BhaiDooj – The Brother And Sister Bond

Diwali is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Hindus all across the globe, marking the victory of good over evil, and the return of Lord Rama along with his wife and brother after a 14 yearexile. Hindus celebrate this festival for five days at a stretch, wherein they clean their homes, wear new clothes, exchange gif5s and sweets, burst crackers, light diyas, and pray. For a perfect Diwali puja, you can get in touch wth MakeMyPuja pandits who can help you carry out the puja with complete dedication and the correct rituals.

Diwali starts with Dhanteras, where Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped to seek her blessings in the form of success and wealth all the year round. The five day festivities end with Bhai Dooj, which is the day of brother-sister bonding. This day is also known as BhauBeej, BhaiTika and BhaiPhota. This is the day when sisters fast for their beloved brothers and pray for their success. Brothers are invited for lunch, where all their favourite delicacies are prepared. When the brother arrives, he is welcomed by applying a vermillion mark on his forehead, followed by an aarti. This day is celebrated ust ike Rakshabandhan, where the sisters pray ad give blessings to their brothers for a longand successful life, and the brotherspromise their sisters to protect them in all situations for the entire life. However, unlike Rakshabandhan, the sisters on Bhai Dooj present gifts to their brothers, rather than receiving gifts from them.

There are many stories related to the importance and celebration of Bhai Dooj.

·        One story is about a family living in a village comprising of parents, a younger brother and an elder sister. After tye sister gets married, she is unable to visit her family due to tye dense forest that separated both the villages. One day, the brother decides t walk through the dense forest, fighting all the dangers that came his way, only to meet his sister. He faced poisonous snakes, tigers and dangerous mountains on his way, and somehow reached his sister's home, where he was warmly welcomed and taken care of.

·        Another story is of Lord Krishna who visited his sister Subhadra after killing the demon Narakasur. He was welcomed with lots of affectionwith lamps, flowers, sweets, and by applying a tika on his forehead.

·        The third legend is about the bonding between the twins - Yama and Yamuna. After years of staying away from each other, Yama decided to meet Yamuna, who was delighted to hear about this news. She prepared a grand feast for her brother to honour him. She applied tilak on his forehead, garlanded him and prayed for him.

Whatever the story may be, one thing is for sure that Bhai Dooj is celebrated as the bond between brothers and sisters. This Bhai Dooj, make sure to share your love with your brother/sister, no matter where you may be, and strengthen the bond even more.

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Importance Of Laxmi Puja On Diwali

Deepawali is a five-day long festival, out of which the third day is considered as Diwali when diyas are lit around homes, fireworks and crackers are burst, and people adorned in new clothing visit their loved ones and exchange gifts and sweets. This is also the day when people worship Goddess Laxmi by having a Laxmi Puja in their home.

Diwali falls on the fifteenth day of the Kartik month, which is the day of ‘Amawasya’. It is considered the most auspicious day of the year for Hindus. This is because as per Hindu belief, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, from 14 years of exile. Another mythology is that Diwali was the day when Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi got married, which is why Goddess Laxmi is worshipped on this day.

The Laxmi Puja begins with worshipping Lord Ganesha – the remover of obstacles. Then Goddess Laxmi is worshipped in her three forms – Mahalaxmi (Goddess of wealth and prosperity), Mahasaraswati (Goddess of knowledge), and Mahakali. Kubera, the treasurer of Gods is also worshipped on this day. Along with the idols, people also place gold and silver coins and money in the puja. The Laxmi Puja comprises of offering haldi, kumkum, abeer, gulal, ittar, flowers and prasad to the idols and singing aarti followed by lighting candles and diyas around the home to remove all sort of darkness and bring in light.

These lamps and candles are lit in honour of the sacred memories of those great men who brightened the lives of millions of their fellow beings. These great men were –

·        Lord Shri Krishna – who taught Arjun the lessons of the Bhagwad Geeta on the battleground of Kurukshetra, and left his body.

·        Lord Mahavir – the founder of Jainism, who also attained nirvana on this auspicious day.

·        Swami Dayanand Saraswati – the founder of Arya Samaj in 1875 in Mumbai, who merged with divinity on this day after freeing his soul from his body through Yogic powers.

