Questions tagged [festivals]

A festival is an event centering on and celebrating some unique aspect of the community.

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Is Narakasura death is celebrated as Diwali?

The day before Diwali is Naraka Chaturdashi, which is believed to be the day when Krishna killed the demon Narakasura. Some believe that Diwali is celebrated to commemorate this event, as it ...
Ganesh's user avatar
  • 3,400
0 votes
0 answers
57 views

Where does it say that rakshabandhan's rakhi should not be removed for atleast 21 days?

https://mpbreakingnews.in/religion/rakshabandhan-2023-what-to-do-with-rakhi-after-rakshabandhan-how-many-days-should-it-remain-on-wrist-what-astrology-say-mas/ This above news website writes that one ...
Draupadi's user avatar
  • 323
2 votes
1 answer
61 views

Are there scriptural references to the celebration of Radhashtami?

It seems to be a big festival for ISKCON - I had never heard of it till I visited an ISKCON place of worship.
S K's user avatar
  • 1
2 votes
0 answers
94 views

How to use Durva grass in Shree Ganesha's puja?

I am preparing for Chaturthi this year, I would like to improve the puja to Shree Ganesha, I came to know that Ganesha likes Druva grass, but I didn't know how to use it. I thought you were supposed ...
CaneRandagio's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
51 views

Is there a Prāyaścitta for not fasting on Rāma-navamī́?

The Agastya-saṁhitā́ mentions not fasting on Rāma-navamī́ will result in being cooked in hell. That wretched man who eats food on Rama- navami suffers torments in the terrible hells called Kumbhīpāka....
Savitr̥'s user avatar
  • 443
7 votes
1 answer
360 views

What is the proper procedure of celebrating new year?

Yesterday, it was seen how some Hindus were overexcited in celebrating the Christian New Year in a typical European fashion. Yet the same enthusiasm is absent while observing the Hindu New Year, which ...
অনু's user avatar
  • 2,074
0 votes
1 answer
59 views

Why do the Buddhists in India claim that Diwali is a buddhist festival?

I am not sure whether it is a question to be asked on this forum but I have come across a lot of Navayani Buddhist online who claim that Diwali was a festival started by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka as ...
Aspiring Learner's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
39 views

Why are certain festivals like festivals like - Vishwakarma Puja celebrated according to Gregorian calender i.e every year on 17 September?

Most Hindu festivals are celebrated according to Hindu calender ,so they fall on different date (according to Gregorian Calender) on each year. Eg - Diwali 2021 was on 4 November 2021 , while Diwali ...
river's user avatar
  • 6,130
5 votes
1 answer
144 views

Is there any mention of Ganesh Chaturthi in the Puranas or the Itihasas?

It is a well known fact that Ganesh Chaturthi's public celebration was initiated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Pune in the year 1893. I would like to know whether there is any mention of the festival in ...
Artist Formerly Known As CSD's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
46 views

Why Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated during rainy season?

I know Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrated with huge idols etc. So why choosing rainy season which will be problematic while celebrating?
V Hanna's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
68 views

Ganesha Chathurthi in Bhadrapad or Magha month?

Someone today told me that Ganesha chathurthi, birthday of Ganesha, is not in Bhadrapada month but in Magha. What does Puranas say about Ganesha's birth (or the day He was made the lord of Ganas) ...
Kanthri's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
48 views

Why cooked food is not to be eaten on holi before holika dahan?

What is the significance behind it and does it has foundation of scriptural reference? Why cooked food is eaten only after holika dahan?
Harsh's user avatar
  • 1,351
2 votes
0 answers
40 views

What is the 'Māsī Māgama (मासी मागम)', and it's significance?

I recently heard about this festival - 'Māsī Māgama (मासी मागम)' and its currently ongoing celebration. Mostly celebrated in the Tamil Nadu. Some details maybe found here and here As per the details ...
Vivikta's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
69 views

Scriptural reference for relation between Uttarayana and Vaikunta Ekadashi and Shivarathri and scriptural reference for their date of celebration [duplicate]

Vaikunta Ekadashi and Shivarathri are very popular Hindu festivals. If you observe carefully both Vaikunta Ekadashi which happens in Dhanu Masa, which is one masa before Makara masa and Shivarathri ...
user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
241 views

Should we celebrate Uttarayana on December 21?

As we know Uttarayana is being celebrated as Makar Sankranti or Makara Sankramana when Sun enters Capricorn or Makara Rashi which approx falls on Jan 14, as 2021. This is considered as Uttarayana. But ...
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0 votes
0 answers
107 views

Was Diwali mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana? [duplicate]

In this news clip from WION, the anchor is saying that when Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya, the residents of Ayodhya decorated their houses with lamps. That is how the festival of Diwali (Deepavali) ...
Amritendu Mukhopadhyay's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
439 views

Scriptural reference for Navadurga

Navarātri is popularly considered to be 9 days dedicated to the worship of Navadurgā i.e 9 forms of Bhagavatī Durgā. However the Devi-Bhāgavata Purāna, which describes the procedure of Navarātri vrata,...
অনু's user avatar
  • 2,074
2 votes
0 answers
176 views

What is Gauri (Gowri) Ganesh?

