Navratri Across India: How Each Region Celebrates the Festival Differently
Navratri, a festivity dedicated to the worship of the 9 forms of Goddess Durga, culminates with Dussehra, a day marking the victory of good over evil, and it is celebrated with great aplomb in most Indian states. For some, Navratri is the time to fast and chant mantras of...
Dussehra Facts: Cultural Significance, Rituals and Celebrations Across India
Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, falls on the 10th and concluding day of Navratri, and is the most significant day of this festivity. It is also one of the most important festivals in Indian culture and is celebrated with great enthusiasm in many parts of the country. Dussehra symbolizes the...
Navadurga – 9 Divine Forms of Adishakti Durga Maa & Their Significance
Navaratri is one of the most important festivals celebrated across India, during which Goddess Durga is worshipped. This festivity spans 9 nights and 10 days, where each night is linked with a particular avatar or form of Goddess Durga. Legend has it that there was a battle between Goddess...
Significance of Pitru Paksha
Pitru Paksha literally means fortnight of the ancestors. It is a 16-day span which falls in the second fortnight of the Hindu lunar month Bhadrapada, and starts immediately after the Ganesh Utsav. It spans the time between pratipada (first day of the fortnight) and the no-moon day which is...
Shravan Month: Rituals, Festivals and Spiritual Significance
Shravan is the 5th month of the Hindu calendar and the 2nd month of Varsha ritu (rainy season). It marks the arrival of the south-west monsoons and spans the time between mid-July and mid-August. It is also the holiest month of the Hindu year, is dedicated to Lord Shiva,...
Understanding the Significance of Cows in Indian Culture
The cow is a highly revered animal in India and considered a sacred animal. Cows give milk which is a very nourishing drink. Their dung and urine are of medicinal value. Bulls (the male counterparts of cows) toil in the farms and are among the most coveted helpers of...
Kolam or Rangoli Art: Science & Significance
Kolam or Rangoli is an artform that has been used to decorate entrances since ages. Traditionally, females in the family used to draw kolam designs using rice flour, and this was practiced daily in the morning as well as on special occasions like festivals or religious events. Today, white...
Significance of Ekadashi Fasting: FAQs and Benefits
According to Sadhguru, every 14 days, there is a day when the body can easily go without food, or that fasting will cause the least discomfort on that day. Sadhguru also says that eating forcibly on those days is bad for health. As people did not know much about...
Kalaripayattu: India’s Ancient Martial Art, the Oldest on Earth
Kalari is about becoming a weapon without violence. – Sadhguru Originating in the Indian state of Kerala in the 11th-12th century, Kalaripayattu (also called Kalari) is India’s ancient martial art. The word Kalaripayattu is a combination of kalari which means battlefield/training ground and payattu which means training of martial...
Significance of Shodashopachara Guru Pooja
Pooja, derived from the root word ‘puj’ meaning worship and honor, is a practice designed to establish a connection with one’s true self. It’s more than just a way to express love, gratitude and devotion to a chosen form of the Divine, whether it’s a deity or a person...
25+ Fascinating Mount Kailash Mysteries & Facts
Standing at an elevation of 6,638 m, Mount Kailash lies in the Kailash range of Transhimalaya in the western region of the Tibetan plateau. Popularly known as the abode of Lord Shiva, carrying great spiritual importance and considered as the world’s most sacred mountain, Kailash is shrouded in mystery....
15 Remarkable Benefits of Reading Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita is an important Hindu scripture that consists of 700 verses. It comprises chapters 23 to 40 of book 6 of Mahabharata known as Bhishma Parva. According to Hindu mythology, Bhagavad Gita was written by Lord Ganesha as dictated to him by sage Veda Vyasa. It dwells on...
Thaipusam Festival: History, Significance and Celebrations Around the World
What is Thaipusam celebrated for? What is the story of Thaipusam? Let’s find out in this article on the history and significance of this festival and take a sneak peek at the Thaipusam celebrations around the world. What is Thaipusam? Thaipusam (where Thai is the name of a Tamil...
14 Fascinating Facts About Ayodhya Ram Mandir You Probably Don’t Know Yet
Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is an architectural spectacle with great religious and cultural importance. It has been created with the intent to take Lord Rama’s life and mission to the masses, and is sure to boost the tourism industry and economy of India. The temple successfully attempts to narrate...
