Shab-i-Miraj

The meaning of Shab-i-Miraj is the "night of Ascent", on this blessed night the Holy Prophet of Islam was spiritually reached to heaven, his journey was not with his physical body. The Holy Prophet attained the highest stage of nearness to God Almighty that is beyond the range of ordinary person. His journey took place on 27th day or Rajab, 2 years before Hijra. The festival comes in the month of June-July.


History: As per the Muslim legends, the night journey has two parts-First is a journey that Islamic prophet Muhammad took in one night on a winged horse it was a physical journey. On the other hand, some Muslims beliefs hold the view that it happened spiritually through a metaphorical vision. The prophet reached the Seventh Heaven, there is a Kabah of sorts for the angels. Legends say that,the day when Muhammad reached the Seventh Heaven,since the dawn of time 70,000 angels entered and were never seen again.


How it is celebrated: On Shab-i-Miraj, the streets, houses and the mosques are fully decorated with electric candles,lights and oil lamps. In evening, people gather in the mosques and sing hymns in Prophet's praise. After Isha Prayer, public meetings are also held where speakers throw light on the various spiritual aspects of Prophet's life. Sweets are distributed after the meeting and the devotees give money in charity and distribute food among the poor.

Significance: Shab-i-Miraj holds special importance among Muslims, it is believed that the Holy Prophet continued his journey till he reached the Throne of God Almighty. To commemorate his journey, five daily prayers are made obligatory upon Muslims.

Ganga Dussehra

River Ganga holds a significant place in Indian Life,it is the largest of the rivers of India. Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Jyeshtha, this festival comes in the month of June. During this festival, ten days of the month are dedicated to the worship of Holy River Ganga. River Ganga is regarded as a goddess as well as a mother by the Hindus.


History: Legends say, Long ago a king named Sagar performed the horse sacrifice known as Ashvamedh. One day king’s horse reached the ashram of sage Kapil Muni, in search of the horse seven thousand of the king’s boys also reached there. They thought that Kapil Muni has kidnapped the horse, Kapil Muni cursed them to reduced to ashes. King Sagar became anxious, he sent his grandson Anshuman to Kapil Muni. Anshuman apologized and ask“How can the sin of the king’s boys be destroyed?” Kapil Muni replied “They will be saved if the water of the Ganga will flow over this land.” Finally, Anshuman's son Bhagirath managed to bring down the Ganga on Earth.On the tenth day of the bright half of Jyeshth,Goddess Ganga started to flow from the hair of Shankar.So,Ganga Dussehra is celebrated to worship mother Ganga.

How it is celebrated: In Haridwar grand Aartis are done at twilight and thousands of devotees meditate on riverbanks. Prayag, Haridwar, Varanasi, Rishikesh where Ganga flows, hold special importance on this day. People rush to these places and took a holy bath in it. Significance: On this day people take bath in the holy water of Mother Ganga, it is believed that a bath in the river is said to purify the bather of all sins.

Rathyatra

Rathyatra is a chariot festival held at the famous Jagannath Temple at Puri (Orissa). It is celebrated for 8 days, thousands of devotees rush to Puri during the festival.It is a belief that a glimpse of Lord Jagannath in his chariot provides salvation. The Rathyatra is done in the month of June and July. History: According to the Bhagavad Purana, on this day Balarama asnd Lord Krishna went to Mathura to take part in a wrestling competition, the invitation was given by Kansa.


A legend behind the Rath Yatra says that, the deities are taken to the Gundicha Mandir every year because Lord Jagannatha is said to visit his birthplace every year for a week. Another legend say that, Subhadra wanted to visit her parent's home(Dwarka) and her brothers took her, so the Yatra is done in the memory of that visit. How it is celebrated: On the respective day, people get up early and worship Lord Jagannatha. Beautiful Raths(chariots) are lined up before Puri temple. The deities are brought to their respective chariots with great pomp. The ceremony is done by the King of Puri.The chariot platforms are swept by adherents of the King with a gold-handled broom, they sprinkle the scented water to showcase in the eyes of God that all men are equal.


Images of the Lord of the Universe- Lord Jagannath, brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra are taken out in a procesion in three Raths, thousands of devotees pull the chariots to Gundicha Mandir and after a week there is a return journey from Gundicha temple on 'Ashadha Sukla Dasami', the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha.

Significance: The whole Rath Yatra is a symbolic humanization of God. It is an attempt to bring God down to a more human level from his pedestal of glory.

Kharchi Puja

Kharchi Puja comes in the month of June - July, is one of the remarkable festivals of the state of Tripura. Kharchi Puja is also known as Chaudda Devata Puja' or 'Chaturdash. The word Kharchi comprises of two words, Khar means sin and Chi denotes cleaning. Kharchi Puja refers to the cleaning of the sins of the people. It is the worship of the dynasty deity of the people of Tripura, the fourteen gods. History: A cruel king named Tripur ruled Tripura, to get rid of his evils, people worshiped Lord Shiva and offered prayers to him.


Lord Shiva, being pleased killed the king. God Shiva said, the queen would bear a son and he would be the next ruler. The Queen and the subjects were asked to worship 14 gods everyday-Uma (Wife of Lord Siva), Hara (Lord Siva), Prithvi (Goddess of Earth), Hari (Lord bishnu), Bani (Saraswati), Brahma (creator of Universe), Ma (Lakshmi), Ganesh (Siddidata), Ganga (Goddess of Ganges), Kamdev (God of Love and Romance), Agni (God of Fire), Samudra (God of Ocean) and Himalaya (God of all Hills)..During Kharchi puja Goddess 'Burama' is also worshipped.

How it is celebrated: Kharchi Puja falls begins on the eighth day of the moonlit period (Suklastami), it continues for seven days.Thousands of people rush to temple premises where they attend the celebrations. During Kharchi Puja, fourteen gods are worshipped. One of the main ritual is the sacrifice of goats and piegons.

Significance: The Kharchi Puja is performed to clean out the sins, it is done for seven consecutive days to clean up the post menstrual uncleanliness of mother earth's menstruation.