·        Swami Ramtirth – the ‘Ram Badhshah’ of millions of Indians, who was born on this day as well as took to sanyas and samaadhi on this day too.

So from this year onwards, make sure you light lamps around your home while remembering to pay reverence to these four great men without fail. To worship Goddess Laxmi on this day so that she showers you with great success and prosperity, make sure you book MakeMyPuja Pandits to help you carry out the Laxmi Puja with perfection so that every tiny aspect of the Puja is taken care of.

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The Importance and Traditions Of Dhanteras

Have you seen a culture that literally worships wealth and money? Oh yes, it’s Dhanteras – the day when the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Mahalakshmi is worshipped by Hindus all around the world. This is one rare culture that is seen only in Hinduism.

Dhanteras is the first day of the most significant five day festival – Diwali. It is a Hindi word made with a combination of two words – Dhan and Teras – meaning wealth and 13^th day respectively. This is why this auspicious day falls on the 13^th day of the Hindu month of Kartika every day, wherein Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped by all for well-being, success and growth. This tradition is followed as it is believed that on this day, Goddess Lakshmi blesses people by visiting them and granting them with lots of wealth and prosperity. To welcome the Goddess, people clean their homes, have it painted, change the curtains and bedsheets, make rangolis outside their home and light earthen oil lamps. They also keep the doors of their home open at the time of the celebration to welcome the Goddess.

But, do you know the reason behind worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this particular day? There is a mythology and story behind this entire celebration. It is believed that the horoscope of the 16 year old son of King Hima predicted that he would breathe his last on the fourth day of his marriage by a snake bite. After marriage, his wife lit lamps all around the room and heaped all her gold and silver ornaments at the door of the room. She also kept singing hymns and bhajans the entire night to keep her husband from sleeping. When Lord Yama, the God of Death, arrived in the form of a serpent to kill the prince, he was perplexed to view the sight. This held him back from entering the room. He listened to the bhajans all night long sitting on the heap of gold and silver, and silently went away in the morning. Since then, this day is celebrated as Dhanteras when money and wealth is worshipped.

In addition to this custom, people also purchase gold and ornaments, and book a property or vehicle on this day as they believe it to be a sign of fortune. People who wish to buy such expensive possessions wait specially for Dhanteras to make their purchase. Buying new utensils is also a tradition on this day as it is symbolic to their financial growth.

So, are you all set to celebrate this five day festival this year that is arriving in just another few days? Do you need a professional Pujari to help you follow the pooja and traditions with the right procedures? Hire MakeMyPuja Pandits who are professional and well-experienced to help you carry out the pooja in a way that you get the greatest benefits in the form of wealth and prosperity.

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The Importance of Performing A Griha Pravesh

It’s Diwali and many people are shifting homes. Stepping into a new home is nothing less than stepping into a whole new journey. In order to make this journey a smooth and positive one, a majority of people believe in building or buying Vaastu-compliant homes. But, even if your home is Vaastu-compliant, it still needs invocation. And, this is why Hindus believe to have a Griha Pravesh Puja done before entering their new home. It has a set of procedures done by a professional Pujari to help the residents of the home lead a prosperous life full of good fortune. MakeMyPuja has the best professionals and experienced Pandits to help you have the most successful Griha Pravesh Puja done.

It is believed that a new house is subject to evil forces, which is why certain rituals are performed to safeguard the home and its inhabitants before they start living in it. The Griha Pravesh is arbitration with the Gods to keep a watch so as to keep the inhabitants safe and ensure freedom from ghosts and spirits. Lord Ganesha is worshipped in this Puja as he is considered to be the remover of all obstacles. Thus, the Griha Pravesh Puja involves confessing Lord Ganesha's supremacy.

In ancient scriptures, 3 types of Griha Pravesh Pujas were performed, namely –

• ·        Apoorva for entry into a newly constructed house.
• ·        Sapoorva for entry into an existing home after travelling abroad.
• ·        Dwandwah for entry into an existing home after renovation or repairs.

