Bathukamma is a unique flower festival celebrated in the state of Telangana, India. It is a highly enthusiastic festival, especially for women. It represents Telangana’s culture. Bathukamma is a beautiful round flower arrangement with colorful seasonal flowers stacked in the shape of temple gopuram. The arrangement signifies the Gouri goddess Bathukamma. Flowers used to make Batukamma are Bera, Thangedu, Thamara, Gunugu, Banthi, Gummadi, Kanakambaram, Mandhara, and Ramabanam. Women arrange floral batukammas beyond their creativity. Women dress up in their best, expensive pure silk sarees, wear jewelry. In the evening, all women carry plates of flowers to a nearby lake, arrange all in a circular shape. They dance around batukammas clapping rhythmically with traditional songs praising the goddess and to take birth again.
Wishing a happy Puthandu and Aluth Avurudda
I wish my readers a happy Puthandu and Aluth Avurudda. It is India’s new year season. Each state has their own new year day. Today is an auspicious day of Puthandu (Tamil new year) and Aluth Avurudda (Sinhalese/Srilankan new year). Though are called by different names, Tamil and Srilankan new year falls on the same day, yet customs are a little different.
All about Dasara
Entire India is ready for Dasara aka Navratri. In Southern states, it is celebrated as Dasara, celebrating Rama’s victory over Ravana. It is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. As epic Ramayana describes the story of Rama. Rama was the prince of the Ayodhya kingdom banished into the forest by his step mother’s wish. While in the forest, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. Sita was abducted by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Rama, assisted by an army of monkeys and Lakshmana, attacked Lanka to rescue her. The fierce battle went on for days between the two armies. It was difficult for Rama to kill powerful, compelling mighty Ravana. So he prayed for nine days to nine different avatars of goddess Durga and grew strength to defeat Ravana.
Wishing you a very happy and prosperous Onam
Onam is celebrated in the state of Kerala, in southern India. Onam is a 10-day harvest festival, also welcoming of the great King Mahabali. It’s a festival of rich in tradition, culture, food, rituals, and heritage. Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar – state of Kerala, India. Though the important day of Onam (known as Thiru Onam) in 2017 is on September 4, the festival starts 10 days before Thiru Onam, on Atham (August 25).
In the state of Kerala, India, Onam is a high spirited festival. Kochi, Trivandrum, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Kottayam cities burst with colors, pookalam, the flower arrangements, prayers, traditional dance, music, and procession.
Happy Sri Krishna Janmashtami
Sri Krishna Janmashtami is Lord Krishna’s birthday, one of Hindu’s auspicious festivals. As of 2018, we are celebrating 5244th Birthday of Lord Krishna. He was born 3228 BCE which is 5,200 years ago in the city of Mathura. He was born on the 8,63,874th year of Dwaparyug. Janmashtami is observed on the Ashtami (8th day) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). Krishna Paksha falls in those 14 days of the full moon to the new moon in the month of Bhadrapada according to Hindu Lunar calendar.
Wish all readers a very happy raksha bandan
Raksha Bandhan which is also called as Rakhi is celebrated by Hindu’s in India and Nepal. Rakhi is multi-coloured silk thread, sometimes decorated with stones, pearls, glitter, and beads. Raksha Bandhan is observed in the month of August which is the month of Shravana according to Hindu lunar calendar.
The festival celebrates the sacred relationship, love, affection, fraternity, and sentiments of brother and sister. On Raksha Bandhan, sister puts kumkum and ties a rakhi on her brother’s wrist along with chanting prayers. Sister then feeds a sweet to her brother. Brother offers her a gift. It is concluded with Sister touching brothers feet for the blessing. This festival has evolved to honor the relationship between a sister and brother. On this auspicious day, brothers promise to their sisters to protect them from all harms and troubles and the sisters pray to God to protect their brother from all evil.
In India, there is no festival with out gathering and mouth-watering food. Food and gatherings are the celebrations of togetherness, happiness, bursting emotions. With this auspicious occasion, coming up, it’s time to spread some cheer! Spend time with family and friends, catch up, while making yummy food. It’s all for the family.
Wish you a very happy Ugadi, Gudi padwa
The Hindu New year in India is called with different names in every state. It falls on different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar. It is celebrated as Ugadi in Andhra and Karnataka, Gudipadwa in Maharashtra, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Vaisakhi in Punjab, Pana Sankranti in Orissa and Naba Barsha in West Bengal. It falls on the month of Chaitra which is the first month according to Indian calendar Panchanga.
Lemon rice with turmeric
You call it lemon rice or yellow rice, it is Indian’s most favorite festive food. It is favorite offering to Indian gods. One of the easiest and a favorite dish made for guests, special occasions. In fact, a number of rice-based recipes are made in different regions. An all-natural, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, paleo dish. Replacing white rice with brown rice or quinoa will add a great number of nutrients.
For westerners, lemon is rice is known as yellow rice. For them, it is probably a mere rice dish. But this dish made a special appearance in millions of family get-togethers, weddings, festivals etc. In typical south Indian family lemon rice is a staple food and also a very festive dish. If you are looking for an authentic way of making lemon rice, here it is.
Wish all readers a very Happy Dussehra
The nine forms of Goddess Durga is a faminine energy form. Each form represents each of 9 days. Sequence of nine-day festival is as follows.
Day 1 – October 1, 2016 (Saturday) – Pratipada, Ghatsthapana, Shailputri Puja
Day 2 – October 2, 2016 (Sunday) – Pratipada, Chandra Darshan, Shailputri Puja
Day 3 (Dwitiya) – October 3, 2016 (Monday) – Brahmacharini Puja
Day 4 (Tritiya) – October 4, 2016 (Tuesday) – Chandraghanta Puja
Day 5 (Chaturthi) – October 5, 2016 (Wednesday) – Kushmanda puja
Day 6 (Panchami) – October 6, 2016 (Thursday) – Skandamata Puja
Day 7 (Shashthi) – October 7, 2016 (Friday) – Katyayani Puja
Day 8 (Saptami) – October 8, 2016 (Saturday) – Kalaratri Puja
Day 9 (Mahashtmi) – October 9, 2016 (Sunday) – Mahagauri Puja, Durga Maha Ashtami Puja, Saraswati Puja
Day 10 (Navami) – October 10, 2016 (Monday) – Siddhidatri Pooja, Maha Navami, Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa
Day 11 (Dashami or Dussehra) – October 11, 2016 (Tuesday) – Navratri Parana, Durga Visarjan, Vijyadashmi (Dussehra)
