January 18, 2010 at 9:30 am
· Filed under festivals, hinduism, traditions by kajmani
Vasant Panchami (January 20th 2010), also known as Basant Panchami is a festival in honor of Goddess Saraswati, the hindu Goddess of education, learning and the fine arts (music, writing, painting, etc.). The festival is celebrated on the fifth (panch) day after the new moon (amavasaya) in the month of Magha according to the Hindu calendar (usually occurs in late January or early February). It marks the onset of spring (vasant) according to the Hindu calendar and is marked with great gaiety and celebrations all across the northern states in India.
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January 14, 2010 at 2:14 am
· Filed under festivals, traditions by kajmani
Makar Sankranti is observed on the 14th of January every year and marks the astronomical event of the northward motion of the sun (uttarayana) from the tropic of capricorn towards the tropic of cancer. In India, it also marks the end of winter and the onset of spring and the progression or change (sankranti) of the sun into the sign or raashi of capricorn (makar). One may note that while the tropical zodiac marks the progression of the sun into Capricorn at a fixed date on the 22nd of December, the sidereal zodiac (in which the signs of the zodiac align to the sky constellations of the same name) marks this event on the 14th of January.
Solar and Lunar events
Makar Sankranti is one the rare festivals in hinduism which is based on a solar event rather than a lunar event. In 2010, it so happens that this solar event coincides with the lunar event of amavasaya and a grand solar eclipse! This grand astronomical event is being celebrated in the form of a maha kumbha mela at Haridwar which begins on January 14th and will last for forty days. An estimated five million people are expected to take a dip in the holy Ganga on the first day of this religious fair that occurs Read the rest of this entry »
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