1st
January,
2014:
Amavasya
Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn Zodiac it is known as Makar in Hindi.
Makar
Sankranti
is
also
regarded
as
the
beginning
of
an
auspicious
phase
and
any
sacred
ritual
can
be
sanctified
in
a
Hindu
family
from
this
day
onwards.Sankranti
marks
the
termination
of
the
winter
season
and
the
onset
of
spring.
Amavasya
The
last
day
of
the
waning
phase
of
the
moon
is
called
Amavasya.
Amavasya
is
the
end
of
the
Krishna
paksha
of
the
Hindu
month.
A
few
festivals
like
Diwali are
celebrated
on
this
day.
Amavasya
is
considered
sacred
for
ancestor
rituals.
According
to
Amavasyant
calenders
it
is
called
Margashirsha
Amavasya.
As
per Purnimant
calenders
it
is
called
Paush
Amavasya.
4th
January,
2014: Masik Vinayak Chaturthi
Lord Ganesha
It is
an
auspicious
day
dedicated
to
Lord
Ganesha and
falls
on
the
4th
day
of
the
Krishna
Paksha
(waning
phase
of the
moon)
of a
lunar
fortnight
or
on
the
fourth
day
after Purnima or full moon.
Ganesha
devotees
observe
a
fast
on Vinayak Chaturthi.
7th
December,
2014:
Guru
Govind
Singh
Jayanti
Guru Gobind Singh
A
Sikh festival that commemorates the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh,
the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. It is a religious celebration in which
prayers for prosperity are offered.
Guru
Gobind Singh was the 10th Sikh Guru of Nanak. He was born at Patna,
Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666.
Guru
Gobind Singh was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who gave his life to
protect religious freedom. He succeeded his father and became a Guru
at nine years of age. In his lifetime, he stood against the Mughal
Rulers and fought against injustice. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh took
five men from the lower caste of society and baptized them as His
Five Beloveds. It was his dedication to God, his fearlessness and his
desire to protect the people from being oppressed that led Guru
Gobind Singh to establish the Khalsa, a military force of
saint-soldiers which he baptized.
Before
his death in 1708, he declared the Guru Granth Sahib, which is
Sikhism’s Holy Scripture to be the permanent Sikh Guru.
11th
January,
2014:
Putrada
Ekadashi
is
celebrated
on
the
eleventh
day
of
Shukla
Paksha
in
the
Paush
Month.
Lord
Vishnu
Rituals:
On
this
day
Lord
Vishnu
is
worshipped
and
one
keeps
a
fast
for
children.
Devotees
wake
up
early
in
the
morning
and
bathing
soon
after,
worship the
Lord
with
due
respect.
Their
children
have
long
lives
and
childless
couples
are
blessed
with
a
child.
12th
January,
2014:
Swami
Vivekananda
Jayanti
Swami
Vivekananda
Swami
Vivekananda
(January
12,
1863–July
4,
1902),was
the
chief
disciple
of
the
19th
century
Sri
Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa
and
founded
the
Ramakrishna
Mission.
He
introduced
the
Hindu
philosophies
of
Vedanta
and
Yoga
in
Europe
and
America,
and
brought
Hinduism
to
the
status
of
a
world
religion
by
end
of
the
19th
century.
Swami
Vivekananda
was
born
in
an
aristocratic
Bengali
family
of
Calcutta
in
1863.
While
searching
for
someone
who
could
directly
demonstrate
the
reality
of
God,
he
came
to
Ramakrishna
and
became
his
disciple.
Ramakrishna
taught
him
the
philosophy
of
Advaita
Vedanta
or
non-dualism
and
that
service
to
man
was
the
most
effective
worship
of
God.
13th
January,
2014:
Lohri
Punjabis,
irrespective
of
their
religion,
continue
to
practice
their
Punjabi
Folk
Religion.
Respect
to
the
seasons
and
the
natural
elements
of
fire,
wind,
water
and
the
earth
is
very
important.
Lohri
is
a
festival
dedicated
to
the
end
of
the
Winter
season
whereas
Teej
(known
as
Teeyan
in
Punjabi)
is
dedicated
to
the
rain/Monsoon
season
and
Basant
is
dedicated
to
Spring .
Over
time,
people
have
associated
Lohri
to
the
tale
of
Dulla
Bhatti.
The
central
character
of
most
Lohri
songs,
Dulla
Bhatti
was
a
Muslim
highway
robber
who
had
converted
from
Sikhism.
He
lived
in
Punjab
during
the
reign
of
Emperor
Akbar.
Regarded
as
a
hero
in
Punjab,
he
robbed
the
rich
and
rescued
Sikh
and
Hindu
girls
being
forcibly
taken
to
be
sold
in the
slave
market
of
the
Middle
East.
He
arranged
their
marriages
to
Sikh
and
Hindu
boys
with
the
proper
rituals
and
provided
them
with
dowries.
So
every
other
Lohri
song
expresses
gratitude
to
Dulla
Bhatti.
14th
January,
2013:
Makar
Sankranti
Worshipping
the
Sun
God
Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn Zodiac it is known as Makar in Hindi.
Bathing
in
the
Ganges
on
Makar
Sankranti
At
Vrindavan,
Rishikesh
and
Allahabad,
millions
of
devotees
will
take
a
dip
in
the
holy
River
Yamuna
or
the
Ganges
on
this
pious
day.
Invariably
they
will
give
charity
to
the
needy
.
Bhagwan
Surya-Narayan
is
considered
the
ancestor
of
Lord
Ramji
and
the
very
first
disciple
of
Lord
Krishna
in
the
Bhagavat
Gita,
and
He will
be
worshipped
with
joyous
abandon.
