Why And How Should We Celebrate An Eco-Friendly Ganesh Festival?

We all are so excited about Ganesh Chaturthi when we bring in Lord Ganesh into our homes! We pray to him and worship him with complete devotion and cheer for the next few days. And, when it’s time for Ganesh Visarjan, our hearts sink and our eyes are filled with tears. But, have you thought about the aftermath of this entire ritual of Ganesh Visarjan?

A day after thousands of idols of Lord Ganesha are immersed in almost all water bodies across the country, their shores provide a very unpleasant sight! Half broken bodies of these idols are piled up around the shores, which are then gathered by a bulldozer and crushed! Why!? Only because people have opted for purchasing the lesser expensive idols made of POP and other materials, rather than those made of natural materials that easily dissolve in water.

It’s time we stop polluting our environment and Mother Earth! There is no harm in celebrating every festival and following its rituals but, we also need to be considerate enough to take care that we do not pollute the environment. MakeMyPuja cares for Mother Earth, which is why we bring to you a list of things you could do this year to help make the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesh Visarjan an eco-friendly one.

Lord Ganesh idol

This year when you go to purchase the idol of Lord Ganesh for your home, make sure to get one that is made of natural materials like paper and unbaked clay. Moreover, opt for smaller idols that are easy to transport, immerse in water and dissolve. Do not opt for large idols only so that you can be the talk of the society or your group of friends. This festival is not about boasting; it’s about merriment, worship and serenity.

Decoration

Let go off thermocol, plastic and other decoration items that can be hazardous for the environment. Opt for greener options like real flowers, leaves, vines, etc. When these decorative items are immersed in water along with the idol of Lord Ganesha, they will not contaminate the water and destroy aquatic life. In fact, the leaves and flowers may prove to be helpful for marine life. For those items that you want to dispose away, use items that are recyclable.

Low volumes

People are in mood of full joy and merriment during this festival, because of which they forget that they may be harming the living beings around. In the mood of celebration, they raise the volumes of their speakers higher than the affordable decibel, which contributes to noise pollution. We must remember that there may be toddlers, elderly citizens and unwell people around, which can be highly affected by higher volumes.

So, this year make it a point to take care of the environment and every living being around, while enjoying your celebration to the fullest. This year, if you are planning to bring Ganesh Ji to your home, you can do so by adhering to the right rituals and having the perfect Ganpati Puja done by hiring the most professional MakeMyPuja Pujaris. MakeMyPuja cannot help make your Ganesh festival eco-friendly but yes, it can definitely make it ‘pocket-friendly’ for you! :)

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Rituals And Places Of Interest For Janmashtami

Lord Krishna as we all know is one of the most worshipped Gods in Hinduism. He was born at midnight on Ashtami Tithi during Krishna Paksha in Hindu calendar. This day is celebrated every year as Janmashtami as the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, which falls on 25^th August this year. That the festival is just two days away, let us identify with the importance of this festival and the places of significance around India for the celebration.

Mathura

Born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, on the western bank of River Yamuna, to Devaki and Vasudev, Lord Krishna was their eighth child, who was believed to take birth to defeat the evil King Kansa, Devaki’s brother. This is the reason the city of Mathura is sacred to the heart of millions of Hindus, where the celebration of Janmashtami is one to be seen at least once in a lifetime! You must visit the Keshav Dev Temple, Dwarkadesh Temple, Vishram Ghat, Radha Kund, Gita Mandir and the Mathura Museum while you are here.

Gokul

However, even though he was born in Mathura, Lord Krishna spent his childhood in Gokul, under the care of Yashoda. This was to protect him from King Kansa who killed all of Devaki’s children after he learnt that it would be Devaki’s child who would kill him one day. This makes Gokul another pilgrim place that devotees of Lord Krishna visit during Janmashtami.

Vrindavan

Vrindavan is another town in Mathura, which is also a place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood days. This is where he spent his days of youth with Radha and other gopis playing Raas Lila. Places to visit in Vrindavan include Banke Bihari temple, Radha Ramana, Prem Mandir and Radha Damodar temple.

