Bihar Festival Chhath Parv and Chhath Puja 2016

Chhath is a Hindu festival which is celebrated by Purvanchal people with great zeal every year. It’s very ancient festival of Hindus dedicated to the God of energy, also known by the name of Dala Chhath or Surya Shashti. People celebrate this festival to offer thanks to God Surya for blessings to give birth on this earth. People observe the fast and worship the Lord Surya very enthusiastically and get the blessings for the well-being, success and progress of their family members, friends and elders. According to Hindu religion, Sun worship is related to the treatment of particular range of diseases like leprosy, etc.

The rituals of this day is to wake up early in the morning, take a holy bath in the Ganga and observe the fast for whole day without drinking water and they keep themselves standing into the water for a long time. They offer Prasad and Aragh to the rising sun. This festival is celebrated in many Indian states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. As per Hindu calendar, it is observed at 6th day of the month of Kartika (October - November).

In few places, Chaiti Chhath is also celebrated in Chaitra month that is March – April some days after Holi festival. It is called by similar name like Chhath because it is also celebrated on 6th day of the month of Kartika. Chhath Puja is popularly celebrated in the Dehri-On-Sone, Patna, Dev and Gaya. But nowadays it is observed across the country.

Important Dates of Chhath Puja 2016

Friday, 4th of November 2016 is the day of bath and eat.

Saturday, 5th of November 2016 is the day of fast which ends after sunset after the 36 hour long fast.

Sunday, 6th of November 2016 is the day of Sandhya Argh known as the evening offerings.

Monday, 7th of November 2016 is the day of Suryodaya Argh and the Paran or breaking of the fast.

Chhath Puja History & Origin

Chhath Puja has a great importance in Hinduism. It assumed that in ancient time, Purohits were requested by the kings to come and perform the traditional worship of Lord Sun. They chant the Rigveda texts and different type of hymns for worshipping the Sun. Anciently, Chhath Puja was celebrated by Draupadi and Pandvas of Hastinapur(New Delhi) for solving their instant problems and get back their lost kingdom.

There is another assumption that the Chhath Puja was performed by the Surya Putra Karna. He was a great warrior and had ruled over the Anga Desh (Munger district of Bihar) during Mahabharta period. 

One other history about Chhath Puja is the story of Lorda Rama. It is assumed that Lord Rama and Mata Sita had kept fast and offer Puja to the Lord Sun in the month of Kartik in Shukla Paksha after returning to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. From that time, Chhath Puja became the significant and traditional festival in the Hindu religion and started celebrating every year at the same date. 

Click here to watch Chhath Song and Full Information 

Best Diwali Beautiful Gifts to do Something Different

The Hindu festival Diwali is about to come and each person celebrate this festival in its his/her own way in India. This is the time for family and friends, coming back to home, and spreading the joy. Today, we are thinking that what spreads more joy and happiness on Diwali. On Diwali each person buy dry fruit boxes, sweet boxes, clothes, silver pieces, regular jewellery, or Diwali hampers. Let’s start something new in this festive season to gift your families and friends.

1 – Copper Utensils

Instead of traditional utensils, try something different that will shed a rosy glow in your loved one’s kitchen. There are many copper vessel salesman in market, you will find online shopping, that can provide you with the most beautiful and unique gifting options for your families.

2 - Earthen Pots

The second one is Earthen Pots. The designers earthen pots are also the best Diwali gifts. If you are a good painter with brush, paint it with little painting. So that it can be used in multiple ways like show pieces, flower pots, flower vases, or a simple knick knack container.

3 – Innovative Table Lamps

Beautiful and kitsch table lamps may be a cool choice to give as a gift, rather unusual gift as well as an interesting way to light up the halls and bedrooms. Unlike other Diwali lighting, they can use it all year round!

4 – Unique Diyas

Innovative and beautiful Diyas is another better option that spread the Diwali joy and also light up the homes. These Diyas may be earthen but in cool, interesting designs, or they can be metallic and slightly edgy looking. A set of such beautiful Diyas should be a pretty cool gift for this Diwali.

