PRIME RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
India is a diversified country, with different cultures and different languages. Although God is one, the way of devotion differs with different cultures in each part of India. In India, three festivals of devotion are celebrated commonly throughout the country. These are Gokulashtami, Vinayagar Chatturthi, and Diwali.
GANESH POOJA OR VINAYAKA CHADURTHI
Vinayagar Chaturthi is a festival celebrated by everyone from toddlers to adults. This festival usually takes place on the 4th day of the new moon in the month of Avani (August, September).
On the day of Vinayagar Chaturthi, people wake up in the morning at 5 am and go to shops or craft an idol of the god. Next, they decorate the idol made of clay with paint. The leading sweets of this festival are Modagam and Kolukatai, which are made of maida and jaggery. These idols will be allowed to dissolve in oceans and rivers as a sendoff to the god.
People offered prayers in their houses with traditional clay idols in addition to worshiping Ganesha at temples and pandals built by neighborhood residents and Hindu organizations.
The populace presented "Kozhukattai," a traditional sweet delicacy made with coconut and jaggery, to Lord Ganesha, who is renowned as a remover of difficulties.
The main festivities were held at the revered Sri Karpaga Vinayaka Temple in Pillayarpatti, Sivaganga. The highlights included special prayer sessions and a "Theerthavari" (sprinkling of holy water into the temple pond after deity pujas). The early Pandya (5th Century AD) rock-cut temple that is devoted to the elephant-headed God is the oldest Ganesha shrine in Tamil Nadu. The Rock Fort Uchi Pillayar temple in Tiruchirappalli, which is perched on a hill, also held elaborate celebrations. Massive "Kozhukattai" was hauled up the hill by temple staff in a textile container made specifically for the purpose and strung from bamboo. Many people made the offer.
KRISHNA JAYANTHI OR GOKULASHTAMI
Due to the fact that Kritinan is thought to have been born during the day, the pujas are performed in the evening. Footprints are left from the front door to the shrine to represent Kannan returning home as a little child, and kid-friendly delicacies like cheese and murukku are prepared
KARTHIGAI DEEPAM
Karthigai Deepam is a traditional event celebrated in Tamil Nadu. It is a very old celebration that is also observed in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, three states that are close by. For Tamils everywhere, this event is immensely significant. Karthigai pournami is the name of this Karthigai month's full moon day. This event, Thrikkarthika, is celebrated in Kerala to welcome Goddess Karthiyayen.
Every home has lit rows of Agal vilakkus (Clay Oil lamps). In essence, Karthigai is a celebration of lamps. It is seen as lucky to have lamp lit. It is thought to fend off evil spirits and provide joy and wealth. All Hindu ceremonies and celebrations require a lit lamp, but Karthigai is the only occasion where it is absolutely necessary. In south India, this holiday is also observed to honor the ties that bind brothers and sisters (analogous to Bhaiya-Dhuj and Raakhi). Sisters light lamps to commemorate the occasion and offer prayers for the prosperity and success of their brothers.
THIRUVANNAMALI DEEPAM
On top of the 2668-foot-high holy mountain, the Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam will be illuminated at about six o'clock. The Shiva Linga covers the entire Mountain. The lighting of Maha Deepam will require close to 3500 kg of ghee. When the Maha Deepam is lit, Sri Ardhanarishwara will bless the worshippers present in the temple. Within a 35 km radius of the Holy Mountain, the Maha Deepam will be visible. Numerous worshipers will participate in the 16-kilometer Girivalam (circumambulation of the holy mountain). On the day of Marghazhi Arudra Darisanam, the Moist Black Ash (known as "Mai" in Tamil) that is left over after the Ghee & Cotton Wick have been lit will be given out as Prasadam to the faithful.
Karthigai festival is well-known in Koneshwaram, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, just like it is in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. Three days are devoted to celebrating the celebration. The three days are referred to as Appa Karthigai, Vadai Karthigai, and Thiru Karthigai, which is generally regarded as the Karthigai day and is when the primary pooja is performed. A massive fire light that can be seen for miles around is lit up on the hill (at both temples) on Karthigai day. Mahadeepam is the name of the fire (deepam). Hindu worshipers travel there to offer prayers and sacrifices to Lord Shiva. Karthikai Deepam will have extra significance in 2016 because of the Maha Kumbh Mela of Ujjain Simhastha. It will be observed on December 12, which is a Monday and is symbolic of God Shiva of the twelve Jyotirlinga.
DEEPAVALI
In the Dvapara Yuga, the demonic Narakasura ruled Pragjyotishapura, which is now near Assam. The 16000 captured women were set free when Krishna, a Vishnu avatar, defeated Narakasura. Diwali was celebrated as a reminder of the triumph of good over evil following Krishna's victory over Narakasura. The day before Diwali, known as Naraka Chaturdasi, is remembered as the day Lord Krishna killed Narakasura. Deepavali is celebrated on Narka Chaturdashi, the day before North India celebrates Diwali, like the majority of South Indian states. On this day, people remember how Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama overcame the evil King Narkasura, who had wreaked havoc and perpetrated several atrocities against the people of his nation. This day stands for the triumph of good over evil, the victory of spiritual light over spiritual darkness, and the enlightenment and regeneration of one's life.
Diwali favorites in Tamil Nadu that are prepared in almost every Tamil home are ukkarai, velli appam, idly, chutney, sambhar, omapudi, boondhi, jangri, pathir peni, or one form of poli. Following the baths, wooden boards and mats are positioned toward the east while crackers are lighted. During the preparations, kuthu vilaku (light) is kept light in the worship area or in the homes' temples. After the feast (naivedhya) is sacrificed to the gods, fruits, betel leaves, and betel nuts are distributed to each family member
In Tamil Nadu, the festival of Diwali is celebrated for two days. On the first day, people start their day with an oil massage and a bath with hot water. The festival wouldn’t be complete without sweets. The people make sweets in their homes, such as laddus, jalebi, gulab jamun, and savory. These delicious cuisines are offered to the gods to express their gratitude. These sweets are not only for the appetite but also for bonding because people share these sweets with others as a way of expressing their love. On the occasion of Diwali, the appetite for the day includes the consumption of non-veg dishes compared to other parts of the country.
The second day is a new moon day, On this day, people worship their ancestors and feed the crows, which is a custom followed for years. This day is also auspicious for women. It is often referred to as Kedarishwari nombu. All the Hindu women wear silk sarees and start fasting for the entire day. They decorate a vessel with a coconut on top and worship it with a sacred thread on a plate. This sacred thread is later tied to their brothers and sisters. It is believed that this process brings prosperity and happiness to the wielders.
A special sweet, Adirasam, which is made of rice flour and jaggery, vada, and sugiyam sweet is to be highlighted in this ritual. These are either done in temples or in their houses according to their preferences. As the sun begins to set, people light their homes with earthen lamps and begin to firecrackers and light colorful fireworks, which light up the night sky and turn out to be a treat for the eyes. At this time, the light produced by electricity is overcome by the light produced by the people's happiness and the fireworks, which is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime moment to be experienced.
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