SHREE UMIYA DHAM
Nashville,TN
Navratri
Navratri
The festival of Navrtari is also commonly referred to as "Durga Puja." Navratri, with "Nava" meaning nine and "ratri" meaning night, is celebrated for nine consecutive nights. This festival begins on the first day of the Hindu month Ashvin. Across all of the nine nights prayers are offered to Godess Durga to destroy evil. Individuals ask for help and strength from the Goddess to fight against the evil and protect the Hindu dharma.
Although everyone takes part in worshipping Goddess Durga, Navratri is celebrated in many different ways.
Many individuals observe various types of fasting. For example, some may only eat fruits and drink milk during the entire nine days and nights, while others eat only one meal. In the state of Gujarat, individuals come together to perform pooja and do traditional dances known as garba and raas.
Dhanteras
Dhanteras, also known as Dhanwantari Triodasi, is celebrated on the first of the five days of Diwali. It falls on the auspicious thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). During the festival of Dhanteras, the Goddess, Laxmi, is worshipped for both financial prosperity and well being. This makes sense, as "Dhan" in Dhanteras stands for wealth.
On this day, entrances of houses and businesses are made with colorful traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. Small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses to represent her long-awaited arrival.
When the evening arrives, Laxmi puja is performed. Divas of clay are lit to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. "Bhajans"-devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are also sung and "Naivedya" of traditional sweets are offered to the Goddess.
In villages, cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers because cattle is the main source of their income.
Kali Chaudas
Kali Chaudas is a festival where the goddess Mahakali is worshipped. "Kali" means dark and "chaudas" means 14th. This festival is celebrated on the 14th day of the Hindu month Ashvin, and this is the day that Goddess Mahakali killed the evil Raktavija.
To celebrate Kali Chaudas there are many different traditions. Some apply kajal in their eyes to ward off evil, others learn their mantras. People also offer food to Kul Devi, another name for Goddess Mahakali, to keep away evil. The second day of Diwali is known as Kali Choudas in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and various parts of Maharashtra.
Diwali
Diwali, often referred to as Deepavali or the festival of lights, is one of the largest festivals celebrated by Hindus. Diwali commemorates Lord Rama's return to kingdom Ayodhya after defeating Ravan, symbolizing the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness.
On the five days that Hindus celebrate Diwali, Goddess Laxmi is worshipped. People decorate their homes and work places with rangoli, wear their best clothes, light up many diva, and do fireworks. Also, a plethora of sweets are made and distributed among loved ones. It cannot be left without saying that on Diwali, there is not a corner left in a home that has not been touched by lights of the diya, and laughter and joy of the individuals.
Bhai Beej
On the fifth, and last day of Diwali, the festival of Bhai Beej, also commonly known as Bhai Dooj, arrives. According to the mythology of the Hindu religion, Bhai Beej came about from a brother, Yamraj, and his sister, Yamuna. Yamraj, the God of Death, came home to visit Yamuna on this day, and she welcomed him by applying tilak on his forehead and then aarti for his well-being.
Consequently, this festival is special for the bond that exists between brothers and sisters. During Bhai Beej, sisters apply a tilak on their brother's forehead, and then follow it with an aarti performed for him. This all represents the love and protection that the sister offers her brother. As a thank you for her love and protection, the brothers then give their sisters blessings, gifts, and sweets.
Holi
Holi, otherwise known as the festival of colors, is celebrated on a full moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun. It is believed that this festival is celebrated based of the legend of Hiranyakashyap, Holika, and Prahlad. Hiranyakashyap, a king, demanded that everyone in his kingdom worship him. However, his son, Prahlad, chose to worship Lord Vishnu instead. Hiranyakashyap did not approve of Prahlad being a devotee of Lord Vishnu, so he asked his fire immune sister, Holika, to enter a fire with Prahlad in her lap. It is often said that Lord Vishu saved Prahlad while Holika got consumed by the fire, because she was only immune to fire if she entered it alone.
To celebrate the win of good over evil, a holi is made out of wood and then set to fire to represent the burning of Holika. On the next day, people gather around and excitedly throw heaps of colorful powders or liquids onto eachother.
