Celebrating Pongal In Tamil Nadu
New Year when January comes, South India, especially Tamil Nadu gets about preparing for their harvest festival.
Diwali, The Festival Of Lights!
Diwali, is celebrated every year by Indians, particularly of the Hindu religious persuasion, on the Amavasya, or new moon day of the Kartika Month in the Hindu calendar.
Ayudha Pooja Learning the Legends and Rituals
India being a multi-cultural country, each state has a slightly different version of the legend behind Ayudha Puja. However the three most popular stories are as follows.
Navaratri – The Festival of the Devi
Each day of Navaratri is dedicated to a different form of Shakti and the festivities are made to suit her multiple personas. Nine forms of the Mother Goddess are worshipped on each night culminating in Vijaya Dasami on the 9th day. In 2021, the festival begins on October 7th and ends on October 15th.
Onam – Welcoming Mahabali
Onam falls on the 10th day after the Atham Nakshatram day of the Malayalam Chingam month. The entire town is festively decorated and people dress up in new clothes. People flock to the streets to create huge colourful kolams of Flowers called Pookalams. Contests are held to choose the best pookalams.
