Teacher's Day on 5th September.

Teacher's day is a time of commemoration and celebration for Teachers. Different countries celebrate Teacher's day on various days of the year, in India 'The Teacher's Day' is celebrated on 5th September every year. It is the birthday of teacher and second President of India - Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. When he become the President of India, his students requested him to celebrate his birth day on 5th September. In reply Dr. Radhakrishnan said “Instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as “Teachers Day”.

Teacher's Day is a time of honoring your favorite teachers, surprising them with gifts and crayon scribbled 'I lOVE YOU's'.

Teacher's day holds the great significance in the heart of every student. It is the opportunity for the students to express the gratitude for the hardships the teachers bear in educating a child and preparing them to face the world. A number of ancient cultures pay tribute to the teachers as the Goddess. An old saying in India ranks teacher on the 3rd position even before the God : Mata, Pitha, Guru, Daivam, that means mother, father and Teacher is God.

Teachers shape up the life of the students as the educations received from the teachers remains with the students throughout their life, that helps them in taking the right decision and chasing the right path. Teachers spend most of their lives in teaching the students so they should always be respected. Teachers need encouragement from the society to feel that their commitment and devotion to students is rewarded.

Celebrating Teachers day is the historical tradition in India. The day is not granted as the holiday in India. On this very day students go to school, dress up like their teachers and take lecturers. As the day passes the students perform the regular activities that are practiced by the teacher's every day. Sometimes the teachers also sit in the class and behave like the students, to make the students realize what they go through every day.

The day strengthens the bond between the students and the teachers. Teachers day is the opportunity for the students to convey the message that we respect and care for our teachers as much as they do. Apart from the celebrations the day promoted the healthy interactions between the students and teachers. Very often we forget to thank our teachers. So Teachers Day nice time to tell how special they are for you.

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MAHA KUMBH FAIR 2010

The most awaited religious fair for the Hindus, Maha Kumbh, offers a one of a kind experience. Kumbh mela takes place in four destinations of the country namely Ujjain, Allahabad, Haridwar and Nasik, owing to the mythological significance that these places hold, with Allhabad being the most sacred destination and the only one where Maha Kumbh is held.

Prayag in Allahabad witnesses a gathering of millions of devotees from all over the world during the Maha Kumbh. These also include Naga Saints, Urdhwavahurs, Parivajaks, Shirshasins, Kalpvasis etc who believe in taking severe penance to reach their ultimate goal of salvation. One can see priests performing yagyas, bathing in the Triveni waters, saints having long matted hair and skin covered with ashes, meditating for long hours on their heads.

TIME AND DURATION:

Maha Kumbh takes place once in every 12 years, the next one lined up in 2013. The festival goes on for more than a month, with Amavasya being the most important day for the holy dip into the Triveni waters.

MYTHOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

The origin of Kumbha Mela has been linked to the formation of the Universe with Samudra Manthan. It is believed that Gods were losing their powers, as a result of a curse, which made them lethargic and rendered them incapable. It was at this time that the creator of Universe, Lord Brahma, announced that only amrit or nector stored deep within the ocean can bring back their powers. For this, the Gods decided to churn the ocean using a mountain called Meru, as a churning stick and a snake named Vasuki, as a rope.

It was a tedious task which the Gods could not accomplish alone, so they decided to take the help of demons. They played a trick on them and promised them their share of nectar if they made their contribution. The demons agreed and as a result of the exercise, they successfully excavated nectar out of the ocean.

When Gods attempted to run with the amrit, demons fought for it, which led to falling of some drops of nectar on Earth at four places, namely Allahabad, Ujjain, Nasik and Haridwar, where Kumbh fair takes place every year. Gods drank the nectar but its droplets are still considered to be present in these sacred places, one of it being the Triveni waters of Allahabad.

RITUALS:

The site where the Maha Kumbh takes place, once in fourteen years, is called the Triveni Sangam, which is the point of confluence of the three most sacred rivers of India namely Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The water is considered to have droplets of nectar that fell during the formation of Universe and it is a famous belief of the people that a bath in its waters can cure several diseases and can free humans from the cycle of birth and death. A scientific reason for the healing properties of the river waters in that during the time of Maha Kumbh, Triveni waters are positively charged by electromagnetic radiation of the Sun, Jupiter and Moon.

