Glimpses of Divinity

Why Celebrate Ramanavami?

kajmani — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:00:03 +0000

The ideal of Rama is the reason to celebrate Ramanavami. The story of Rama defines the concept of dharma in the form of the ideal husband, wife, brother and parents. Ramanavami is an ideal day to emulate these ideals in our lives.

Chaitra Durga Navaratri

kajmani — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:37:00 +0000

Chaitra Navaratri (April 11th to April 18th 2013), or the nine (nava-) nights (-ratri) of Durga, are celebrated in the first 9 days of the bright half of the month of Chaitra (starting from the day after Amavasya). According to the Indian lunar calendar, this usually in late March or early April. This period of nine days heralds the onset of spring and also marks the beginning of the new year for the hindu calendar in most parts of India. Read more...

Holi – The Festival of Colors

kajmani — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:28:10 +0000

Holi or Holika, is a spring festival (March 7th/8th, 2012) celebrated at the onset of the spring season, on the full moon day (Purnima) in the month of Phalguna. It is also the first day of the Hindu calendar (samvat) and a day of great joy and gaiety in the cities of Vrindavan and Mathura. Holi means the triumph of good over evil and conquest of sensual values by spiritual values.

Maha Shivratri – Celebrating Lord Shiva

kajmani — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 02:52:38 +0000

Maha Shivratri (February 19th 2012) is celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva on the 13th (or 14th) night of the Krishna paksha (dark half or waning phase) of the moon (night before Amavasya) in the month of Phalgun (Feb-March) by almost all sects within Hinduism. It is a day of fasting for all devotees of Lord Shiva and is one of the eight most significant days of fasting in the Hindu Calendar.

Vasant Panchami – Saraswati Puja

kajmani — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:32:03 +0000

Vasant Panchami (also known as Basant Panchami) is a festival in honor of Goddess Saraswati, the hindu Goddess of education, learning and the fine arts (music, writing, painting, etc.). The festival is celebrated on the fifth (panch) day after the new moon (amavasaya) in the month of Magha according to the Hindu calendar (usually occurs in late January or early February). It marks the onset of spring (vasant) according to the Hindu calendar and is marked with great gaiety and celebrations all across the northern states in India. Read full article....

Celebrating Makar Sankranti

kajmani — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:29:25 +0000

Makar Sankranti is observed on the 14th of January every year and marks the astronomical event of the northward motion of the sun (uttarayana) from the tropic of capricorn towards the tropic of cancer. In India, it also marks the end of winter and the onset of spring and the progression or change (sankranti) of [...]

The Secret of Work by Swami Vivekananda

kajmani — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 01:44:02 +0000

"Helping others physically, by removing their physical needs, is indeed great; but the help is greater according as the need is greater and according as the help is far-reaching. If a man's wants can be removed for an hour, it is helping him indeed; if his wants can be removed for a year, it is more helpful; but if his wants can be removed forever, it is surely the greatest help that can be given him." - Vivekananda in "The Secret of Work"

Diwali – Lakshmi and Ganesha Puja

kajmani — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:13:17 +0000

The biggest celebration for Hindus, the festival of lights (Diwali or Deepavali), is celebrated on the amavasya night of the month of Ashvin (usually in late October or early November). The festival, which celebrates among many things, the return of Lord Rama (of the Ramayana) to his native land of Ayodhya after completing fourteen years of stay in the forest with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana.

Naraka Chaturdashi – Second day of Diwali

kajmani — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:12:18 +0000

The second day of the Diwali festival, is the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashvin, and is called Narak-Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas and also known as Chhoti (-small) Diwali. This day is dedicated to the victory of Lord Krishna over the wicked demon king Narakasur. Narkasur had fought against neighbouring kings and imprisoned 16,000 women, daughters of the Gods and saints. He had also defeated Lord Indra and taken away the magnificient kundale (earrings) from the ears of Aditi, mother of the Gods. When Lord Krishna learnt about Narakasur's deeds, he decided to engage him in battle and liberate all the celestials.

Dhanteras – First Day of Diwali

kajmani — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:09:33 +0000

Dhanteras is celebrated on the thirteenth day (teras) of the Krishna paksha (the waning cycle) of the lunar month of Ashwin in the Hindu calendar. It heralds the beginning of the five days of Diwali, the biggest festival for Hindus in India and all over the world.