zeal without any caste difference and religion. On this occasion, different sports games and festivities are organized in Kerala. Kerala is an Indian state where one third of the area is low lying, covered with canals, lakes and backwaters. The people take their boats and country crafts into the water to celebrate this harvesting festival. Colorful festivals are organized in sacred river Pamba.

After three months of heavy rains, the sky becomes clear blue and the forests are deep green. These all make a very beautiful sight. The brooks and streams come alive, the lakes and rivers overflow and lotuses and lilies are in full bloom. It is the time to reap the crop and to celebrate. The harvest festival Onam is similar as the Malayalam New Year, Chingam.

The Onam festival of Kerala attracts thousands of people towards itself even outside of Kerala. During the festival period from four days to ten days, all the activities like worshiping, music, dances, sports, boat races and good food are organized. It is celebrated in the Malayalam month Chingam that is ending of august and starting of September. Onam is a harvest festival, and celebrated as the reward of nature after a year of hard labor. Elaborate procession of Trichur and spectacular snake boat races are held on River Pampa and mark as the merry-making nature of the festival. The women dress up in new saris and heavy Jewellery and make elaborate and intricate designs of 'Rangolis' with colored rice paste and Pookkalam in front of their houses.

Onam is celebrated till ten days. People welcome the King Mahabali by putting flower mats in front of their houses. There is competition for the laying of flower mats. They wear new dresses and visit almost all the temples and perform lots of dances Thiruvathira kali and Thumbi Tullal and the most important thing is the grant lunch they have on the Thiuruvonam day which is also known as ‘Fourth Onam’. People of Kerala never miss the grant lunch. During these activities a Malayalam quote is to be said “Kanam Vittu Onam Unnanam” which means "We should have the Thiruonam lunch even if we have to sell all our properties".

Kerala Onam Festival Videos

Read Further about ONAM THIRUVONAM 2016