The Griha Pravesh Puja is decided to be performed on an auspicious date, month and time of the year. The 'muhurat' is decided on the basis of the Sun's position. Moreover, it is important that all the rituals of this Puja are performed properly under the guidance of professional and experienced Pandits for a proper invocation of the home. The two most significant rituals performed involve the Navgraha Puja and worshipping Vaastu Purush. A number of ingredients including incense sticks, camphor, ghee, sandalwood, dhoop, vermillion, jaggery, sugarcane sticks and rice grains are required for this Puja. But, if you hire MakeMyPuja Pandits, you need not worry about arranging for all this as they will be bringing all the required material along.

So, if you have bought a new home or have got a complete makeover done in your home, it is advisable to get a Griha Pravesh Puja done before you plan to reside within. However, you must remember that this Puja must not be performed if you are expecting a child in the family or if a family member has recently expired.

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Hindu Wedding Rituals and Traditions

Wedding is one of the most important phases of a person’s life. It brings about a whole new revolution. The most customary of all is a Hindu wedding, which comprises of a long list of rituals and traditions that range from one day to multi-day events. Although the rituals vary widely from state-to-state and caste-to-caste, there are a few basic customs that are common in every Hindu wedding, which include Ganesh Puja, Kanyadaan, Hast Melap, Mangalsutra Bandhan and Saat Phere. If you are to marry in the near future, it is important that you understand these rituals beforehand to know how significant they are. But, if you are already married, you may already have undergone each of these rituals. However, for attaining success in your marital relationship and maintaining peace, harmony and love throughout, you can opt for getting an Uma Maheshwari / Swayamvara Parvati Puja done by professional MakeMyPuja Pandits that will help in obtaining divine blessings of the deities for the success of your marital relationship.

Ganesh Puja – Worshipping Lord Ganesha

As every auspicious work begins with the worship of Lord Ganesha, so does the wedding ceremony. This is because Lord Ganesha is believed to be the remover of all obstacles. He is thus worshipped to help in beginning the auspicious ceremony of having the bride and groom married to each other without any hindrance.

Kanyadaan – Giving away the bride

This ritual is considered the most pious and dignified of all, where the father of the daughter gives away the bride to the groom and his family forever. The father takes the hand of his daughter and places it into the groom’s hand while the Pandit recites the required Mantras, which marks the beginning of the ceremony of ‘Kanyadaan’ or giving away the bride. The groom promises the bride’s father that he will never fail his daughter in his pursuit of law, wealth and love.

Hast Melap – Holding the hand

This is the ritual where the bride and groom hold each other’s hand as a symbol of marital union. Their hands are tied together with a sacred thread called ‘Sutrabandhanam’. The groom accepts his responsibility to the deities while the Pandit recites the required Mantras.

Mangalsutra Bandhan – Tying the Mangalsutra

The most important jewellery for a married woman – the Mangalsutra – is tied to the bride’s neck by the groom in holy matrimony, signifying the longevity of the husband. This ritual symbolizes love, commitment and good luck.

Saat Phere – The seven promises

This is where the bride and groom promise each other seven vows for their entire life to come. Both bride and groom take seven rounds around the holy fire or Agni, after which they are legally declared husband and wife. The seven vows are as follows –

First step – They will care for and support each other.

Second step – They will grow one in mental, physical and spiritual strength.

Third step – They will share joy and sorrow together.

Fourth step – They will strengthen and maintain all family relationships.

Fifth step – They will be responsible parents to raise children of value.

Sixth step – They will enjoy a balanced and harmonious life together.

Seventh step - They will always lead a life of love, friendship and mutual trust.

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The Significance Of The Dussehra Festival

Dussehra or Vijayadashmi is the day when evil was defeated. This is the day when victory of good and righteousness is celebrated. This day was when Lord Rama along with his brother Lakshman, his beloved follower Hanuman and the Vaanar Sena – a huge army of monkeys, defeated Ravana who had abducted Lord Rama’s wife Mata Sita. After a long fight between the armies of both Ravana and Lord Rama, the Lord finally raised the blazing arrow that Lord Brahma had given him and threw it at Ravana to kill him instantly. It was after this defeat that Lord Rama rescued and reunited with Mata Sita.