13 Sadhguru Quotes on Lord Rama’s Exemplary Life
Rama is admired by people from diverse backgrounds because he symbolizes inner strength and balance. Regardless of external challenges, Rama remains peaceful and blissful, making him an ideal hero for everyone. His universal appeal lies in the timeless lesson that true strength and happiness come from managing one’s own...
Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Temple’s Architecture and Cultural Significance
Once the site of Babri Masjid, then a disputed land, and today the prestigious location of Ram Mandir, Hindus have had to wait for hundreds of years before a temple of their beloved deity Lord Rama could be constructed at his birthplace (janmabhoomi), Ayodhya. Based on a report by...
Why Do We Offer Bilva Leaves to Lord Shiva?
Bilva leaves are known to be Lord Shiva’s favourite, and are commonly used while worshipping him. The trifoliate or three-leaf structure of Bilva leaves has a unique symbolism, which is one of the reasons why Bel patra is offered to Lord Shiva. Generations have been following what ancient texts...
Spiritual Significance and Benefits of Bilva Leaves
Bilva (scientific name: Aegel mermelos) is from the Rutaceae family. This tree (also called Bel tree) is native to India and also found in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand. In Sanskrit, this tree is called Shivadruma (tree of Shiva), in Hindi, it is known as Bel or Bael,...
Brahma Muhurta Significance: Embracing the Sacred Essence of the Morning Hour
Picturize this. The sun is yet to rise. A soft light fills the skies. There is a mystic silence in the air. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves. What your senses experience at this time of the day, is simply rejuvenating. We are referring to that part of the...
Why Is Eating Forbidden During Solar and Lunar Eclipses?
Why shouldn’t we eat during eclipses?Is consuming food on the day of an eclipse harmful to the body? There are many age-old beliefs about why eating should be forbidden during eclipses. One common belief is that food eaten on an eclipse day takes longer to digest and the other...
Significance of Lighting the Traditional Oil or Ghee Lamp
Light is symbolic of knowledge, happiness, prosperity, abundance and overall well-being. It serves as a powerful metaphor for removal of darkness, which is synonymous with ignorance, sorrow and negativity. Light is the absence of darkness, which means light signifies the absence of vices, the absence of negative energies, and...
Cultural Etiquette: The When, Why and How of Touching Elders’ Feet in Indian Tradition
When and why do we touch elders’ feet in Indian culture? What does touching someone’s feet mean? Here is an insight into the Indian tradition of touching elders’ feet as a part of the cultural etiquette. Bowing down and touching the feet in a certain way is an enormous...
16 Spectacular Harvest Festivals in India – A Symphony of Cultural Diversity
Festivals across cultures can be seen as outlets to express joy and gratitude. Harvest festivals are about cherishing a good yield and thanking nature for a generous harvest. Isn’t it a nature’s miracle how tiny seeds sown in soil grow into plants and trees that flower and bear fruit?...
108 Names of Lord Shiva With Meanings – Shiva Ashtothram
Gods have several names because devotees prefer to call the Almighty by different names based on their perception of him, and the varied names of a certain God also serve to describe his nature, capabilities, qualities and role. Many times, these names are used during the ‘japa’ of that...
30+ Mahashivaratri Wishes, Messages and Quotes to Connect with Shiva’s Timeless Grace
Mahashivaratri, the Great Night of Shiva is a sacred celebration dedicated to honoring Lord Shiva and embracing the values he represents. This auspicious occasion encourages devotees to worship the shivalinga, engage in prayers for harmony, observe fasting and meditate with the aim of attaining inner peace. Know more about...
Mahashivaratri 2024: Science, Significance and Rituals – Everything You Need to Know!
Mahashivaratri is a sacred celebration devoted to embracing the divine presence of Lord Shiva. While most other Indian festivals are celebrated during the day and include the getting together of families and friends, Mahashivaratri is observed at night and focuses on self-introspection and meditation. What’s truly special about Mahashivaratri...
Mahashivaratri Unveiled: 10 Interesting Facts and Essential Celebration Insights
Mahashivaratri (also known as the Great Night of Shiva) is observed on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Magha or Phalgun. As per the Gregorian calendar, this festival falls in the month of February or March every year. It is an auspicious occasion to...
Diwali: History, Significance and Traditions Around the Festival of Light
Diwali, the festival of lights is here, it’s the time to wear your festive gear and spread some cheer. Deepavali, as this festival is also called, is the time to hang lanterns and light oil lamps, in the effort to banish the darkness from not just our surroundings but...