Dwarka

After Lord Krishna grew up, he went back to Mathura and defeated King Kansa, after which he settled in the city of Dwarka. A friendly population of Ahirs prompted Lord Krishna to settle in the city. Here, Krishna established the Ahir/Yadav empire, and flourished and extended his domain. Here, he resided with his family in Bet Dwarka.

Apart from the above cities, devotees all around the country celebrate Janmashtami with great pomp and show in their homes and Krishna temples. The celebrations start at midnight with Aarti, bhajans, devotional dances and Raas Lila. Bal Gopal is dressed up in new clothes and put in a paalna, and craded throughout the celebration by his devotees.

Following the day of Janmashtami, another ritual of Dahi Handi is performed, where people form human pyramids to reach curd/butter pots hung at a height of 20-30 feet! This celebration is not only an activity of entertainment, but also holds religious importance. It borrows inspiration from the experiences of young Lord Krishna, who was known for notoriously stealing butter from earthen pots hung in the houses of Vrindavan with the help of his friends by forming human pyramids.

Other than these celebrations, many people also perform pujas within their homes on this holy day. We, at MakeMyPuja are here to serve you throughout the year and on this auspicious day too by helping you perform the right rituals in the most accurate manner by offering you the services of our experienced and proficient Pujaris and Panditjis. So, get in touch if you are looking for Janmashtami puja to be held anywhere in Bangalore on this fortunate day and impress Lord Krishna in the best way possible!



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The Significance Of Krishna Janmashtami

There are more than 900 million people around the world who worship Lord Krishna and celebrate the festival of Janmashtami with utmost joy and enthusiasm! It is believed that Lord Vishnu reincarnated as Lord Krishna on this auspicious day and took birth on this planet, which is why this fortunate day is celebrated.

This festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with great pomp and show in cities of Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul and Dwarka as these cities are the most significant cities of the era of Lord Krishna. During this festive occasion, devotees place the image or idol of baby Lord Krishna in a swing or cradle called the ‘paalna’, and swing him throughout the celebration that starts at midnight and goes up for hours together. This celebration is observed in every temple of Lord Krishna and in the homes of devotees. Homes and temples are decorated with lights and garlands to spread the illumination and fragrance of the festival all around. The celebrations involve singing devotional songs, bhajans and Krishna Aarti while dancing and enjoying. There are also many other ways of celebrating this auspicious day. People perform garba signifying ‘Raas Lila’ – the flirtatious aspects of Lord Krishna’s youthful age. Other competitions and programs are held too. Children are dressed up like Bal Gopal to be a part of costume and fancy dress competitions. ‘Jhankis’ are shown that beautifully depict the different life events of Lord Krishna.

Apart from this kind of rejoice and merriment, Lord Krishna is also worshipped with complete devotion. The ‘abhishek’ is performed with honey, curd, milk and Gangajal. Then, Bal Gopal is dressed in new clothes and decorated with precious jewels, flowers and garlands. After worshipping and performing the Aarti, prasad is distributed among the devotees. The main items of prasad include coconut barfi, peanut burfi and milk. Thousands of devotees gather at various temples to worship Lord Krishna on this day and gain the benefits of having prasad.

This year, this grand event falls on the 25^th of August, which is just a few days away. So, gear up and get all ready to worship Lord Krishna and take part in the events that are coming up in the temples near you. If you are a devotee of Lord Krishna, and are willing to perform a pooja at home on this auspicious occasion, you can get in touch with MakeMyPuja Panditjis to experience spiritual divinity with complete blissfulness and devotion. So, feel connected to Lord Krishna, the absolute truth, with highly qualified, experienced and proficient experts from MakeMyPuja who will help you celebrate Krishna Janmashtami at home with the most appropriate and beneficial rituals. You will be sure to achieve eternal peace and live life with utmost peace and tranquility.

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The Significance And Purity Of Raksha Bandhan

‘Raksha Bandhan’ meaning the bond of security is a pledge exchanged between a brother and sister to strengthen the warm relationship they share. This festival also strengthens their bond against all ills and odds.

The sacred festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the divine day of Shravan Purnima every year. This year, it falls on the 18^th of August, which is just round the corner. Although we have been celebrating this festival since childhood where sisters tie rakhis to their brothers after applying tilak on his forehead and doing his aarti, but how many of us actually know why this festival is celebrated?

