Hinduism Fast Devshayani Ekadashi 2016

Devshayani Ekadashi Festival

Hindu Fast Devshyani Ekadashi 2016 = 15th July (Friday)

Hindu festival Devshayani Ekadashi is also known by the name of Ashadh Shukla Paksha Ekadashi, Ashadhi Ekadashi, Hari Shayani Ekadashi, Maha Ekadashi and Prathama Ekadashi. The holy period of four months named as ‘Chaturmas’ begins after Devshayani Ekadashi when Lord Vishnu goes to sleep usually.

Most probably, Devshayani Ekadashi begins after the completion of Jagannath Rath Yatra and Padarpur Yatra. Devotees in Maharashtra celebrate Devshayani Ekadashi with religious fervor. The Main celebration of the festival takes place in Lord Vithal (An incarnation of Lord Krishna) temple with great excitedness.

Beginning of Chaturmas Period

Usually, Devshayani Ekadashi occurs on a day at the beginning of the Chaturmas Period. The word Chaturmas stands for four months with Chatur referring four and Mas means month. The Chaturmas period includes the Hindu months Ashadh, Shravan, Bhadarva and Aso. Throughout the Chaturmas period, the devotees are expected to observe penance, carry on devotional activities and have restrictions over their senses. The festive activities and celebrations make these Chaturmas moths live and act. 

Significance Of Devshayani Ekadashi

According to religious scriptures, the significance of Devshayani Ekadashi was first explained by Lord Krishna to Yudhisthira who was the king of Mandata. He faced the problem of drought for three years in his Kingdom. This created a precarious condition and the residents of the kingdom had to face hard times. Rivers dried out and man and animal suffered immensely. Due to these happenings, the king was very sad and started a journey to find out some solution for his people.

The wish of the king was to appease the Rain Gods and then he met Rishi Angiras to get a solution. Then, the Rishi advised to observe a fast on Devshayani Ekadashi along with the entire population of the kingdom. Due to this Ekadashi fast following by the King and farmers, Lord Vishnu blessed, the kingdom and heavy rains occurred. Thereafter, the people lived happily with rains prosperity.

Thus, it became a ritual to fast on this auspicious day and is symbolized as the prosperity and good luck to those who showed religious devotion.

Celebrations of Devshayani Ekadashi

All the devotees get the blessings of Lord Vishnu on observing fast of the Devshayani Ekadashi. A true devotee is able to attain salvation if fasting is done by true deposit. The fast of Devshayani Ekadashi helps to fulfil the devotees wishes and aid them to attain freedom from their past sins.

Many devotees of Vishnu observe the fast for two consecutive days. However, the fasting on the second day is suggested only for those who wish to attain Sanyas (salvation) in the long run. Widows and those looking forward to attain Moksha too can go for the second day fast of Devshayani Ekadashi. 

Read deeply about DEVSHAYANI EKADASHI 

Related upcoming Festivals in Month Of July, 2016 

Pandharpur Yatra 2016

Guru Purnima 2016
Shravani Mela 2016   

 

Leh-Ladakh Hemis Festival 2016 – 14th July

Hemis Festival, Ladakh

Ladakh Hemis Festival 2016 = 14th July to 15th July (Thursday to Friday)

Hemis Monastery or Hemis Festival 2016 is a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery of the Drukpa Lineage which is situated in Hemis, Ladakh. Ladakh city is 45 Km far from Leh. The monastery was re-established by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal in 1672. The festival is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. The Hemis festival is 2-day long cultural and colorful extravaganza falls on the 10th day of the Tibetan Lunar month. The local people are properly dressed up in their traditional clothes for this festival.

The Hemis festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) respected as the dance performance at the Hemis Monastery representative reincarnation of Buddha. The people belonging from Lamas perform splendid mask dances and sacred plays to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long horns. The function is started in the presence of a lama president. In the festival, An auspicious turn takes place in every 12 years in the Tibetan Year of the Monkey, when the two-storey high 'Thanka' depicting Padmasambhava is displayed. Some beautiful handicrafts are major highlights of the festival. All the major annual festivals held here in summer season.

The festival is organized in honour of Guru Padmasambhava’s birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thangkha in Ladakh, which is unfurled once in every 12 years. In 1630, Hemis was built by an illustrious ruler of Ladakh during the reign of Sengge Namgyal. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favoured the Drugpa sect, which managed the monastery.