Apart from the most important ritual of the fair, the holy bath, devotees also engage themselves in singing devotional songs and participating in morning and evening artis. Feeding the priests, saints and the poor is also considered as a sacred exercise that purifies one's souls.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS:

Apart from the Kumbh and Maha Kumbh fairs that make Allahabad the holy place of attaining Moksha or Salvation, the city is dotted with some of the most important tourist attractions of Uttar Pradesh. Someshwar Temple, Hanuman Temple, Nagbasuki Temple and Patalpuri temple are the important Hindu temples located in the city. Allahabad Fort which dates back to the 16th century, is one of the best examples of Mughal forts. Anand Bhavan, with rich historical memoirs of the Nehru family and the Allahabad Museum with its archaeological jewels of the 3rd century AD can give the traveler an insight into the various layers of Indian history.

The most important dates are 14 Jan, 12 & 13 Feb, 15 Mar and 14 April 2010

Please read the important details - http://www.kumbh2010haridwar.gov.in/bathdates.htm

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RAMADAN (RAMZAAN)

Ramadan is a month long festival, celebrated by Muslims all over the world. It generally starts in the third week of August. The festival marks the auspicious time when the holy Muslim epic Quran, consisting of the tenets of Allah for his people, was revealed by Prophet Muhammad.

The five pillars of Islam, according to the holy Quran, ask the followers of Islam to believe in only one God Allah, to offer prayers five times a day, to fast during the month of Ramzaan called Roza, to pay annual tax called Zakat to be distributed to the poor and to go for pilgrimage to Mecca.

Being the third pillar of Islam, it is considered highly auspicious for the Muslims to pray to the Lord and observe fast during the festival of Ramzan, to show respect to Allah. It is the month when Muslims get into self introspection and resist their desires to devote themselves completely in the service of the Lord.

Celebrations of the festival include a thirty day fast broken in three parts, or Ashra. These are Rahmat or the mercy of God, Maghfirat or the forgiveness of God and Nijat which means salvation. Fasting starts with the dawn and is broken at dusk with family and friends. This meal is called Iftaar. Fasting not just includes resistance from food and water, but also need Muslims to abstain from greed, lust, gossips, backstabbing and sarcastic remarks that may hurt others. The auspicious festival requires purity of both thoughts as well as actions.

After the new moon is sighted on the thirtieth day, Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated to mark an end to the fasting month. The festival brings all family and friends together. People wear new clothes and enjoy lavish meals, enjoying some happy moments together. The festive meal generally includes a sweet milk preparation called sevai and non vegetarian dishes like korma and kababs. Children are given money by their elders, as blessings. It is called Eidi. Charity is important on this festival and food and clothes are donated to the poor. This is known as Zakat-al-Fitr.

On this festival, the mosques are filled with crowds of people, who visit the mosque to offer their prayers to the lord, called Namaaz. They cover their heads with white caps and their heads and generally wear white pathani kurta-pyjama. Ladies wear salwar-suits and normally wear a burqa to cover their faces. Women offer their prayers at home only.

Ramadan is falling on 21st of August, 2009.

-by Shikha Priyadarshini

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Teej festival in India

With the advent of monsoon, the season of vibrant festivals begins in India. Teej festival is one of the most popular festival of Northern India that falls in this season of incessant rains.

With the onset of monsoon, North-Indian people especially the ladies gets ready to celebrate the colorful Teej festival. It is one of the major feativals of Hindus and mainly celebrated in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pardesh and Bihar with utmost joy and gaiety.

Coming 24 and 25 July is the auspicious date for this year's Teej Festival. Every year in the month of Shravan, people celebrates this festival as the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga, who were united after a penance of 100 years. Due to this, Teej festival is also known as the Sawan festival.