It is usually celebrated a day before Ganesh Chaturthi. Wikipedia states below This festival celebrates the goddess Gowri or Gauri, (also known as Parvati) who is venerated as the mother of Lord ...
Up-In-Air's user avatar
  • 467
2 votes
0 answers
56 views

Can we do sthapna of vigrah at home during Chaturmas?

Can we do sthapna of vigraha(Radha Krishna Pratima) at home during Chaturmas? Some said you cannot do any kind of sthapana/pran-pratishtha during these 4 months. Some said only muhurta karyas like ...
Talk is Cheap Show me Code's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
111 views

Eco-friendly Ganesha idol?

Is it okay to have an eco-friendly Ganesha idol at home at this Ganesha Chaturthi? My mom says, as per Hindu parampara kumbhar (potters) and carpenters make the idols and we shouldn't make it. Also, ...
Talk is Cheap Show me Code's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
97 views

Is the popular practice of applying Mehndi (Henna tattoo) during weddings supported by scriptures?

From Wikipedia: Mehndi is a form of body art and temporary skin decoration usually drawn on hands or legs, in which decorative designs are created on a person's body, using a paste, created from the ...
Vivikta's user avatar
  • 12.9k
3 votes
0 answers
93 views

Why is Buddha Pūrṇimā named so?

Is Buddha Pūrṇimā named so because of Gautama Buddha? If yes, then how to reconcile its significance with our hindu theology because clearly, Gautama Buddha was not a Hindu as per Vedic Standards. Or ...
Vivikta's user avatar
  • 12.9k
2 votes
0 answers
130 views

Lighting candles rather than oil-lamps on Diwâlî a scripturally prescribed practise?

Does any scriptures mention use of candles on the night of Diwâlî ? Lighting a seasame oil or ghee based dîyâ is considered auspicious. However, these days it's more common for people to light up ...
Vivikta's user avatar
  • 12.9k
3 votes
0 answers
60 views

Should I keep Vinayak Chaturthi or Sankasti Chaturthi Vrat every month? [closed]

People advised me to keep Sankasti Chaturthi ...Later I found out about Vinayaka Chaturthi too ... So, Can I take only Sankasti Chaturthi every month or do I have to take both every month ?
OmNamohBhagwateVasudevaye's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
159 views

What is the significance of the float festival - Theppotsavam?

I came across a few videos of Theppotsavam, a festival celebrated in some temples of South India. The principal murti is decorated and floated on a nearby river or lake. As per Wikipedia it seems that ...
Artist Formerly Known As CSD's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
312 views

Are fire cracks really a part of diwali celebration?

Are fire cracks really a part of diwali celebration? We're crakers always used in ancient times or they are just something that we cameup in recent times? And is there any scriptural reference to this ...
Dark Knight's user avatar
  • 5,231
7 votes
0 answers
97 views

Which festivals trace their origin stories to Vedas

There are many hindu festivals. Most of them derive their origin in Itihaasa (Ramayana and Mahabharata) and Puranas. So, are there any festivals that have their origin in Vedas ?
Dark Knight's user avatar
  • 5,231
1 vote
0 answers
40 views

What is New Year in North India called?

I did try to read online but some pages say Phalgun Poornima while others say Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Any clarification would be appreciated.
Sanatani's user avatar
  • 123
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

Bali Padyami vs Onam

Today is Bali Padyami. On which day is Mahabali supposed to visit his subjects on prithvi loka - Onam or Bali Padyami? Looking for references from scriptures only, and neither from folklore nor from ...
Artist Formerly Known As CSD's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
835 views

Why do Smarthas and Vaishnavas have differences regarding dates (tithi) of festivals like Ekadashi?

Generally it's seen that ekadashi or any other date for that purpose falls on two days. Normally Smartha observe say,ekadashi one day earlier than Vaishnavas. Most calendars only show Smartha dates ...
RishX's user avatar
  • 3,033
4 votes
0 answers
135 views

How many times and what all we can eat in Navratri?

I want to know that how many times in a day we can eat when we are doing Navratri fast? Some are saying that we can have sattvik any number of times and some are saying two times. Please help me with ...
manish's user avatar
  • 397
5 votes
1 answer
741 views

staying awake during shivaratri

It seems people seem to be mentioning benifits of staying awake during the MahaShivatri festival. What is the time in the morning till which they have to stay awake? Does it end after midnight 12 o'...
juztcode's user avatar
  • 385
5 votes
1 answer
519 views

Is it true that two thousand years ago Makar Sankranti used to be celebrated in December and would be celebrated in April after seven thousand years?

