Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Baisakhi: One of the Biggest Festivals in India
Baisakhi is one of the biggest festivals in the northern parts of India, especially the Sikhs, it is a religious festival, harvest festival and New Year's Day all rolled into one. Baisakhi is celebrated in the month of April. This festival is the beginning of the Hindu solar New Year. In fact, this day is celebrated all over the country as New Year day, under different names. For the Sikh community, Baisakhi has a very special meaning. It was on this day when their tenth and last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh organized the Sikhs into Khalsa which means the 'pure ones'. By doing so, he eliminated the class differences and established that all human beings are equal.
On Baisakhi, men performs the wild bhangra dance (Punjabi men’s folk dance), while women does gidda (Punjabi women’s folk dance performed). This vigorous dance tells the story of the agricultural process, from tilling the soil through harvesting. As the dhol (drum) changes beats, the dancing sequence progresses, dramatizing plowing, sowing, weeding, reaping, and finally celebrating. Baisakhi also honors the day in 1689 when Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa, the fighting Sikh brotherhood that donned the distinctive Sikh outfits.
Sikhs visit temples, such as the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where the holy Granth is read, remembering the day on which the Guru asked five volunteers to offer their lives; he then took them one at a time into a tent. He emerged each time with a bloody sword, although he had in fact sacrificed a goat. In honor the "Beloved Five," a series of parades are held, in which sets of five men walk in front of the holy book with swords drawn. When the ceremony is over, a round of feasting, music-making, and dancing begins, amid the blossoming flowers and harvested grain.
In addition to Sikh, Baisakhi has special significance for the Hindus also. It is the start of the New Year, and is celebrated with requisite bathing, partying, and worshipping. It's believed that thousands of years ago, Goddess Ganga descended to earth and in her honor, many Hindus gather along the sacred Ganges River for ritual baths. The action is centered in the holy cities along the Ganges in north India, or in Srinagar's Mughal Gardens, Jammu's Nagbani Temple, or anywhere in Tamil Nadu. Hindus plant poles (wrapped in flags of god-embroidered silk) in front of their homes, and hang pots of brass, copper or silver on top.
Children wear garlands of flowers and run through the streets singing "May the new year come again and again!" In Kerala, the festival is called 'Vishu'. It includes fireworks, shopping for new clothes and interesting displays called 'Vishu Kani'. These are arrangements of flowers, grains, fruits, cloth, gold, and money are viewed early in the morning, to ensure a year of prosperity. In Assam, the festival is called Bohag Bihu, and the community organizes massive feasts, music and dancing.
May this Baisakhi
Brings you
All the happiness & success,
Good health and lots of wealth,
Lots of love & blessings from above,
Showers of peace & prosperity
And cheers of unity
Ocean of good luck &
Golden harvest to pluck,
Incessant joy & best wishes to enjoy!
On Baisakhi, men performs the wild bhangra dance (Punjabi men’s folk dance), while women does gidda (Punjabi women’s folk dance performed). This vigorous dance tells the story of the agricultural process, from tilling the soil through harvesting. As the dhol (drum) changes beats, the dancing sequence progresses, dramatizing plowing, sowing, weeding, reaping, and finally celebrating. Baisakhi also honors the day in 1689 when Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa, the fighting Sikh brotherhood that donned the distinctive Sikh outfits.
Sikhs visit temples, such as the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where the holy Granth is read, remembering the day on which the Guru asked five volunteers to offer their lives; he then took them one at a time into a tent. He emerged each time with a bloody sword, although he had in fact sacrificed a goat. In honor the "Beloved Five," a series of parades are held, in which sets of five men walk in front of the holy book with swords drawn. When the ceremony is over, a round of feasting, music-making, and dancing begins, amid the blossoming flowers and harvested grain.
In addition to Sikh, Baisakhi has special significance for the Hindus also. It is the start of the New Year, and is celebrated with requisite bathing, partying, and worshipping. It's believed that thousands of years ago, Goddess Ganga descended to earth and in her honor, many Hindus gather along the sacred Ganges River for ritual baths. The action is centered in the holy cities along the Ganges in north India, or in Srinagar's Mughal Gardens, Jammu's Nagbani Temple, or anywhere in Tamil Nadu. Hindus plant poles (wrapped in flags of god-embroidered silk) in front of their homes, and hang pots of brass, copper or silver on top.
Children wear garlands of flowers and run through the streets singing "May the new year come again and again!" In Kerala, the festival is called 'Vishu'. It includes fireworks, shopping for new clothes and interesting displays called 'Vishu Kani'. These are arrangements of flowers, grains, fruits, cloth, gold, and money are viewed early in the morning, to ensure a year of prosperity. In Assam, the festival is called Bohag Bihu, and the community organizes massive feasts, music and dancing.
May this Baisakhi
Brings you
All the happiness & success,
Good health and lots of wealth,
Lots of love & blessings from above,
Showers of peace & prosperity
And cheers of unity
Ocean of good luck &
Golden harvest to pluck,
Incessant joy & best wishes to enjoy!
