Shri Banke Bihari ji in a Phool Bangla
The Phool Bangla Utsav in Vrindavan starts
from Chaitra Shukla Ekadasi up to Haryali Amavasya (Shravan Amavasya).
During this festival of flowers, Shri Banke Bihari ji is decked with
leaves and flowers of summer. The leaves of Vatvriksha (Banyan) are strung
as garlands and ornaments for Bihari ji. Phool Bangla means a house of
flowers which is erected daily in the evening to seat Sri Banke Bihari ji,
Sri Radhavallabh ji, Sri Radharaman ji and deities of other temples in
Vrindavan. Devotees long to see this ethereal sight in the scorching
summer.
4th June, 2013: Achala Ekadashi Vrat
Lord Vishnu
Achla Ekadashi falls in the month of Jayestha (May-June) and is also known as 'Jayestha Krishna Ekadashi'. Achla Ekadashi is the giver of good deeds, destroyer of sins and one who observes the vrata with a full fast on this day attains great esteem in this world.
5th June 2013: Pradosh Vrata
Lord Shiva
Pradosh means dusk and this fast is
kept on the 13th day of each lunar fortnight for propitiating Lord Shiva.
With his blessings all desires are fulfilled and one attains spiritual
enlightenment.It is said that on this day all gods and goddesses assemble
at Mount Kailash to worship Lord Shiva.
Generally people observe Pradosha Vrata on every trayodashi tithi
(13th lunar day falling in Krishna and Shukla Pakshas) in the evening.
8th June, 2013: Vat Savitri Vrat Pujan
The Legend of Savitri & Satyavant
Associated with Sati Savitri and Satyavant,
the legend reveals how Satyavant got rid of death and regained his kingdom
with the dedicated devotion of his wife Savitri. The Puranas propagate
that the story of Savitri is an inspiration for every married woman.
Women Worshipping the Vat (Bargad) Tree
The Vat Savitri Vrat falls on the full moon day of the month of Jyeshtha, around May-June. Married
Women observe Vat Savitri Vrat with the intention of preserving their
husbands good fortune.On this day, women fast and worship the Vat (Bargad)
tree to pray for the growth and strength of their husdand and families.All
Hindu women observe this festival worshiping and propitiating Savitri
as a Devi. On this day, early morning the women take bath and
wear new clothes, new bangles and apply vermilion on the fore-head and
the hair-parting line. Then Ma Savitri is worshipped.
8th June, 2013: Shani Amavasya
Lord Saturn
It is believed that worshipping Lord Saturn
on the day of Shani Amavasya helps in fulfilling one's desires. It is
considered to be an auspicious day to get relief from the obstacles
caused due to kalsarpa yoga, dhaiyaa and sadesati.
11th June, 2013: Ramba Tritiya
Goddess Parvati & Lord Shiva
Ramba Tritiya is dedicated to Sati Savitri
Mata. The vrata is performed on Shukla Paksha Tritiya in Jyeshta month.
Savitri Puja is the main ritual to observed on this day, The
legend of this fast is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. Goddess Parvati
kept this fast to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Married women perform
this vrata under the banana tree to get its fullest merits.
Women worship a pair of bangles which respresent
apsara Rambha and goddess Lakshmi.
12th June, 2013: Vinayak Chaturhi Vrata
Lord Ganesha
Each lunar month in Hindu calendar has two
Chaturthi Tithis. Which belong to Lord Ganesha according to Hindu scriptures.
The Chaturthi after Amavasya or new moon and during Shukla Paksha
is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and the one after Purnimasi or full moon
and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi.
The most significant Vinayaka Chaturthi falls
in the month of Bhadrapada and is known as Ganesha Chaturthi. Ganesha
Chaturthi is celebrated by Hindus all over the world as the birthday
of Lord Ganesha.
15th June, 2013: Mithun Sankranti
Mithun Sankranti
Sankranti means transition.When the sun transits
from one rashi (zodiac sign) to Gemini that day is known as Mithun sankranti.Since
the sun passes through twelve rashis there is one sankranti every month
.
