October (Aashwin-Kartik)
Sharad Navratra
Navratri is a festival of nine days in which 9 forms of Goddesses are worshipped on each day. It is culturally devoted to Goddess Durga, an exemplar of Shakti or the cosmic energy. Sharad Navratri is observed in the month of September/ October. The Navratri festival is widely celebrated throughout the country with full enthusiasm and joy. During this 9 day festival of Navratri, the 9 manifestations of Goddess Durga are worshipped. Each manifestation of Goddess Durga exemplifies a distinctive virtue and is believed to accord spiritual and worldly fulfillment.
Sharad Navratri commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of the lunar month, Ashwin. Sharad Navratri festival is dedicated to Maa Durga and celebrated with tremendous zeal and enthusiasm, especially in Northern and Eastern India. The tenth day is often referred to as ‘VIJAYADASHAMI’ or ‘DUSSEHRA’.
Navratri starts in the Ashwin month or the Sharad month. Sharad Navratri will be starting from 29th September 2019. During the festival of Navratri, people worship Maa Durga perform Navratri Puja in their house or in shrines epitomizing different manifestations of Goddess Durga.
Sharad Navratri is the most important festival among all the 5 Navratri of the year. It is called Maha Navratri and is celebrated in the month of Ashivina as per the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated in all parts of India on a very big scale including Gujarat and West – Bengal. Sharad Navratri is the autumnal celebration of a good harvest. Goddess Durga is the symbol of Shakti and is worshipped with great ardor. Durga Maa is considered as the strongest deity in the Hindu culture. This time of the year is considered very auspicious, and people tend to begin new events and buy new clothes, vehicles, etc. Hindu devotees all over the world pray, fast and offer satvik delicacies to Brahmins.
Sharda Navratri holds a place of great importance. It signifies the faith and belief of people in the power of the goddess. Goddess Durga has been worshipped since ancient times. It is believed that Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga to attain victory against Ravana. There have been many mythological stories depicting the glory of the goddess. It is also believed that observing Navratri fast for nine days as per the rituals blesses the person with prosperity and happiness. During this nine-day festival chanting of mantras, renditions of bhajans or holy songs accompany the Navratri Puja rituals for nine consecutive days.
Saraswati Awahan
According to the religious literature, Avahan means invocation. The invocation of Goddess Saraswati is known as Saraswati Avahan. The last three days of Navratri is largely dedicated to goddess Saraswati. It is celebrated in the Hindu month of Ashwin (on the seventh day of waxing moon) on Mahasaptami.
The Hindu scriptures have precisely mentioned about the time for the Saraswati puja. The Saraswati Avahan should be observed during Mul Nakshatra, Saraswati Puja should be done during Purva Ashadha Nakshatra, Balidan Puja should be done during Uttara Ashadha Nakshatra and Saraswati Visarjan should be done during Shravana Nakshatra.
In Maharashtra and South India, Saraswati pooja commences with Saraswati Avahan on Maha Saptami and ends on Vijayadashami with Saraswati Visarjan. – Saraswati Puja starts with Saraswati Avahan on Maha Saptami and ends on Vijayadashami with Saraswati Udasan or Visarjan. Generally Saraswati Awahan is observed on mahasaptami, Saraswati main Puja on Durgashtami and Uttara Puja & Balidaan for Goddess Saraswati on Mahanavami and finally Saraswati Visarjanam on Vijaya Dashmi.
- Saraswati Puja calendar:
Saraswati Puja Avahan – Maha Saptami – Triratna vratam starts in Andhra Pradesh.
Saraswati Puja (main puja) – Durga Ashtami
Saraswati Uttara Puja & Balidaan – Mahanavami
Saraswati Visarjan or Udasan – Vijaya Dashami
Saraswati Kartik Purnima on (Sristhal) siddhpur of Gujaratis ancient festival since Solanki ruling of Patan state.
