Holi or Holika, also known as holikotsava, is a very popular event observed during the country (India). It is specially marked by unmixed gaiety and frolics and is general to all sections of the people.

This festival is extremely ancient. Known originally as ‘Holika’ it has been mentioned in very early spiritual works such as Jaimini’s Purvamimamsa-sutras and Kathaka-grhya-sutras. It must have as a result existed numerous centuries before Christ.

holi Shree Sanwariyaji, Sanwaliya seth

It was at first actually a particular rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was the deity worshipped by them.

Present are two ways of reckoning a lunar month: Purnimanta and Amanta. In the former, the initial day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, behind the new moon. While the latter reckoning is more common now, the former was very much in vogue in the former days. According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of the year and the New Year heralding the Vasanta-rtu (with spring starting from next day).

Therefore the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the start of the spring season. This maybe explains the other names of this festival: Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.
According to the stories in the Puranas and different local myths, this day is chief for three reasons.

• It was on this day that Lord Siva opened his third eye and reduced Kamadeva (the god of love, Cupid or Eros) to ashes.
• It was on this day that Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakasyapu, who tried to kill the child devotee Prahlad by attractive him on her lap and sitting on a pyre of wood which was set ablaze. Holika was burnt to ashes while Prahlad remained unscathed!
• It was yet again on this day that an ogress called Dhundhi, who was troubling the children in the kingdom of Prthu (or Raghu) was complete to run away for life, by the shouts and pranks of the mischievous boys. While she had secured several boons that complete her almost invincible, this – noise, shouts, abuses and pranks of boys – was a chink in her armour due to a curse of Lord Siva. The day itself came to be called ‘Adada’ or ‘Holika’ since this festival is started.

Maha Shivratri or Maha Shivaratri (Night of Shiva) is a Hindu festival, celebrated all over the country with much pump and enthusiasm.
The festival usually falls every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu calendar.
The festival is exclusively dedicated to Lord Shiva which is known by hundreds of names.
Maha Shivratri is the day to rejoice…to pray to the almighty for wellness. Almost all Hindus throughout the world offer prayers in the morning/evening and some observe fasting throughout the day.

A Festival Significant for Women :

Shivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali, Parvati and Durga. But generally it is believed that anyone who utters the name of Shiva during Shivratri with pure devotion is freed from all sins. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and is liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

शिव शंकर को जिसने पूजा उसका ही उद्वार हुआ – 2
अन्त काल को भवसागर में उसका बेड़ा पार हुआ
भोले शंकर की पूजा करो
ध्यान चरणों में उसके धरो -2
हर हर महादेव शिव शम्भू……………….

डमरु वाला है जग में दयालु बड़ा
दीनदुखियों का दाता जगत का पिता – 2
सब पे करता है ये भोला शंकर दया
सब को देता है ये आसरा
इन पावन चरणों में अर्पण आकर जो एक बार हुआ
अन्त काल को भवसागर में उसका बेड़ा पार हुआ
ओम नमो शिवाय नमो
हर हर महादेव शिव शम्भू…………

नाम ऊँचा है सबसे महादेव का
वन्दना इसकी करते है सब देवता
इसकी पूजा से वरदान पाते है सब
शक्ति का दान पाते है सब
नाग असुर प्राणी सब पर ही भोले का उपकार हुआ
अन्त काल में भवसागर में उसका बेड़ा पार हुआ

शिव शंकर को जिसने पूजा उसका ही उद्वार हुआ – 2
अन्त काल को भवसागर में उसका बेड़ा पार हुआ
भोले शंकर की पूजा करो
ध्यान चरणों में उसके धरो -2
हर हर महादेव शिव शम्भू……………….

Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanthi celebrates the birthday of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj. Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanthi 2010 date as per Hindu Tithi is February 8. He was born on the 10th day (Dasami) during the Krishna paksha (waning phase of moon) of Phalgun month. His birthday as per Gregorian calendar is Feb 12, 1824. Dayanand Saraswati was one of the greatest religious leaders ever born in India. He was responsible, to some an extent, in bringing back the age-old teaching tradition of ‘Gurukul’. He advocated for the equal right of women and condemned practices such as untouchability, animal sacrifice, idol worship, etc.
Dayanand Sarasvati believed that the Vedas were perfect and infallible. Dayananda advocated the doctrine of karma, skepticism in dogma, and emphasised the ideals of brahmacharya (celibacy and devotion to God).

Sudama (सुदामा) was a childhood friend of Krishna from Mathura, the story of whose visit to Dwaraka to meet Krishna, is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana.
Sudama was from a poor Brahmin family, while Krishna was from the royal family. But this difference in social status did not come in the way of their friendship. They lost contact over the years and while Krishna became a military leader and King of great repute at Dwaraka, while Sudama stayed as a humble, and somewhat impoverished Brahmin living in a village [2].
Some time later when Sudama was going through some bad times, not even having enough money to feed his children, his wife reminded him of his friendship with Krishna.
Though initially reluctant to go to his friend for help, Sudama finally agrees to go. He leaves with nothing but some beaten rice tied in a cloth as a present. He remembers that beaten rice (powa/poha in Hindi) is Krishna’s favorite and decided to give this as a gift to the Lord.
Krishna is greatly pleased to see his old friend. He treats him royally and with much love. Overwhelmed by all this Sudama forgets to ask for what he actually came to ask. But the Lord realises what His friend needs, and the lord’s consort Rukmini incarnation of Lakshmi, gifts him with his desires. On his return journey, Sudama ponders his circumstances and is thankful for the great friend he has in Lord Krishna. When Sudama finally returns to his home, he finds a palatial mansion instead of the hut he had left. He also finds his family dressed in extremely nice garb and waiting for him. He lives an austere life after that, always thankful to the Lord.

Lakshmi is the auspicious goddess of wealth and fortune, whether it is material or spiritual. The word ”Lakshmi” has been derived from the Sanskrit word Lakshay, meaning “aim” or ”goal”. Goddess Lakshmi suggests the aim of life, which includes all worldly and spiritual success. Lakshmi is the divine consort of Lord Vishnu and provides him with wealth for the maintenance and preservation of the creation. Sometimes, Maha Lakshmi is also known as ”Laxmi”.
According to the Hindu mythology, the sacred name of Lakshmi is ”Shri”. Whether in written or verbal form, ”Shri” always suggests presence of goddess Lakshmi in it.

Chittor is one of the oldest cities in Rajasthan, and its history goes back to early 8th century. Bappa Rawal is credited with establishing the city of Chittor, but in fact it was occupied by the Mori tribe when Rawal descended upon them from somewhere in Mewar in the middle of the 8th century AD. However, for once the takeover was not through war but by matrimonial alliance. Bappa Rawal is reported to be a descendent of the Solanki dynasty and had strong familial ties with the Mori clan, an offshoot of the Parmara dynasty of Malwa (Gujarat). In fact, he was the nephew of every significant Mori around. So when Bappa left Mewar and came to Chittor he was welcomed with open arms. The Mori king made him one of the top brass in his kingdom, giving the 15 year old Bappa Rawal a fiefdom and plenty of nobles under him.

Krishna is the Supreme Person, the Godhead.

Krishna is the speaker of the Bhagavad-gita, recognized throughout the world as one of mankind’s greatest books of wisdom. In the Gita, as it is also known, Krishna says repeatedly that He is God Himself, the source of everything.

Arjuna, to whom Krishna is speaking, accepts Krishna’s words as true, adding that the greatest spiritual authorities of that time also confirm that Krishna is God. Traditions that follow in the line of these authorities have carried Krishna’s teachings down to the present day.