How Hindus Celebrate Durga Puja

How Hindus Celebrate Durga Puja

Durga Puja is known as one of the biggest festivals among the Hindus, especially the Bengalis. Usually this festival is celebrated during the period of September and October. This festival is celebrated through five long days.

From the mythological point of view, the current time table of Durga Puja has connections with the Ramayana. During the war in Lanka, Lord Rama started worshipping Goddess Durga. Before that, the Durga Puja used to be held during the spring time. But since that time people started to worship goddess Durga during the autumn. Later Rama earned the blessings of Goddess Durga and was able to beat Ravana during the war.

Nowadays, Durga Puja became a cultural heritage and a cultural ‘industry’ especially in Bengal. Durga Puja in West Bengal is considered as one of the biggest festivals for a community all over the world. The beautiful Durga Idols and architecture attract the people from all over the world.

Useful Websites:
www.durga-puja.org

How Hindus celebrate Diwali

How Hindus celebrate Diwali

Diwali is considered as the festival of light among the Hindus. Diwali is also considered as a huge day for the businessmen as worship Laxmi and Ganesha – the financial gods on this day. On other hand, the people of eastern India celebrate Diwali through the offerings to Goddess Kali.

It doesn’t matter if the offerings are for either Goddess kali or Laxmi and Ganesha, the ultimate aim is to welcome the good or the light by killing the evil or the darkness. People use to decorate their rooms and terraces using the LED lights and the candles. Each and every household looks so beautiful this day. People use to burn the crackers and fireworks on this day too. Sweets and good wishes are exchanged among the friends and relatives. According to the mythology, Diwali was celebrated for the first time among the people of Ayodhya, when Lord Rama came back after 14 years to his place. 

How Hindus celebrate Holi

How Hindus celebrate Holi

Holi is considered as the festival of the colors, simplicity and gladness. Actually Holi is a festival of one of its own kind. One can compare the uniqueness of this festival only with the festivals like Tomatina festival or the Mud festival.

On the day of Holi, people forget all the mental differences between them. They start competing each other on only one matter – how much and how many different colors can they impose on each other. This event takes place during a full moon and usually in the month of March. Laxmi Puja is also held during this festival. This festival has some mythological connections with Lord Krishna.

Usually people use a finely powdered color called ‘Gulal’ during Holi. They apply the ‘gulal’ of various colors to their friends and relatives. Children also use colored water to color their friends. It is also a day to earn blessings from the elders and send good wishes to friends. 

How Hindus Celebrate Dashara

How Hindus Celebrate Dashara

Dashara is considered as one of the prime festivals of the Hindus. This festival symbolizes the win of the good on the evil. The festival is held on the last day of Durga Puja i.e. the Vijaya Dashami. Precisely, this festival is celebrated among the Hindus of North India.

According to the mythology, this festival is celebrated on the occasion of the victory of Rama, savior over Ravana, the evil king of Lanka. During the festival the huge effigies of Ravana and Kumbhakarna are made, full of crackers. Considering those effigies as the symbol evils people organize a drama where the roles of Lord Rama, Laxmana, Sita and Hanuman are portrayed by the artists. This drama is known as the ‘Ramlila’. At the conclusion of the Ramlila, the effigies are set on fire and the crackers start to burst. In this way the victory of good on the evil is celebrated on the day of Dashara.