The royal state of Rajasthan is the most important destination of India where Teej festival is celebrated with utmost joy and gaiety. Both married and unmarried women celebrates this festival with great enthusiasm. Married women keeping whole day fasting for the well being and prosperity of their husbands whereas unmarried girls keep fasting to get a suitable groom.

On this occasion, ladies dressed up in their new attire, sparkling jewelry and color their hands and feet with heena. Ladies worships the decorated idol of Goddess Parvati and sings traditional Teel songs on this occasion. Colorful swings which are hung on the branches of the trees and processions of embellished elephants are the attractions of the Teej festival.

Jaipur's Teej festival is completely different from the rest of the places of Rajasthan. Here, in Jaipur idol of Goddess Parvati is taken out in a royal procession, so that the common people have a look and pay their homage to the deity. Colorful bullock carts, elephants, chariots are also part of Jaipur's Teej festival.

So, try to visit Jaipur during monsoon season, so that you can enjoy these merrymaking moments and remember them for your entire life.

By Jolly Mazumdar

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Hemis Festival of Ladakh

Ladakh boast a beautiful landscape and an interesting culture. It is amongst the best places in India that should be explored. The state is famous for number of reasons and Hemis Festival is one of them.

Also known as the Hemis Gompa festival, it is held in the month of June-July. Marked as the birth of Guru Padmasambhava or Guru Rimpoche, Hemis Festival in India is a two day fest observed every year.

It is the most popular festival of Ladakh and is held in Hemis Monastery in India. The Hemis festival takes on an auspicious hue every 12 years in the Tibetan Year of the Monkey, when the two-storey high 'Thankga' depicting Padmasambhava is displayed. This famous Thankga, richly embroidered with pearls and semi-precious stones, on rich brightly colored silk, is due to be displayed next in AD 2016.

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Puri Rath Yatra in Orissa

The city of Puri is famous for its imposing, sprawling Jagannath temple. The grandest of festivals ever, The Rath Yathra is the visit of Lord Jagannath to his garden palace for the annual summer vacation. The deities at the temple of Puri also include Lord Jagannath’s (Lord Krishna) brother Lord Balarama and sister Subhadra. The three deities head for their garden palace (garden temple, located outside the town centre called Gundicha) right at the height of Indian summer in enormously huge chariots pulled by thousands of devotees. Thousands of reverent men and women throng to see, and to pull the grand chariots from one temple to the other. The English word "Jagannaut" comes from the giant chariots of Lord Jagannath of Puri. The British were so surprised and amused by the size of the chariots; they coined a word for it!

The royal street leading from the main temple to the garden temple is very wide so as to accommodate the three chariots. It’s a vista of temples, ashrams, mansions of old aristocracy and inns. During the Rath Yathra all the buildings are decorated with bright and colorful flags, buntings and awnings. The whole of Puri throng the streets to catch a glimpse of their lord who seldom comes out of his shrine.

The siblings retreat from the buzz and bustle of the city, temple servants and the preists to their Vrindavan-like garden. They even leave behind their spouses on their way to the leafy summer abode. The temple routine in the garden temple is much more relaxed than in the main temple. Various festivities are organized as part of the deities’ vacation (Depending on the lunar cycle, the length of this festival ranges between 1 to 2 weeks). The return of the lord Jagannath is prodded by his wife, Godess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), who travels by the night in a closed palanquin to the garden temple to entreat the lord to return. The goddess makes her journey a day before the festival concludes.

Date - 24th June 2009

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Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is the birth aniversart of the Lord Buddha. It is an important festivals for Buddhist followers. The days is celeberated as commemoration of all the preaching given by the Buddhist pilgrim. On this day, Buddhist followers enroll themselves in prayers, meditation and chants. Learned Buddhists give sermon about the Life of Gautam Buddha. The purnima generally falls on the full monn of the fourth lunar month (month of Vaisakh) - ie April or May.

This day commemorates three important events of Buddha's life

- His birth in 623 BC.
- His enlightment i.e. attainment of supreme wisdom, in 588 BC.
- His attainment of Nirvana i.e. the complete extinction of his self at the age of 80.

Buddha Purnima will fall on 9th May on Tuesday in year 2009

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