Gandhi Jayanti...

Gandhi Jayanti is a national festival celebrated in India to mark the occasion of the birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the "Father of the Nation". It is one of the three national holidays of the country. The United Nations General Assembly announced on 15 June 2007 that it adopted a resolution which declared that 2 October will be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence. He is known for his non-violent civil disobedience in India and South Africa. These included the start of the non-cooperation movement in 1922 and the Salt Satyagraha or Salt (Dandi) March starting on March 12, 1930. Through Gandhi's efforts, India finally gained its freedom on August 15, 1947.

We celebrate this day with great enthusiasm every year to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation as well as remember his courageous deeds on the way of independence struggle for the country from British rule. 2nd of October is also celebrated internationally as the International Day of Non-Violence. We will always remember Bapu as a symbol of peace and truth. He was born on 2nd of October in 1869 in a small town (Porbunder, Gujarat) however performed great deeds all through his life. He was a lawyer and he took his law degree from U.K and practiced in South Africa. He had described his life history full of struggle in his autobiography named “My experiments with Truth”. He fought continuously with lots of patience and dare against British rule for the independence of India all through his life untill the independence came on the way. Gandhiji was the man of simple living and high thinking which has been set as an example to us. He was very against to the smoking, drinking, untouchability, and non-vegetarianism. At this day the selling of alcohol has been completely banned for whole day by the government of India. He was the pioneer of truth and non-violence who started the Satyagraha movement for India’s freedom. It is celebrated with lots of preparations at the Raj Ghat, New Delhi (the cremation place of him).

Happy Navratri..

Navratri is nine day festival dedicated to Devi Durga by Hindus all over the World. Navratri comes from the Sanskrit word “nava” denoting nine and “ratri” denoting nine. Celebrated to worship the various form of the Mother Divine through prayers, chants, meditation, fasting and other spiritual practices.

Navratri is traditionally celebrated at the beginning of autumn every year, when everything in nature starts undergoing transformation. These nine nights are said to be precious as there are energies in the creation that are enriched at this time of the year. Navratri is celebrated to glorify the spirit in us. The spirit in us alone can destroy all negative qualities. By turning inward during Navratri and getting in touch with the spirit within, we can overcome these negative tendencies ans invoke the position qualities that are within us, thus feeling elevated and renewed.

Defining both the religious and cultural themes, Navratri celebrations are steeped in traditional music and dance. Gujarat is the focus of Navratri celebrations with all night-long dance and festivities. 'Garba' is a devotional dance form that derives from the folklore of Lord Krishna singing and dancing with the gopis using 'dandiya' or slim wooden sticks. 'Raas Garba' has also evolved to include steps like 'Dodhiyu', 'Trikoniya', 'Lehree' and several others. In Jammu, the Vaishno Devi shrine sees a huge rise in the number of devotees making their way to the pilgrimage during Navratri. In Himachal Pradesh, the Navratri Mela marks the auspicious occasion of Navratri. In West Bengal, men and women celebrate 'Durga Puja' with great devotion and reverence and worship Goddess Durga destroying the demon 'Mahishasura'. 'Ramlila', wherein people enact scenes from Ramayana is performed in big grounds. 'Dussehra' which coincides with the tenth day of Ashwin (Sharad) Navratri sees nation-wide celebration. In South India, during Navratri, people arrange idols in a step pattern and invoke the name of God. In Mysore, the nine-day Navratri festival coincides with 'Dasara' Festival involving folk music renditions and dance performances, wrestling tournaments and tableau participation. The procession of tableaux along with embellished elephants, camels and horses starting from the brightly-lit Mysore Palace is a famous one. 'Vijayadashami' is also an auspicious day in South India for performing puja for one's vehicle.

Goddess Durga is worshipped for the first three days of Navratri followed by Goddess Laxmi for the next three days. Last three days of Navratri are devoted to Goddess Saraswati. Celebrate Navratri with sacred devotion to get the blessings of Maa Durga. Sharadiya Navratri 2016 is starting from October 01 and will continue till October 10.