Indian Festivals – Page 7 – Snapshots of my World

Mummy’s Boy

About the picture: I got this idol as a wedding gift from my librarian, who brought it for me all the way from Mathura. The idol of Shiva and Parvati with Ganesha on their lap, sits proudly in the temple at my house. I share a special bond with Komal Ma’am, she was the first person to not just recommend books to me, but also get my feedback after I returned it to her in due course. How I miss my fun-filled college days!

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati had two sons, Lord Ganesha and Lord Karthikeya (Murugan). While both were very loved, the gods were puzzled over who was smarter. They went out to Bhrama, the creator of the Universe to get an answer, but […]

Lord Ganesha And the Waning Moon

About the picture: The picture is a bit grainy as the lens range isn’t that great. I got this picture the night of Eid, a day before Ganesh Chathurthi. I have a fascination with the moon, too bad I didn’t own a camera at the super moon, but that doesn’t dampen my spirits 🙂

Any Ganesha Idol you notice the god has one broken tusk and a mouse tucked in somewhere. The mouse is Ganesha’s wahan, or his means of transportation […]

And So He Was Born…

Lord Ganesha is the son of Goddess Parvati and lord Shiva, although Parvati didn’t conceive him in her womb. Legend goes that Shiva was out on his penance when Parvati had to go for a bath. With no one to guard the door, she decided to create a boy from sandal paste off her own body. She breathed life into the boy and instructed him that no one should enter inside till she was […]

Let The Festivities Begin!

Today starts the celebration of the 10 day festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi which is celebrated with pomp and zest all across the state of Maharashta in India. Back in Tamil Nadu, it it is a single day affair, with preparation of Modak (a steamed sweet dumpling made with rice flour skin with coconut and jaggery filling). The festival was first started as a…

Eid Mubarak!

The Independence Day celebration in India is observed as a national festival, and marks the beginning of the cultural festivities across communities in India. It starts with Narali pournima on the full moon night, avaniavatam, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, and today the country celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr along with the entire world. As I understand, it means in Arabic means festivities that follow after breaking of…

Govinda Alaa Re!

India celebrated Janmastami, or the birthday of Lord Krishna, the avatar of Vishnu, who was instrumental in the creation of Hindu dhramas.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Light 2

Deepavali or Diwali, known as the “festival of lights”, is five-day festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, for a variety of reasons. Deepavali which literally translates to “row of lamps”, is celebrated on the no moons day by lighting small clay lamps (called diyas) filled with oil that signifies the triumph of good over…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Light

Hinduism is a major religion which is followed in India. However, it is not a religion, but more a way of life as it prescribes the path of living. And to illustrate the true path of life, there are several deities or forms of God that we worship. And one of those deities is Lord…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Spring

Holi is a colorful festival celebrated on the first full moon after the 1st Equinox of the year in India. The festivities mark the end of spring and the beginning of summer in India. The festival is celebrated but setting a tree (Holika) on fire, which marks the victory of good over evil.