The term ‘Dussehra’ means Dus+Hara meaning the defeat of the ten headed demon Ravana. On the other hand the term ‘Vijayadashmi’ means Vijaya+Dashmi meaning victory on the tenth day of the month. Thus, both these terms are used to denote this auspicious day. This day is celebrated on the day after the Sharad Navratri is over, and this year it falls on 11^th October. Hindus across the globe celebrate this festival with utmost zeal and enthusiasm. They symbolize this day as the beginning of good times and prosperity. Different parts of the nation celebrate this festival in different ways, but the central idea is to spread joy and happiness around, and to celebrate the victory of good over evil.

The Northern and Western parts of India observe depictions of Ram Leela to narrate the prowess and fearlessness of Lord Rama by citing the scripture of the holy Ramayana. The Ram Leela is followed by burning the effigy of Lord Ravana to symbolize his defeat, which is organized by local communities. People residing in the Western states of India are seen to be enjoying and celebrating the day by consuming jalebi-faafda. On the other hand, Southern states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh observe this day as auspicious for new beginnings like education, new homes, new offices, gold jewellery and other fresh starts. If you believe in the same and have booked a new car, home or office, make sure to get in touch with the MakeMyPuja Pujaris who will help you with the most appropriate pujas for welcoming the new start in your life. Other rituals observed in temples and communities on this day include Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja and Seema Avalanghan.

The most important places to visit in India during the auspicious festival of Dussehra include –

·        Bastar Dushera in Chhattisgarh
·        Mysore Dasara in Karnataka
·        Madikeri Dasara in Karnataka
·        Kota Dussehra in Rajsthan
·        Kullu Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh
·        Mangalore Dasara in Mangalore

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The Significance and Celebrations Of Durga Ashtami

Durga Ashtami falls on the 8^th day of Navratri, which is observed in the Sharad month of the Hindu calendar. Generally, Ashtami is observed every month during the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha, but the one that falls on the 8^th day of Sharad Navratri is of the highest importance. This is also the time when Bengalis celebrate Durga Puja, which is when they gather together in public and worship Goddess Durga.

This year, Navratri is to be celebrated from 1^st to 10^th October, and Durga Ashtami is to fall on 9^th October. If you are a devotee of Goddess Durga and you wish to please her and obtain her grace, you must perform the Durga Saptashati. MakeMyPuja Pujaris will help you perform this ritual during the ten days of Navratri to attain the blessings of Maa Durga so that you are protected against all evil forces. You will be granted happiness, peace of mind and success in your endeavours after performing this puja.

It is believed that it was Durga Ashtami when Goddess Kali appeared from the forehead of Devi Durga to kill the demons Chanda, Munda and Raktabija, who were associates of Mahishasura. This is why the Eight Shaktis or Ashta Nayikas, which are the 8 incarnations of Shakti are worshipped on this day. They are named Chamunda, Brahmani, Maheswari, Kameswari, Vaishnavi, Narasinghi, Indrani and Varahi. 64 associates known as Chausath Yogini are also worshipped on this day.

To respect and please these 8 forms of Maa Shakti, people perform the ritual of welcoming 8 little girls to their home and serving them delicious food. They are welcomed with washing their feet and are made to sit on an asana. Kumkum is applied to their toe and their feet are touched to show reverence. They are then served delicious Kheer and Puri, and gifted a present and some cash. This Kanya Pujan is observed across the country on this auspicious occasion.

Astra Puja is also performed on this day,wherein weapons of Maa Durga are worshipped. Also, an event called Virashtami is observed, where arms or martial arts is exhibited. Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is the city that should be visited during the festival. People are in full enthusiasm one week prior to the festival. Pandals are gorgeously decorate and lit in hundreds of colours during the night time. If you are in the city during the occasion, make sure to visit these amazingly beautiful and famous Durga Puja pandals –

·        Ekdalia Evergreen

·        Bagbazar

·        Kumartuli Park

·        College Square

·        Mohammad Ali Park

·        Suruchi Sangha

·        Santosh Mitra Square

·        Bose Pukur Sitala Mandir

·        Jodhpur Park

·        Badamtala Ashar Sangha

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