Mithuna Sankranti marks the beginning of the
third solar month in the Hindu calendar. All twelve Sankranti(s) in
the year are highly auspicious for Dan-Punya activities. During Mithuna Sankranti
gifting or donating clothes is considered highly auspicious.
18th June, 2013: Ganga Dussehra
The Birth of the Ganga
During this festival ten days of the month
are devoted to the worship of Holy River Ganga venerated by the Hindus
as a mother and a goddess.
Places such as Rishikesh, Haridwar, Garh-Mukteswar,
Prayag, Varanasi and others where the Ganga flows, hold a special significance
on this day. Devotees flock to these places & Varanasi with its
many ghats situated on the west bank of the Ganga, to touch the river water, bathe in it and take the river clay
home to venerate.
In Haridwar, 'aartis' are performed at twilight
and a large number of devotees meditate on the riverbanks.The river
Ganga rises at Gangotri, high in the snow-clad Himalayas. Cascading down mighty boulders, it flows into the hot plains
of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and finally merges with the sea in the Bay of
Bengal.
Bhagirath Prays for the Ganga to Descend on
Earth
Regarded as a celestial river originating in
the heavens, Ganga was gifted to mankind in answer to the great sadhana undertaken
by Bhagirath, after whom she is also called Bhagirathi. Bhagirath, a
descendant of the Sagara dynasty, prayed for the Ganga to descend onto
the parched earth and bring life. But the torrential waters of the Ganga
were a mighty and destructive force. Brahma and Vishnu asked Shiva to
accept the Ganga into his matted locks. Confined in Shiva's hair, Ganga
lost the wild force of her flow and became a placid, life-giving river.
Despite its pollution, the Ganga is a symbol of purity. Its water bestows salvation
to the dying and new life to the living. Unusual images of Lord Jagannath,
his brother Balaram and sister Subhadra are ceremonially pulled in the
grand chariots at Puri.
19th June, 2013: Nirjala Ekadashi Vrata
Lord Vishnu
This Ekadashi falls in the month of Jyestha, during the Shukla paksha (June). Amongst
the 24 Ekadashi's , the vrata on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi is considered
most beneficial and said to give the fruits of 24 Ekadashis observed
throughout the year. A complete fast is kept on this day with not a
drop of water to drink. People worship Lord Vishnu to ensure happiness
and prosperity, and forgiveness of transgressions and sins. On the preceding
day that is on the 10th lunar day, Sandhya (evening prayer) is performed
and only one meal is taken.
21st June, 2013: Pradosh Vrata
Lord Shiva
23rd June, 2013: Shri Satyanarayan Vrata
Lord Satyanarayan
23rd June, 2013: Jyeshta Purnima
The Snan Yatra
It is the full moon day in the month of Jyeshta
and marks the end of the Jyeshta month in north Indian lunar calendars.It
is celebrated as Jagannath Purnima, Snan purnima and Devasnana purnima
in Orissa esp at the Jagannath Puri temple.
Many years ago, king Indradyumna started the
ceremony of bathing(snana-yatra)Lord Jagannath with 108 pots of sandal-scented
well water. At that time, Lord Jagannath told the King that for fifteen
days after the snana-yatra, no one should see the Deities. Snana-Yatra occurs on Jyestha
Purnima(June Full Moon), one of the hottest days of the year. The Skanda
Purana says that Lord Krishna manifested in His Daru Bramha form as
Jagannath Swami on this day. Therefore, Jyestha Purnima is the appearance
day of Lord Jagannath.
Chant the Mahamantra to nullify any negative
effect of the full moon :--
hare ram hare ram ram ram
hare hare
hare hare krishna hare
krishna krishna krishna hare hare
26th June: Sankashti Chaturthi
Lord Ganesha
The Chaturthi after Purnimasi or full moon
and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi.
Devotees of Lord Ganesha observe the Sankashti
Chaturthi Vrat. It is believed that by doing so one is freed from all his difficulties also known
as Sankat.
Calander with different ref.s is very informative & pre-picture of the whole month helps a lot during the month.Thank you so much !!
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