Biggest Massacre in the Indian History: Jallianwala Bagh
Jallianwala Bagh noted for its most notorious massacre under British rule. It is 400meters north of the Golden Temple. The British General Dyer was the Lieutenant Governor of the province in 1919. He banned all meetings and demonstrations led by Indians against the economical set back by World War I. On 13 April 1919, pilgrims poured into Amritsar to celebrate the Baisakhi festival, one of most auspicious festival of Sikh. In the afternoon thousands of people gathered at JallianWala Bagh to celebrate the festival. This ground is surrounded by high walls on all sides has only a narrow alley for access. General Dyer personally led the troops to the sight and ordered 50 soldiers to fire into the gathering, and for 10 to 15 minutes 1,650 rounds of ammunition were unloaded into the screaming, terrified crowd, some of whom were trampled by those desperately trying to escape. It resulted in the death of about 2000 people including women and children.
Even though the crowd was totally unarmed, General Dyer claimed that he was attacked by a revolutionary army. He made it clear that he had gone to the place with the with a plan of opening fire upon this helpless crowd.He even said that he would have used the machine-guns on this helpless crowd, but could not do so because he could not move them to position via the narrow passage that led to the place of gathering.
It was clear that he had trespassed all norms of humanity, was also asked to resign from his position in India, yet he was greatly honored when he reached Britain. A very large sum of money and much honor was also given to him. This only made the Indians more committed to their cause to get freedom from Britain. Finally on 15th August 1947 India became a nation free from the rule of Britian.
I Salute to each and every Martyr of this Massacre!
Bit jaaye chahe kitne mausam, Bite chahe kitne naye zamaane; Yeh dil naa bhula hai naa bhulega un shaheedon ko jinho ne dekar apne pran, pehnaya humare desh ko Azaadi ka sehra!
Jai Hind!
Even though the crowd was totally unarmed, General Dyer claimed that he was attacked by a revolutionary army. He made it clear that he had gone to the place with the with a plan of opening fire upon this helpless crowd.He even said that he would have used the machine-guns on this helpless crowd, but could not do so because he could not move them to position via the narrow passage that led to the place of gathering.
It was clear that he had trespassed all norms of humanity, was also asked to resign from his position in India, yet he was greatly honored when he reached Britain. A very large sum of money and much honor was also given to him. This only made the Indians more committed to their cause to get freedom from Britain. Finally on 15th August 1947 India became a nation free from the rule of Britian.
I Salute to each and every Martyr of this Massacre!
Bit jaaye chahe kitne mausam, Bite chahe kitne naye zamaane; Yeh dil naa bhula hai naa bhulega un shaheedon ko jinho ne dekar apne pran, pehnaya humare desh ko Azaadi ka sehra!
Jai Hind!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Wish you all a Happy & Blessed Ram Navami! Find out the History & Origin of this Auspicious Hindu Festival: http://ping.fm/KADCV
Ram Navami: One of the Most Auspicious Hindu Festivals
Ram Navami is one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals of India. It is celebrated on the ninth day (Navami) of the Chaitra month of Hindu lunar year in 'Shukla paksha' or waxing moon. This festival is celebrated in order to honor the birth of Marayada Purshottam Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This day also known as Sri Rama Navami, marks the end of nine-day Chaitra-Navratri celebrations. The festival of Ram Navami is held in high regard not only by the people in India but also by the Hindu community living in the other parts of the world. The festival is celebrated with immense joy and enthusiasm. Many devotees fast on this occasion. It is believed that all the devotees who fast on this day are showered with immense happiness and good luck by Lord Rama.
History & Origin of Ram Navami
According to the great epic Ramayana, once upon a time there lived a King named Dasarath, then king of Ayodhya, who had three wives named Kaushalya, Sumithra and Kaikeyi. As even long after his marriages, Dasarath was not blessed with a child, this has become a question of worry for him. Even the people of Ayodhya were disheartened because they had not heir to their kingdom. At this stage, Rishi Vasistha suggests Dasarath to perform Puthra Kamesti Yagna, through which he can have a desired child.
Soon King Dasharath agreed to do the Yagya and headed to Maharshi Rushya Shrunga's ashram, to get him for performing the yagya. Maharshi agreed and accompanied Dasharath to Ayodhya to solemnize the perform Puthra Kamesti Yagna. As the result of yagna, Yagneshwar appeared and hands Dasarath a bowl of kheer and asked him to feed this to his three wives. Dasarath did the same. He gave one half of the kheer to his elder wife Kausalya, and another half to his younger wife Kaikeyi. These two gave one half each of their kheer to Sumithra.
After few days all the three Queens conceived Dasratha's child. On the ninth day (Navami) of Chaithra Masa (first month in Hindu calendar), at noon Kaushlya gave birth to Lord Sri Ram, Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharat, and Sumithra gave birth to twins, Lakshman and Shatrughan. It was the day of joyous celebrations in Ayodhya. This day since then is celebrated as an auspicious occasion by the devotees.
Ram Navami is one of the most ancient festivals celebrated in India. It is said that the date of Ram Navami can be traced back to the pre-christian era, as Hinduism is the oldest religion of the world. The reference of Ramnavami can also be found in the Kalika puran. It is said in the earlier times, when caste system was prevalent in India; Ramnavami was one of the few festivals that the lower castes (shudras) were allowed to celebrate. In Hindu religion, it is considered to one of the five major sacred festivals and it is said that, properly observing this fast leads to the attainment of salvation.
May Lord Ram Bless You All With Lots of Happiness & Good Luck!
Jai Shri Ram!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
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