This festival dates back to the Vedas when Lord Vishnu pledged to protect the kingdom of King Bali, one of his great devotees, for which he left his normal abode to move to Bali’s kingdom. This is when Goddess Lakshmi tied a rakhi onto the wrist of Bali, making him her brother, and requesting him to liberate Lord Vishnu so that she could take him along with her. King Bali being touched by her affection liberated Lord Vishnu so that he could move back to his own abode with his consort. That day was Shravan Purnima, which is why the festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on this day of the Hindu lunar calendar every year.

On this day, sisters tie a rakhi on their brother’s wrist promising to pray for his protection. In return, the brother gives her a small gift and promises to protect her throughout her life. The rakhi here is the symbol of the relationship’s purity, and the gift, a token of the brother’s love. Apart from the sisters tying rakhi to the brothers, it is also a very sacred day for the sages. It is believed that this day bestows boons and ends all sins, which is why sages tie a sacred thread to themselves to safeguard them from all evils.

Since this festival is celebrated on such a divine day, it is believed that on this day, the frequencies of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Saraswati reach the Earth in greater quantities. This is why many people across the country perform many different kinds of rituals on this pious day. You may worship Lord Ganesh, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi on this day. If you are looking forward to get rid of all evils and sins from your life till date, you can get in touch with MakeMyPuja Pujaris who will help you to perform the most appropriate pooja for you and your family.

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How Can Lord Shiva Be Pleased?

Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva form the ‘Trimurti’ that is worshipped in Hinduism. Lord Brahma is known as the creator of the universe, Lord Vishnu is the preserver and Lord Shiva is known as the destroyer.

Lord Shiva is the most important God of the Hindu religion, who has many forms and is known by many names. Although he has 108 different names as per the Hindu mythology, here is a list of the most common names he is known by, along with their meaning.

·        Mahadev – the greatest of all Gods

·        Mahakaal – the Lord of eternity

·        Bholenath – the one who has a childlike innocence

·        Satyam – the only truth

·        Shivam – the auspicious

·        Sundaram – the beautiful and holy

·        Ashutosh – the one who is delighted with little efforts

To please this holy, auspicious, true, greatest of all and the Lord of eternity, even a simple ‘Abhishek’ is enough because as his name depicts, he is the one who is delighted by simple efforts. And, with his childlike innocence, one can easily please him by only offering him a pot of water or milk on the Shivlinga. Every Shiv temple has a copper or brass pot with a hole in it, hung over the Shivlinga so that water falls from it on the lingam throughout the day to keep Lord Shiva pleased.

It is believed that whoever worships Lord Shiva with an earnest heart can get his desires fulfilled. Worshipping Lord Shiva devotedly also helps in attaining moksha, which is the liberation from the cycle of birth and death. This is because worshipping him leads to the path of salvation from worldly desires through self-awakening. Lord Shiva is worshipped by his devotees for marital bliss, financial stability and success.

However, if you want to perform a Shiv Puja with ancient Hindu rites and rituals, you will need assistance from professional Pujaris. The Pujaris at MakeMyPuja can help you with the most professional and fruitful puja to help you achieve success and wealth. If you are facing any sort of obstacles for getting married or if you have any sort of problems in your married life, MakeMyPuja Pujaris will make sure to perform the most appropriate Shiva Puja rituals to help you get rid of all the obstacles and lead a happy married life. Rudra Abishekam is a very important form of Shiv Puja that is believed to help get rid of past sins and bring in peace, wealth and success. Other than these pujas, other horoscope hindrances like Rahu Dosh, Ketu Dosh, Naag Dosh and Vish Dosh can also be removed by seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva.

Shiv Puja in any form is believed to bless us with a happy, peaceful and successful life by freeing our souls of past sins. While Monday is generally when Lord Shiva is worshipped, he can be offered water and milk any day. Moreover, in this holy Shravan month, you have the chance to please him the most!

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Why Do We Worship Lord Shiva If He Is Said To Be The Destroyer?

