Happy Navratri to everyone!

Navratri is an auspicious Hindu festival specifically dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. This annual festival is celebrated not just in India but all around the globe. The word ‘Nav’ means nine and ‘Ratri’ means night in Sanskrit, hence ‘Navratri’ means nine nights of celebration, during which nine forms of goddesses are worshipped. They are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Maha Gowri and Siddhdhatri.

Before the festival, devotees start purchasing new traditional clothes , especially for the Garba and Dandiya Raas. In fact, the best part about this festival is the traditional dance forms performed for nine nights. The entire Navratri festival is about praying, fasting , dancing and enjoying for the nine days. On Ashatami - second last day of navratri , Kanya Puja is performed in households and temples, wherein 10 children, nine females representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga and one male in the form of Bhairav nath, devotee of Maa Durga are worshipped . There is a ritual attached to it that involves washing the girls’ feet , applying Tikka (red color) on their forehead, serving favourite dishes in the form of Prasad along with gifts to show respect. On 9thth day Havan is performed and Navratri ends on 10th day known as Dussehra, a festival that is celebrated to denote the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. Thus, Navratri itself symbolises victory over evil. May Goddess Durga, showers her blessings and love on everyone.

Jai Mata Di !!!

Previously, Rakhi festival encompasses the warmth shared between the siblings but now it goes way beyond it.  Rakhi Utsav was first popularized by Rabindranath Tagore to promote the feeling of unity and a commitment to all members of society to protect each other and encourage a harmonious Social life.

Another significant and important part of the Rakhi-tying ceremony is the Aarti ritual. This is done with a view to draw the blessings of God upon her brother. The following mantra (in Sanskrit) conveys the whole significance of Raksha Bandhan.

"Yena baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala"

­It says," I tie you the Rakhi, that was tied to king Bali, the king of Demons, O Rakhi I pray that you never waver in protecting your devotee.

In today's scenario, the day has a different perspective. The occasion involves a pledge of life-time practice of moral, cultural and spiritual values. The ritual of Rakhi tying has become so important that come what may, brothers and sisters try to visit each other place on this particular day in order to bring back the oneness of the family, binding the family together in an emotional bond of love.

Guru Purnima is an Indian festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers. This festival is traditionally celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, to pay their respects to their teachers and express their gratitude. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day Purnima in the month of Ashadh (July) of the Shaka Samvat, which is the Indian national calendar and the Hindu calendar.The word guru is derived from two words, gu and ru. The Sanskrit root gu means darkness or ignorance, and ru denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore, a guru is one who removes the darkness of our ignorance.

Traditionally the festival is celebrated by Buddhists in honour of the lord Buddha who gave his first sermon on this day at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. In the yogic tradition, the day is celebrated as the occasion when Shiva became the first guru, as he began the transmission of yoga to the Saptarishis. Many Hindus celebrate the day in honour of the great sage Vyasa, who is seen as one of the greatest gurus in ancient Hindu traditions and a symbol of the Guru-shishya tradition. This day  is also known as Vyasa Purnima.

In Nepal, Guru Purnima is a big day in schools. Students honor their teachers by offering delicacies, garlands, and special hats called topi made with indigenous fabric.

According to Jain traditions, it was on this day, falling at the beginning of CHAUMASAAS , the four month rainy season retreat, Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, after attaining Kaivalya, made Indrabhuti Gautam, later known as Gautam Swami, a Ganadhara, his first disciple, thus becoming a Guru himself, therefore it is observed in Jainism as Guru Purnima.

Irrespective of their religions, Indian academics celebrate this day by thanking their teachers. Many schools, colleges and universities have events in which students  present gifts as a gesture of gratitude.

Ramzan Id or Id Ul Fitr is one of the important occasions for Muslims. It marks the completion of the holy Ramzan month through which Muslims observe fasting. Ramzan is the ninth month in Muslim calendar and is termed as the holy month. They carry on fast during daytime throughout the month and eat and drink even water only after sunset. They believe that fasting will bring them closer to Allah and also help them get rid of their sins of past. The concept of fasting is not to make people starve but to help people take themselves to a level of spiritualism that this helps them get fully devoted to God and feel for those who get very little to eat daily. The day signifies the breaking of the fast and is decided only after seeing the crescent moon. People believe in distribution of charity on this day. The charity can be either cash or even foodstuff or clothes or in any form the donor prefers. On this day, they wear new clothes, prepare new dishes and visit mosque for prayers. It is believed that the holy book of Quran was written during this month and so people try to purify their soul with their thoughts and deeds. The month of Ramzan is considered as a gift from God and is related to mercy and forgiveness.

Festivals are great opportunities for people to mix with each other and give life a different meaning. This is the reason why even Hindus participate in the rejoicing in most parts of the world and show their love and appreciation towards the festival and feelings of their Muslim friends. Each year this much awaited festival is celebrated with eagerness and enthusiasm all over the world.