Shri
Radha
Vallabha
Thakurs
in
Vrindavan
Today
a
bhoga
of
khichdi
will
be
offered
to
Sri
Yugal
Sarkar
particularly
at
the
Radha
Vallabhji
Temple
at
the
holy
dham
of
Vrindavan.
We
must
also
offer
khichdi
bhoga
to
our
ishtdev
or
family
deity
and
liberally
donate it
to
brahmins
and
the
needy.
16th
January,
2014:
Paush
Purnima,
Magh
Snan
Begins
Paush
Purnima
Snan
The
day
occurs
when
the
moon
is
full
in
the
Hindu
month
of
Paush.
This
is
the
last
full
moon
of
winter.
By
this
time,
the
sadhus
and
hundreds
of
thousands
of
pilgrims
arrive
at
the
Kumbh
Mela.
Paush
Purnima
Punya
Snan
is
an
importance
event
in
Magh
Mela.
Every
year,
Thousands
of
devotees
perform
ritual
baths
in
Prayag.
Heavy
rush
is
witnessed
in
Hindu
temples
across
India
on
this
day.
16th
January:
Birth
Anniversary of Shri
Radha
Baba
Sri
Sri Radha Baba
In
2012-2013,
the
birth
centenary
of
Sri
Sri
Radha
Baba
(16th
January
1913-13th
October
1992) was
being
celebrated
at
His
birthplace,
Gorakhpur,
Kolkatta
and
Delhi
to
spread
the
message
of
love.
In
quest
of
the
divine, Shri Shri Radha Baba
came
in
contact
with
Shri
Hanuman
Prasad
Poddar
through
Jai
Dayal
Ji
Goenka,
a
spiritual
personality
and
the
founder
of
Gitapress.
In
1987, highly revered Bobo sent the aunties of Vrindavan, her inner circle of devotees
and me for his darshan.Today we feel truly blessed because we had
stayed at Gita Vatika for full one week, in the year 1987.
19th
January,
2014:
Sankashti
Chaturthi
Lord
Ganesha
The
most
favourite
day
of
the
month
for
Lord
Ganesh
is
the chaviti
or
the
fourth
day
of
the
month.
The
chaviti
of a
month's
Krishna
Paksha
or
waning
phase
of
the
moon
is
known
as
Sankashti
Cahturthi.
Sankashti
Chaturthi
is
also
known
as
Sankata
Hara
Chaturthi
or
Sankata
Vimochana
Cahturthi.
Devotees
of
Lord
Ganesha
observe
the
Sankashti
Chaturthi
Vrat.
It
is
believed
that
by
doing
so
one
is
freed
from
all
difficulties
also
known
as
Sankat.
Devotees
observe
a
day
long
fast
on
Sankashti
Chaturthi.
In
the
night
after
seeing
the
Moon, they
worship
Lord
Ganesha.
After
praying
to
Lord
Ganesha,
devotees
eat
the
offering
that
is
made
to
Lord
Ganesha and
take
care
to
visit
any
Ganesha
Temple
on
Sankashti
Chaturthi
Day.
27th
January,
2014:
Shat Tila
Ekadashi
Lord
Vishnu
This
ekadashi
falls
on
the
eleventh
day
of
Krishnapaksh
in
the
month
of
Paush.Til
means
sesame
seeds
and
shat
stands
for
six.
The
entire
offering
of
six
types
of
sesame
seeds
on
Shat
Tila
Ekadasi
is
considered
highly
meritorious.
Reciting
the
Vishnu
Sahasra
Nama
Stotram
(the
thousand
names
of
Vishnu)
and
worshipping
Lord
Vishnu
is
a
must
for
devotees.
Please
offer
til-ladoos
to
Lord
Vishnu,
Ganesha,
your
family
deity,
the
child
form
of
Krishna
or
Lord
Rama
at
home.
As
til
is
considered
beneficial
for
the
cold
winter
months,
kindly
give
sesame
seeds
to
needy
students
and
the
poor,
this
season
.
28th
January,
2014:
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.
Worship
of
Shiva
throughout
the
night,
bathing
the
Shivalinga
with
panchamrta
(milk,
curd,
ghee,
sugar
and
honey),
homa,
chanting
the Mulamantra
(Aum
Nama
Shivaya)
and
praying
for
forgiveness
are
the
other
religious
observances.
At
the
end
of
the
vrata
one
must
do
parana
(break
the
fast
by
partaking
the
offerings).
30th
January,
2014
:
Mauni
Amavasya
We have the famed holy dip in Prayag during the Magh Mela. Mauni Amavasya is the no moon day in Magh(January to February) as per the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. Several Hindus keep a vow of absolute silence on this day. According to Hinduism, mauna or silence is an integral part of spiritual discipline. Derived from the word muni, mauna ideally symbolizes a state of oneness with the Self. Silence has also been described by Adi Shankaracharya as one of the three essential attributes of a sanyasi. In recent times Ramana Maharshi popularized silence as a medium of spiritual instruction.
Devotees Bathing at the Sangam in Prayag
We have the famed holy dip in Prayag during the Magh Mela. Mauni Amavasya is the no moon day in Magh(January to February) as per the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. Several Hindus keep a vow of absolute silence on this day. According to Hinduism, mauna or silence is an integral part of spiritual discipline. Derived from the word muni, mauna ideally symbolizes a state of oneness with the Self. Silence has also been described by Adi Shankaracharya as one of the three essential attributes of a sanyasi. In recent times Ramana Maharshi popularized silence as a medium of spiritual instruction.
It is a spiritual calendars for january 2014. Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India.
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