Lord Shiva is one of the most important Gods in Hinduism. He is believed to be one of the three entities of the holy Trimurti. Lord Shiva has many forms and is called by many names. Moreover, Lord Shiva is considered to be very complex because on one hand, he is known as the Protector because he protects holy texts or the Vedas, while on the other hand, he is also known as the Destroyer. One side of him shows his representation of the good things and his compassionate and generous character. And, another side of him is believed to be a leader of ghosts, vampires and evil spirits.

Why is Lord Shiva known as the Destroyer?

In spite of being the God of Hinduism, why Lord Shiva is known as the Destroyer, you may wonder. In Hinduism, it is believed that the universe regenerates in a cycle of every 2,160,000,000 years. And, at the end of each cycle, Lord Shiva destroys the entire universe, which makes way for a new creation to come into being. As a destroyer, Lord Shiva is represented in the form of Nataraja, where he performs the ‘pralaya tandava’ or the cosmic dance of destruction.

If he is the Destroyer, why is he worshipped?

Lord Shiva’s mannerism of destroying the universe can seem like a negative characteristic to many. But thinking deeply, one can realize that destruction may not always mean negativity. Think of it like light destroying darkness, and education destroying ignorance. Much in the same way, moksha destroys the cycle of death and rebirth. When all of this is understood, the trait of destruction will no longer seem to be negative.

How to worship Lord Shiva?

Lord Shiva can be worshipped throughout the year by offering water and milk to the Shivlinga. However, the purest month of worshipping him is during the Shravan month. And, the most important day of them all is the Shravan Purnima, falling on 18^th August this year, which is known by different names in different states of India. It is known as Narali Purnima in the West, Pavitropana in Gujarat, Avani Avittam in the South, and Kajari Purnima in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. So, if you are looking for any sort of special kind of pooja to be perfomed on this auspicious day, you may hire the most professional and beneficial services of MakeMyPuja Pujaris to have it done for you.

Other than this, you may offer water and milk along with ‘bilva leaves’ to the Shivlinga every day during the entire month. You may also observe fast throughout the month or only on Mondays. You may observe a strict fast wherein you consume nothing at all, or a partial fast where you are permitted to consume only fruits and juices. Some devotees also practice Maun Vrat, which means that they do not utter a single word for the entire day, with an exception of chanting the ‘Maha Mritunjaya Jaap’.

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Importance Of Kanwar Yatra During The Shravan Month

Have you heard about the Kanwar Yatra? It’s a very unique kind of tradition that Shiv devotees follow during the month of Shravan every year. Devotees pay an annual pilgrimage to the holy places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand, and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch the holy water of River Ganga. This water is then offered at their local Shiv temples.

The devotees who perform this ritual are known as ‘Kanwariyas’. They are clad in saffron clothes and travel a distance of around 100 kilometers barefooted! These include hundreds of thousands of devotees from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. They carry a ‘Kanwar’ on their shoulders, which is a bamboo pole with two covered water pots fastened on either side. While most pilgrims are men, a few women and children are also seen participating in this Yatra. During their journey, these devotees chant “Bol Bam, Bam Bam” or “Har Har Mahadev” together.

What is the story behind the Kanwar Yatra?

According to the Hindu mythology, during the churning of the ocean, Lord Shiva drank all the poison that had come out to save the world from getting destructed. He held all the poison in his neck, which is why his neck turned blue and thus the name ‘Neelkanth’ given to him. It is believed that the king Raavan offered Lord Shiva the holy water of River Ganga to lessen the effect of the poison. It is since then that devotees have been offering Gangajal on Shivlings in Shiv temples. This is why during this holy month, devotees walk barefoot to bring Gangajal and offer it to Lord Shiva as a gesture of thanksgiving.

What are the benefits of this Yatra?

First and foremost, devotees believe that bringing Gangajal from the holy river and offering it to Lord Shiva makes him happy, due to which he fulfills all their wishes and blesses them profoundly. Moreover, it is believed that this Yatra helps in the progression and development of our personality and individuality. It also increases our willpower and confidence. We are able to recognize our strengths, caliber and potentiality through this Yatra.

What are the limitations for the Kanwariyas?

During this procession, the Kanwariyas are bound by certain rules that are a must to be followed. It isn’t easy to walk 100 kilometers barefoot; moreover these restrictions make the pilgrimage even more difficult. But, devotees who trust Lord Shiva have enough confidence and strength to carry out this procession happily.