The Splendid masked dances are performed to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums & long horns. A colorful fair, displaying some beautiful handicrafts, is the special highlight of the festival. 

Hindu Festival Bhadli Navmi 2016 OR Bhatali Navmi 2016

Bhadli Navmi or Bhatali Navami

Bhadli Navmi 2016 = 13th July (Wednesday)

The North Indian, Hindu community celebrates Bhadli Navmi with great happiness religious fervor. The festival Bhadli Navmi is also known by the name of Bhatali Navmi, Ashara Shukla Paksha Navmi, Kandarp Navmi and generally observed in the month of Ashad. The festival is celebrated on the 9th day of Shukla Paksha of Ashadh month. A vital deed related to Bhadli Navmi is that the day is usually contemplated to be the last day in the year for celebrating marriages in the Hindu community. It is believed that after the Hindu festival Bhadli Navmi, the Gods usually go to sleep. Therefore, all the auspicious activities are organized before and after this festival. 

Festival Dedicated to Lord Vishnu 

 

In this festival, the Lord Vishnu is worshipped. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that the Lord Vishnu is the most powerful among all the Gods. In Hindu community, marriages cannot be organized when the Lord Vishnu is sleeping. Lord Vishnu's blessings are essential to make a married life happier. Bhadli Navmi falls on the last day before Lord Vishnu goes to sleep. That’s why, the devotees wish to spend the day in a peerless manner and take the Lords blessings. The festival Bhadli Navmi is the last day for any auspicious religious activity. 

Bhadli Navmi Celebration

Hindus celebrate Bhadli Navmi by organizing various religious events to make the occasion unique. Special song sessions for reading Holy Scriptures are held during the day and priests take special care to make offerings to Lord Vishnu. Songs written dedicated to Lord Vishnu are also recited by the devotees to seek blessings from Vishnu. 

Jharkhand Bhadli Fair

  

In Indian State Jharkhand, a festive activity is organized as Bhadli Fair in its real colors. Not only the people of Jharkhand but also from the neighboring regions gather to celebrate the auspicious occasion. Jharkhand state holds the Bhadli fair from its ancient time.

Itkhori in Jharkhand comes alive as festive activities associated with Bhadli begin and devotees from all over the region dwell in the town. A temple belonging to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali in Itkhori is thronged by devotees seeking blessings.

In Itkhori, Goddess Kali is worshipped as Jugdamba during the Bhadli festival. The coming devotees offer sacrifices and wide to get Mudan Sanskar of their young children.

The Bhaddrakali temple in Itkhori is also known for its collection of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist deities in their idol form and devotees seek the blessings of all in harmony to make their journey of life more meaningful and significant.

 

Bengal Hindu Festival Maa Manasa Puja 2016

Maa Manasa Puja 2016 = 24th July (Sunday)

Maa Manasa Puja 2016 = 7th August (Sunday)

The Hindu festival, Maa Manasa Puja is also known as Manasha Devi Puja and Nag Panchami in Bengal region. This festival is dedicated to snake Goddess and chiefly observed in Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam and parts of Orissa on different days in Bengali months of Ashar, Shravan and Bhadrapad (June - September). In 2016, Manasa Puja will be observed on 24th July and 7th August. Manasa Devi is the Goddess of snakes and is believed that she is the daughter of Lord Shiva.

In Bengal and other northeastern parts of India, Manasa Puja is worshipped for the prevention and cure of snakebite and also for fertility and prosperity. Manasa is the sister of Vasuki (The King of Snakes) and wife of saint Jagatkaru (Jagratkaru). She is also known as Vishahara (destroyer of poison), Nitya and Padmavati.

The myths about Manasa Devi emphasizes her bad temper and bitterness, due to not accepting by her father Shiva and her husband, and the hatred of her stepmother, Chandi (Shiva's wife, identified with Parvati in this context). In some scriptures, saint Kashyapa is considered to be her father, rather than Shiva. Manasa is depicted as kind to her devotees, but harsh to people who refused to worship her. Denied full godhead by her mixed parentage, Manasa’s aim was to fully establish her authority as a goddess and to acquire steadfast human devotees.

The rituals associated with, the Pujas is held on the fifth day or Panchami day of all fortnights in the Ashara and Shraban months. There are different rituals related to Manasa Devi. From simple prayers to rituals which many might consider as grotesque. Due to associated with the earth and higher knowledge, she is worshipped mostly in eastern India. She is also worshiped by those people who have not any child. Special statues of Manasa Devi are prepared during this Puja period.