Goddess Saraswati is the deity of wisdom, music, arts and science. The mantra related to goddess Saraswati is – Om Aim Sarasvatyai Svaha. The Goddess is also revered as Tridevi and her abode is Brahmapura. Her vahana or mount is a swan, hansa and peacock. Lord Brahma is the consort of Goddess Saraswati and he created the universe with her knowledge. She is worshipped by students, scholars, artists and by those who seek intellect, creativity and communication skills.
She is part of a trinity- Goddess Kali, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati. All the three forms help the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh in the creation, sustenance and annihilation of the universe.
Saraswati is found in almost every major ancient and medieval Indian literature from 1000 BC to 1500 AD. She has remained significant as a goddess from the Vedic age through modern times of Hindu traditions. In Shanti Parva of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Saraswati is called the mother of the Vedas, and later as the celestial creative symphony who appeared when Brahma created the universe. In Book 2 of Taittiriya Brahmana, she is called the mother of eloquent speech and melodious music. Saraswati is the active energy and power of Brahma.
The Avahan of Goddess Saraswati is done by performing a special Puja ceremony known as Saraswati Awahan. Different prayers used for the invocation of Goddess saraswati are chanted during this ceremony.
Durgashtami
Durga Ashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashweyuja or Ashwin. Durga Ashtami will be observed on Aswayuja sukla paksha Ashtami. One of the most important days of the Sharad Navratri is Durga Ashtami. Durga Ashtami is the eighth day in Sharad Navratri festival.
The meaning of Durga is Undeafeatable.The common ritual of Durga Ashtami is worshipping of Goddess Durga. On Durga Ashtami Goddes Kali and 64 other Yoginis emerged from the forehead of Goddess Durga. Goddess Kali killed the demons Chanda, Munda and Rakta Beeja on Durga Ashtami.
Hence Durga Ashtami is also called as Veera Ashtami. Weapons of Goddess Durga are worshipped on Veera Ashatmi or Durga Ashtami. Durga Ashtami is also known as Maha Ashtami and Goddes kali is worshipped in some parts of the country.
It is celebrated on Ashwin Shukla Ashtami connected with Navami covering atleast three muhurtas. If Ashtami falling on two days covers or does not cover three muhurtas then it is celebrated on first day only.
Dashahara
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashmi, is a major Indian festival celebrated on the tenth day of Ashvin month according to the Hindu calendar. Largely, the day is celebrated to commemorate the prevalence of good over evil. This day falls in the month of September or October. The day culminates a 9 day fasting period of Navratri in the Hindu culture. The day also coincides with immersion of the idol of Goddess Durga. The day is celebrated to commemorate the killing of Ravana by Lord Rama. The day also celebrates the killing of demon Mahishasur by Goddess Durga. Dussehra celebration spreads the message of the victory of good over sin.It is believed that the celebration of Dussehra started in the 17th century, when the king of Mysore ordered the celebration of the day on a grand scale.
Vijaya Dashmi is celebrated on Ashwin Shukla Dashmi falling at Aprahana and containing Shravan Nakshatra. If Shravan Nakshatra falls on two days during Aprahana then it is celebrated on first day and if Shravan Nakshatra falls on second day only then it is celebrated on second day. If Shravan Nakshatra does not fall on any days then Dusshera is celebrated on Dashmi.If Shravana Nakshatra falls on second day and Dashmi tithi on second day covers three muhurats then only Dusshera is celebrated on this day. Otherwise it is celebrated on first day.
The day is celebrated on a large scale in India as well as in Bangladesh. The most famous Dussehra celebrations in India are those in the city of Mysore. Goddess Chamundeshwari is worshipped on this day and a grand procession of her idol is taken out across the city. Major buildings are decorated with lights and color across the city.
Other famous Dussehra celebrations in India include that of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, Kolkata and Orissa. In most other parts of India, plays are organized across cities depicting the story of Ramayana which culminates in the killing of Ravana on this day. Statues of Ravana are burnt everywhere in India on Dussehra and in Delhi, the event is attended by political dignitaries in the Ramlila Maidan.