5 – Beautiful Candle Stands

In the festival season of Diwali, each person goes to market to buy candles. Therefore, you can win this round of Diwali gifting some cool and funky looking candle stands. But take care that the design and color should be matched with home décor theme.

6 – Diwali Cupcakes

Friends, Sweets have great importance in Diwali, but instead on going traditional sweets, why not gifts of cupcakes with Diwali theme?

7 – Cool Card Games

If you ask any uncle or other person what he looks forward to the most on every Diwali, and it will be those fun card games that are a riot of laughter and joy. Then why don’t you gift some interesting and Diwali themed knick knacks – like magnets, key chains etc.

8 – Bracelet Watches

Diwali follows right after Dhanteras, which is why there is such a surge of people rushing to buy jewellery presents. Set the mark a little different. Instead of buying your mom or sister or any other amazing woman in your life just another piece of jewellery, why not gift her a designer branded bracelet watch?

9 – Kindle

Your bookworm friends will tell you that you can never go wrong with the gift of the written word. So why not just gift a Kindle, which will bring them the joys of hundreds of books!

10 – Paintings

Every house needs some amount of artwork to adorn their walls. You could take a cue from that and gift your loved one a piece of beautifully painted artwork to hang up on their wall. Even better, if the painting is something meaningful for your relationship. It would add character to their home, as well as make them smile every time they look at it and think of you.

Also read amazing blog "Auspicious Time to Buy Gold During Diwali Festival"

Dhanteras: Important Day During Diwali to Buy Gold, Utensils & New Clothes

‘Dhanteras’ is such a festival which falls just one or two days before Lakshmi Puja – the Diwali festival. The people also know this festival by the name of ‘Dhanatryodashi’ or ‘Choti Diwali’. The festival Dhanteras is celebrated as the symbol of wealth and prosperity.

According to Hindu calendar, Dhanteras is the first day of Diwali festival that most probably falls one or two days before Lakshmi Puja. The festival Dhanteras comes in the month of Ashwin, and is observed on 13th Lunar day according to Hindu calendar. The day has special and great importance for businessmen who buy gold ornaments on this day. The people also purchase new clothes and utensils for Diwali on this auspicious occasion.

How to celebrate Dhanteras?

On this day some people do shopping of gold and new clothes, and in the evening lit the lamps and welcome to Goddess Lakshmi into their homes. After the Lakshmi Pujan, females of the house make rangolies. Apart from this, the devotional songs and Arties are narrated, and various types of delicacies are prepared. The people are also worship of Lord Kuber together with Goddess Lakshmi on this auspicious day. Goddess Lakshmi is regarded as the treasurer of wealth. The secret of worshipping both is in the prospect of increasing the benefit in business. Each individual buy something including jewellery, Gold, silver, clothes, or utensils according to their budget.

Click here to know Auspicious Time to Buy Gold on Dhanteras 2016

Mythological Stories about Dhanteras

This is the story about 16 years old son of King Hima whose horoscope predicted his death by snake bite on the fourth day of his marriage. The whole day his wife did not allow to let him sleep and laid out all her precious ornaments in a basket & kept it in the entrance with lit lamps all around it. Her wife continued singing songs so that her husband could not asleep.

On the next morning, when God of death Yama arrived at the door of her room in the form of serpent, his eyes were dazzled with the brightness all over. Yama could not enter his house and in the next morning silently left the place. Hence, the prince got saved with the cleverness of his life partner and thus this day is observed as Dhanteras. According to various legends, Gods and devils churned ocean for Amrita, Dhanvantari – the God’s physician, emerged out of it carrying a jar of elixir on the auspicious day.

Special Traditions and Preparations

Dhanteras is an auspicious day and occasion when business places are beautifully decorated and lamps are lit for the entire night. This festival is a huge one for all Hindus and they celebrate it with great zeal.

So don’t wait go ahead and get the spark of gold in your life. “HAPPY DHANTERAS TO ALL”

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