I got a message on Christmas stating that there was a time when Christmas and Makar Sankranti used to be celebrated on their website same day. After a quick web search, I found that Sun takes 20mins ...
YDS's user avatar
  • 24k
1 vote
0 answers
92 views

Is there any festival in hindu religion celebrating girl child and why girls have to fast most of the time?

A person raised a question that why in Hindu religion we have "boy" centered festivals but none for girls. For example in north India we have bhai-duj and jhat puja festival in which family worship to ...
Singh's user avatar
  • 323
4 votes
0 answers
1k views

Can an unmarried girl keep Karva Chauth?

In our culture, Karwa Chauth is an important festival for all married women. From sunrise till moonrise, she keeps a fast for the safety of her husband. But my question is can an unmarried girl keep ...
Udhav Sarvaiya's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
85 views

Do any scriptures talk about Atla Taddi?

Today is Karva Chauth (Chaturthi) celebrated in the north especially Punjab and I found out that Telugu people also celebrate the Uma Vratham or [Atla Taddi [(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atla_Tadde) ...
Viraj's user avatar
  • 517
5 votes
1 answer
227 views

What is Ganesh Chaturthi/ Ganesh Utsav idol worship size according to shastra and Dharma

In my Marathi state we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi as a Ganesh utsav for ten days and bring clay idol from market on the first day and make visarjan on 10th day. My question is, what is the right size ...
YOGANAND PATIL's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
318 views

Why is Janmashtami always celebrated in the evening?

I read the post about why Janmashtami is celebrated on two different days. But why evening? Like people who give preference to ashtami thithi do it on 23rd Aug 2019 evening, while people who give ...
Hemambujavalli's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
185 views

Why is Janmashtami celebrated on 2 dates in some parts of India?

For example, in Gurgaon in India, a few people are saying that Janmashtami will be celebrated on 23rd. Google shows 24th. Also, I guess this time Rohini Nakshatra and Ashtami is more close to 24th. ...
Vikas's user avatar
  • 1,060
3 votes
0 answers
100 views

Why Lord Krishna didn't celebrate Deepavali?

Why Deepavali is not celebrated by Lord Krishna in Dwapara Yuga ? One of my friend asked me this tricky question. I didn't have an answer. Moreover, Why there is no mentioning of Ramayana incidents ...
mohan nair's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
59 views

What is the significance of Deep Amavasya?

Today is Deep Amavasya and many people in Maharashtra worship and light up diyas or earthen lamps in their homes at night. I want to know what is the significance of this festival and what are the ...
Viraj's user avatar
  • 517
2 votes
1 answer
137 views

Hindus observe Nava Ratris twice in a year. What is the logic and theory behind the same?

Hindus observe Nava Ratris twice in the same calendar year. One is associated with Rama Navami (ie birth of Lord Rama) and the other is with Lord Rama's victory over Ravana. But why do we worship the ...
D. Chatterjee's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
163 views

Why do women observe Holika vrata?

Holika was Hiranyakashipu's sister and tried to kill Prahlad. Then, why do women observe holika vrata and worship holika wood before lightning fire in it? Note: Poornima also falls on the Holi day ...
Lakhi's user avatar
  • 928
4 votes
1 answer
307 views

Scriptural reference about avoiding non vegetarian food on every Hindu festival?

It is mentioned across Hindu scriptures to avoid non vegetarian food on certain days or months, which may include some festivals also. But, is there any mention to not eat non vegetarian food on ...
hanugm's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
19 views

Why date of any "Hindu festival" changes every year? [duplicate]

'Christmas' occurs on 25th December every year. But why the dates of Hindu festivals vary from year to year? Are there any references of this in Hinduism?
Kumar sadhu's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
253 views

What is the relation of Vasant Panchami with Goddess Saraswati?

Tomorrow is Vasant Panchami and my Bengali friends shall be celebrating Saraswati Puja. I wanted to know if the worship of Saraswati is mentioned in any scripture on this particular day.
Amrit Dhara's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
89 views

Are there Pan-Indian Hindu festivals dedicated to Vishnu or Narayana?

Janmashtami and Ram Navami are dedicated to Vishnu's avataras and are Pan-Indian. But are there any such festivals dedicated to Vishnu or Narayna?
S K's user avatar
  • 1
2 votes
0 answers
44 views

Festivals observed on basis of solar cycle

Apart from Sankrantis, are there any other festivals that are observed on the basis on solar cycle and hence fall on the same date every year?
baba's user avatar
  • 824
2 votes
0 answers
84 views

Relation between Laxmi poojan and returning of Lord Rama on the same day

Is it just a coincidence or is there any relation between Lord Rama returning to Ayodhya from 14 years of exile and the worshipping of Goddess Laxmi on the same day i.e. Diwali
baba's user avatar
  • 824
9 votes
0 answers
368 views

Who is the goddess Ahoi worshipped on Ahoi Ashtami?

Today is Ahoi Ashtami in northern India in which women keep fasts for their children's well-being just like they do for their husbands on Karva-chauth. While they break the fast on Karva-chauth after ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar