Ambedkar Jayanti

“Father of Indian Constitution”, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar who dedicated his whole life in providing good living conditions as well as to uplift them those come under deprived section of society. He was born on April 14, 1891 at MHOW (Military Headquarter of War) in Madhya Pradesh, he was a real architect of Indian Constitution, he devoted his whole life to make India Free from the clutches of British, a great social reformer. He was one of the first untouchables to get college education.



He fought to preserve the rights of weaker section of society, Dr. Ambedkar went to England and United states for higher studies, and he came out with degree of law and multiple doctorates for his outstanding research in political science, law and economics, he was a famous scholar, he had been practising law for few years, then he came out with publishing of journals to advocate social freedom and political rights of untouchables and to treat them well.

Dr. Ambedkar raised his voice against Dalit Buddhist movement, as he was the chairman of the drafting committee, he framed our constitution. Dr. Ambedkar was first Law Minister of India. In 1990 he was honoured with Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. To honour Dr. Ambedkar 14th April his birthday
celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti all over the India with due respect and honour. It is a public holiday. To honour the great soul huge processions are carried out, followed by so many activities. Various organisations come out with cultural programs and rally.

A very big day for every one, specially Dalit Melas are held , prayers, meetings and memorial speeches also take place.

Kumbh Mela

With a very holy and divine feeling lakhs and lakhs of people take holy bath at Kumbha Mela, Kumbha means pot, this mela is very divine and sacred Hindu pilgrimage, that particularly takes place at four locationsm of India. These four places are Haridwar U.P the place where River Ganga enters from Himalayas, Prayag Allahabad, where the three rivers meet Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, Nasik in Maharshtra Goadavari river and Ujjain in M.P on the banks of Kshipra river. Every twelve years the pilgrimage occurs four times.



Every twelve years there is a Maha Kumbh held at Prayag that is attended by millions of people, that contributes making it largest pilgrimage all over the world. The beliefs have a story, thousands of years ago demons and gods decided to gather Amrita from the ocean of milk and share it equally. When they got the pot(Kumbh) the demons snatched from the gods and ran away and the gods kept on chasing.

They chased for twelve days and twelve nights equivalent to twelve years, and the battle was fought, during that drops of Amrita fell on four respective places. Thats why the kumbh mela takes place only at these four places. These four places are considered as holy ones and have great significance in Hindu faith. Astrologers are of the view that Kumbh Mela takes place when there are astrological changes as Sun enters Aries and Jupiter enters Aquarius.

People take ritual bath on a particular time and particular place, millions of people come across the world. This happens a great event, huge assembling of people that include discussions, mass feeding of poor and devotional singing. You will find Sadhus, Saints and monks gracing this festival with their presence.

Lohri

Full on fun. full on enjoyment, a perfect reason for happiness around, this festival come as culmination of winter, falls on 13th of January comes in the month Magh or Paush well this is the beginning of Makar Sankranti , the festival of Kites. Lohri is celebrated with great enthusiasm specially it is an important festival of Punjabi's this festival gives them to live the life in a new and positive way. Lohri denotes the spark of life and fertility. Every where is the festivity and fun people dance and gather to celebrate this wonderful occasion.



On Lohri people gather round the bonfires, dance around, throw sweets, popcorn and puffed ice into the flames, wih exchange of greetings and dancing every where. On this very special day children make group an go door to door to gather funds and later on in the evening time there is a community fire with an ultimate mood of festivity and fun. It is a community festival that rejoins people.

Lohri is called as Makar Sankranti, it brings the biting cold to an end, very auspicious day to make people happy and live their life to the fullest. It comes in the Uttarayan, in Bhagwad Gita it is mentioned that this is very sacred month, it is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh , Bihu in Assama and Sankranti in Karnataka, the centre of attraction is the bone fire every one just waits for the bonfire to lighten up. Then prasad is put includes , moongphali, gazak, phuliya, til and popcorn, when there is bonfire there is a puja that involves Parikrama.

This Parikrama around the fire symbolises the prayer to Agni for growth in crops and prosperity, a pray for abundant crops.In Punjabi's first Lohri of a bride is extremely special and important even it is as special for a new born baby this festival really excites.

Kerela Village Fair

Festivals gives us a chance of recreation and reunion, we become more energize and happy when it comes to festivals, a very famous festival In India called Kerela Village Fair, mid January brings the time or festivity and cultural events. There is great enthusiasm every where in the lush villages around Kovalam . people are so excited about the happenings around as Kerela Village Fair gives them a big chance to their at their fullest. It is a ten day long festival where all the music, festivities and folk dances take place.



In Kerela Village Fair traditional thatched houses are decorated, Gramam is called as a typical Kerala village. There are amazing traditional Nalukettu houses and you can also enjoy local teashops called 'chayakkada'. In Kerela Village Fair portrays the nostalgic recreation of bygone era that is embedded with ethnic charm. You will find an association artisans, sorcerers along with astrologers they will make you enter in the world Kerela's great past. To display Kerela's antique style an architecture there are amazing and traditional upper class homestead.

Kerela Village Fair gives you the glimpse of ultimate architectural style as there are wealth of antiques inside Nalukettu. You can have look of priceless furniture in Sandalwood, Teak and Mahagony. As well as there is exclusive jewellery , Spice Bowls and so many antiques with beautiful and eye catchy paintings. Various classical dances like Mohiniyattom, Oppana and Kathakali.

Kerela Village fair offers you delecious food like 'Kappa' and 'Meen' (steamed tapioca served with fish curry) or 'Puttu' and 'Kadala. Kamalagramam' are the stalls of artisans to display various handicrafts. Here you will find men working with handlooms and traditional spinning wheels.

Ellora Festival

Festivals brings joy to our lives without them life cannot be imagined they fills us with new energy. Life will loose its meaning if their would be no festivity around really! Festivals rebound us and make us more near to our life. Another synonym of joy and fun none other than Ellora Festival. This is a festival of utmost fun and fills you with immense pleasure. Ellora Festival is a festival of music, dance and fun.

It takes place in vast surroundings of temple of Ellora, has got its very important place as it is about 30 km from Aurangabad in Maharashtra, amazingly there are 34 caves form a cut out of the sloping side of Chamadri hills, formed between 600-1000 AD these caves have got their special importance and this wonderful heritage belongs to Hindu, Jain and Buddhists faiths.




Ellora caves are known for its unique iconography along with different structural compulsions. This heritage is world renowned for its outstanding masterpieces which are formed after 300 years of experimentation, in fact the archaeological Survey has found more 28 caves later. In Kailash Temple the master piece of Ellora is placed which is termed as world's largest monolithic sculpture and interestingly carved out from a rock by 7000 labourers it took around a period of 150 years.

Ellora Festival includes ultimate fun and pleasure, and it has showcased best talents, this festival brings fun and frolic around and really a charming way to feel these amazing and some how mysterious caves, that preserving our culture from centuries. Ellora Festival is organised by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation a very wonderful platfrom for Indian Artists to perform with their utmost talent of dance and music.

Teej

Festival specially for Indian women, Teej which is celebrated with whole heartily by Hindi women. Teej Takes place on 3rd day of Shukla Paksha in Bhadrapad or Bhado month according to nepali calendar, here in month of August and early September arrival of monsoon. Very important for Indian women as it is celebrated for well being of spouse, husband- marital bliss, purification of soul and progress of children. It is three day long celebration, actually Teej is a very small red insects which usually comes out in rains.



Teej is celebrated with full enthusiasm in all over India, in Jaipur women dressed in green, they hung swings from trees with joy and pleasure all around, they sing songs to welcome monsoon. Beliefs are that this festival is for Goddess Parvati, when she formed her union with Lord Shiva. Teej idol is covered with ornamental fabric, a very pocession is taken out in Jaipur, followed by large masses. In chandigarh there are special arrangements for teej celebrations in rock garden, the females specially daughters and daughter in laws are given new dresses and gifts. So many functions and cultural programs are performed by school children. In Punjab teej is called Teeyan a seasonal festival every where is joy married women visit their parents, and special Punjabi Gidha( a dance) performed by women. In other states like Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, a day before this festival is celebrated as Sijara when ladies, girls put Mehandi, eat feeni, ghewar and other sweets, Goddess Parvati is decorated in a procession followed by women singing, dancing and music. Among Baniya and Marwari Community Teej is an important festival women are given Bindi and Bangles, ladies use to wear new clothes, their is special lunch for women mother in laws use to give jewellery and gifts to daughters in law. Buddhi Teej specially for the daughters-in-law in their marital home it falls after Rakhi.

Hanuman Jayanti

Festivals brings new joy to our lives, they fill us with new pleasure and joy. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the occassion of the birth of Hanuman, known as Vanara God . This festival is celebrated in all over India in the month of Chaitra. People shoe their great enthusiasm. Hanuman Jayanti is one the most important festival of Hindus.



Hanuman was a big devotee of Lord Rama, on this day you will find big crowd and long lines outside Hanuman Temple. Hanuman is regarded as a symbol of energy and strength, he gives strong will power, he can move mountains , seize the clouds as he is very powerful god and worshipped in folk tradition to remove magical powers and conquer evil spirits.

Devotees apply tilak of sindhūr from the Hanuman's body on their foreheads as this is considered as good luck mlegends say that Sita was applying Sindur on her forehead, Hanuman came up with question that why is she doing so then Sita replied it is for Long life of Lord Rama. Then Hanuman smeared his body with sindur to assure Rama’s immortality.

Hanuman Jayanti falls on full moon night, prayers start since early morning after that prasad( bhog) is distributed among devotees. A very divine and spiritual day for all Hindus as Hanuman is God of power and protects us from all evils.