Questions tagged [festivals]

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

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17 votes
2 answers
3k views

Why do people celebrate Holi? Why do they throw colored powder at each other?

Holi is meant to be a happy ritual, I agree. But what is the historical context behind this whole ritual, and what do the colors represent?
Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
11k views

Celebrating festival while menstruation [duplicate]

I red in devi baghavatham that a rajaswala is not allowed to cook food and if does, treated as sin. My doubt is whether is it allowed to celebrate festival during menstruation? For example, today is ...
Hindu's user avatar
  • 275
13 votes
4 answers
3k views

What is the significance of the festival Diwali? Why is it celebrated?

There are many festivals in Hinduism. But some of them are considered very important. One of them is Diwali, a festival of lights. What is the significance of the festival? Why is it celebrated?
Himanshu's user avatar
  • 1,646
15 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the origin of Raksha Bandhan?

Raksha Bandhan is a festival that celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Shravana. But what is the origin/story behind ...
user avatar
17 votes
2 answers
858 views

Which is the oldest scriptural reference for Diwali?

The festival of Diwali is associated with many legends: The first day of Dhan Trayodashi is the day when Goddess Lakshmi appeared from the Samudra Manthan. Next comes Narak Chaturdashi is when ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
222 views

Which scripture mentions Lord Parshurama was born on Akshaya Tritiya?

The Drikpanchang says that Parshuram Jayanti falls on Shukla Paksha Tritiya in the month of Vaishakha also known as Akshay Tritiya. It is believed that Parashurama was born during Pradosh Kala and ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
624 views

How is Akshaya Tritiya celebrated?

Akshaya Tritiya is an important Hindu festival and I have seen people buying jewellery and other items on this "auspicious day". How is Akshaya Tritiya celebrated in the world? To be more specific, I ...
Aditya Somani's user avatar
11 votes
5 answers
3k views

Why do we celebrate Maha shivratri festival?

Every year we celebrate Maha Shiva Ratri Festival and every time one question roaming in my mind and that is "Why"? Why do we celebrate this festival? Every Festival have its meaning but I don't ...
rhatwar007's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
849 views

Why do Hindu festivals fall on different dates every year?

Why do Hindu festivals fall on different dates every year? How festivals are determined?
M.S Chaudhari's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
231 views

Tripurāri pūrṇima festival story and its significance?

The other names of Tripurāri Pournami are Tripurī pūrṇima, Karthika Pūrṇima, Deva Deepāwali or Deva Diwāli, or Tripurāri pūrṇima. My questions are: - Why do we celebrate Karthika or Tripurāri ...
SwiftPushkar's user avatar
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16 votes
6 answers
3k views

Why does Makar Sankranti follow English calendar?

Why does Makar Sankranti always happens to be on Jan 14th / 15th, while all other Hindu festivals depend on size of moon like Chaturthi, Amavasya, Poornima etc. Are there any more Hindu festivals ...
Nikhil Vidhani's user avatar
16 votes
1 answer
4k views

Is there any mention or description of Karwachauth in Hindu scriptures?

Please provide a description of why Karwachauth is celebrated. As far as I know, there is some story about fasting by a woman and due to her mistake ( in not doing the fasts properly, she mistook a ...
ABcDexter's user avatar
  • 1,041
15 votes
3 answers
795 views

What is the origin of Kumbha Mela?

Once every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh is celebrated at Haridwar, Prayag, Nasik and Ujjain. It is generally believed that the reason for celebrating Maha Kumbh at those 4 places is because the Amrita (...
Triyugi Narayan Mani's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
4k views

Why Holika died inside fire, in spite of a boon?

King Hiranyakashipu tried many ways to kill his son Prahlada. Holika was his sister with a boon that a fire can not burn/harm her. To kill Prahlada in fire, Hiranyakashipu asked her sister's help. ...
Kedarnath's user avatar
  • 4,706
10 votes
1 answer
363 views

Why have we celebrated Dussehra today instead of tomorrow?

Whatever I know for consideration of Tithi from Panchangam is whichever Tithi falls on the sunrise, that is considered for whole the day. For example, yesterday there was Ashtami on sunrise and ...
Pandya's user avatar
  • 26.2k
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

Which scripture mentions the prohibitions on food consumption in Chaturmas?

The term Chaturmasya means four months. The term Chaturmasya Vrata is a Vrata to be observed for a period of four months. The Poornima (full moon day) in the month of Ashadha is called ‘Guru Poornima’...
Vishal prabhu lawande's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
792 views

Why people worship Goddess Ganga during Makar Sankranti?

Is there any reason or story behind people worshipping Goddess during Makar Sankranti?
Goltu's user avatar
  • 869
8 votes
1 answer
935 views

What is the importance and concept behind Masik Shivratri?

I found the following date calendar for Masik Shivratri, till date I was only aware of Shivratri and Maha Shivratri but Masik Shivratri is totally new for me. So wanted to understand the importance ...
Just_Do_It's user avatar
  • 8,906
7 votes
1 answer
517 views

What is the significance of flowers in Hinduism?

What is the significance of flowers in Hinduism? Why are temple decorated with flowers and why are Gods pleased with flowers?
Ashwith Ullal's user avatar
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
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the reason behind use of crackers for temple festivals? [closed]

We generally see in temple festivals that use of crackers is a star-attraction. It always attracts a huge crowd. But it may prove fatal too as it is a risk using huge amount of crackers at a time. Do ...
S.LAKSHMINARAYAN's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
298 views

Why Goddess Durga was worshiped on dusshera?

Dusshera is the day the Ravana was killed by the Rama, but Hindus worship Goddess Durga instead of Rama on dusshera ? Why so?
Mike Bars's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
113 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
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

What scriptures describe the UpAkarma dates calculation and performance details

Upakarma or Avni Avittam is a ritual performed before/on Shravan Paurnima/Pournami (it depends on Veda). Generally Rigveda Upakarma is one day behind Yajurveda Upakarma. What shastra/Scripture ...
Yogi's user avatar
  • 10.5k
4 votes
1 answer
188 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
4 votes
1 answer
395 views

Significance of Chaitra Navratri?

Significance of Chaitra Navratri ? Rituals to be followed ? Why people keep fast on chaitra navratri and reason behind it ? Why it is celebrated for nine days and nights ?
Devendar Agarwal's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
528 views

What is the significance of designing the courtyard?

I am not sure about North India, but in South India House wives draw a beautiful Rangoli (In south, muggulu) in the courtyard (angan) of their house. Some women even use cow dung to design their ...
Mr_Green's user avatar
  • 11.6k
3 votes
2 answers
286 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 ...
user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
251 views

Guḍhī Pāḍavā or Ugadi: Day on which Universe is created?

Posting it on a day of Guḍhī Pāḍavā or Ugadi. I was reading the Wikipedia link about this Hindu Festival. It was mentioned in that link that on this day, Brahma created the universe as per Brahma ...
AADHinduism's user avatar
  • 3,541
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

When is Avani Avittam (Upakarma) this year?

As I discuss in this question, Avani Avittam aka Upakarma, is a ritual performed on the Dakshinayana day in August where Brahmanas change their sacred thread. At least it usually occurs in August. ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
7k views

What is the significance of "Onathappan" during Onam?

During the festival of Onam, we worship onathappan. Could someone explain what this onathappan signifies? If it is Mahabali, then why are there three, along with one for Thrikkakarappan?
T90's user avatar
  • 113