·        Kanwariyas need to be bathed before starting the procession but, they are not allowed usage of any kind of oil, soap, comb or any kind of beautifying products during the pilgrimage.

·        Kanwariyas are not allowed to consume any kind of non-vegetarian food, alcohol, tobacco and any other toxins during the period of procession.

·        Kanwariyas are allowed to sit only on bare ground and are not allowed to use any kind of vehicle too. Moreover, they are not permitted to touch any kind of leather items too.

This procession seems to be a must watch! If you are a Shiv devotee, you may also participate in this Yatra between 20^th July and 25^th August this year. Other than the Shravan month, this ritual is observed in high numbers during Basant Panchmi and Maha Shivratri too. Approximately 2 crore devotees perform this holy journey every year!

However, if you are not going anywhere and wish to perform rituals during this holy month in your own city (Bangalore), you can get in touch with MakeMyPuja to hire the most professional and experienced Pandits to assist you.

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Places To Visit During The Month Of Shravan

We all that Shravan Maas is a month of the Hindu calendar that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is the holiest month of the year for the Hindus and is considered the most auspicious. By performing Shiv Puja every day during this month, it is believed that our body, soul, mind and senses are purified through the rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva. You may perform the rituals of the Shravan Maas under the guidance of qualified MakeMyPuja Pujaris to make sure that you are performing it the right way.

These rituals can be performed in any temple located near your home or in one of the most significant Shiv temples in your city. But, there are some distinctive temples across the country that you may visit during this month to visualize the true spirit of the worship and the devotees. These places are considered to be the most special and of great importance to Lord Shiva.

Varanasi

One of the famous and top pilgrimage sites in India, Varanasi is considered as one of the most important centers of faith for the Hindus. Considered as one of Hinduism’s seven holy cities, Varanasi is considered as the city of Lord Shiva. This city includes one of the Shakti Peeths and one of the twelve Jyotirlinga sites in India, which is why it is believed to have the power of washing away all of one’s sins. Varanasi is set by the holy river Ganga, which undoubtedly increases the beauty of the city. This is a place where you can see innumerous temples at every little distance, thus it is also known as the “City Of Temples”. When you visit this city, don’t forget to pay a visit to the Kashi Vishvanath Temple, which is one of the famous temples of Lord Shiva.

Haridwar

Haridwar meaning “Gateway To God” is located in Uttarakhand, which is considered as one of the best place by every devotee of Lord Shiva. Located by the holy river Ganga, this sacred town bestows great peace of the mind and soul. Moreover, Haridwar is one of the four holy places where drops of the Amrit had fallen during the churning of the oceans, as per the Vedic philosophy, which is why the Kumbh Mela is held here once in every 12 years. Millions of people from across the globe visit this city during the Kumbh Mela but, it is a place that should also be visited during the Shravan Month. During the evening, you can see the whole river sparkling with diyas floating over it.

Amarnath Cave

Located in Jammu and Kashmir, this Hindu shrine is one of the most important parts of Hinduism and worshipping of Lord Shiva. This is a place that every Shiva devotee goes for a trek to receive countless blessings from Lord Shiva. The cave is covered with snow most of the year and is mostly open in the month of Shravan only. It is believed that it was this cave that Lord Shiva had chosen to narrate the secrets of immortality and creation of the universe to his wife Goddess Parvati.

Kedarnath

Kedarnath is also situated in Uttarakhand and is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites of Lord Shiva. It is the highest of all the twelve Jyotirlingas. The word ‘Kedar’ means powerful, which is another name for the protector and destroyer – Lord Shiva. However, because this Jyotirlinga is situated in the snow-covered area of the Himalayas, it can be visited only during six months in an year – between April to November. The rest of the year, it gets too cold here when the Himalayas are covered with snow, thus the Kedarnath Temple remains closed for pilgrims.

So, do visit any of these places if you are planning to travel during the Shravan Month to receive great blessings from Lord Shiva. However, if you are planning to perform the rituals in your own city Bangalore, make sure to get in touch with MakeMyPuja who will help you with the best Puja services to get your rituals done right.

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