Kalpathi Ratholsavam

Kalpathi (Kalpathy) Ratholsavam (Kalpathi Chariot Festival) is an annual Hindu Temple festival in the Kalpathi village of Palakkad district in Kerala state, south India. The festival is at the Sri Visalakshi Sametha Sri Viswanatha Swamy temple where the deities are Lord Siva (Lord Viswanatha) and his consort Visalakshi, another name for Parvati.

Mysore Dasara Festival

Dasara is also called Navarathri in different parts of India where nine days of worship and festivity ends on the tenth day “Vijaydashmi”. In Mysore, the festival is popularly known as Dasara Fair or Mysore Dasara and has been declared as ‘Naada Habba’ or the State festival of Karnataka.

 The festival is mainly celebrated to mark the victory of Good over evil as Mysore was the residential place of the demon Mahisasura, who was killed by the Goddess Chamundeshwari (Chamundi) on Vijayadashmi. Therefore the festival is celebrated every year with high festive spirits in honor of Goddess Chamundi.

Masa Durgashtami 2017 Dates

Durga Ashtami also known as ‘Maha Ashtami’ is an important Hindu ritual dedicated to Goddess Shakti. It is observed on the ‘ashtami’ (8th day) of the ‘Shukla Paksha’ (the bright fortnight of moon) of every lunar month. On this day the weapons of Goddess Durga are worshiped and the celebration is known as ‘Astra Puja’. This day is also popularly referred as ‘Virashtami’ owing to the display of arms and other forms of martial arts. Hindu devotees offer prayers to Goddess Durga and keep a strict fast to seek Her divine blessings. Durga Ashtami Vrat is observed with complete devotion in the northern and western regions of India. In Telangana, Durga Ashtami is celebrated as ‘Bathukamma Panduga’. Durga Ashtami Vrat is a significant observance for followers of Hinduism.

DASARA

Dussehra is a popular festival celebrated by Hindus all over India, albeit with different names. It is also known as Vijayadashmi ('Vijay' meaning 'victory' and 'Dashmi meaning 'tenth day), as it is believed that it was on this day that Lord Rama killed the demon-king, Ravana and rescued his abducted wife - Sita. In other words, it signifies the triumph of good over evil. 

108 Divyadesams

108 Divya Desams are Vishnu temples that are mentioned [Mangalasasanam - Praising the glory of the lord] in the works of the Alwars. Divya Desams means a divine place. Of the 108 temples, 105 are in India, one is in Nepal, and last two are outside the Earthly realms.The last two are Thiruparkadal and Paramapadam.Tiruparkaddal is the ocean of milk and paramapadam is the Srivaikuntam where lord Narayana presides. Only holy souls are blessed to worship these two divya desams after death and surrender under the lotus feet of Narayana.

Famous Mata Temples in India

There are innumerable temples throughout India, dedicated to Ma Durga, the true manifestation of the absolute energy that pervades the universe. These temples helps to promote and flourish the richness of the Hindu religion, culture, and philosophy. In addition, the various Durga temples provides an opportunity for the Hindu community to learn and display the many characteristics possessed by Ma Durga through participation in rituals, customs and various other activities, performed in the temples.

Bathukamma Festival

Bathukamma Festival is a unique, very important and largest festival celebrated for nine days by women of Telangana. This festival falls in September–October called Ashvin or Aswiyuja. Bathukamma is celebrated for nine days during Durga Navratri. It starts on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya.The festival is mainly observed by women and is dedicated to Goddess Bathkamma  who is an incarnation of Goddess Maha Gauri.

LIST OF IMPORTANT DAYS IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER(2015) IN TIRUMALA

October 1: Mahabharani
October 5: Madhyasthami
October 10: Shanitrayodasi
October 14: Commencement of Srivari Navarathri Brahmotsavams
October 18: Garuda Seva
October 19: Procession of Pushpaka Vimanam
October 21: Durgasthami, Mahanavami, Swarna Radharanga Dolotsavam
October 22: Vijayadasami, Conclusion of Srivari Navarathri Brahmotsavams with
Chakrasnana Mahotsavam
October 24: Vaishnava Madhwa Ekadasi
October 29: Chandrodayomavratam

Bhadrapada Ambaji Mela 2016

Bhadrapada Ambaji Mela is the name given to the annual fair organized at the revered Ambaji temple in Gujarat. Celebrated on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, the fair is a multicultural event which is thronged by people belonging to not only the Hindu community but to various other religions and sects. Millions of devotees from different parts of India converge at the Ambaji temple on this day to seek the blessings of goddess Ambaji.

IMPORTANCE OF ANKURARPANAM

Ankuararpanam essentially means “sowing the seed”. The essence of this ritual is to make a sankalpa to celebrate a utsavam( festival) and get the grace of the Lord. Sastras prescribe doing ankurarpana 9 days before the festival.

Sripuram Golden Temple

The golden temple of Sripuram is a spiritual park situated at the foot of a small range of green hills in a place known as "Malaikodi" in the city of Vellore in Tamil Nadu. The temple is at the southern end of the city of Vellore, at Tirumalaikodi. Thirumalaikodi is about 8 kms from Vellore.

Some Facts about Sripuram Golden Temple

• The ‘Sripuram’ temple of Mahalakshmi is made of tonnes of gold gleamed and glittered on 24 August 2007 under the rays of the sun when it was unveiled by Sri Narayanieetam for consecration who is an old godman of 31 years and known as Narayani Amma.

Triveni Ghat - Rishikesh

Triveni Ghat, a confluence of three holy significant Rivers the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswathi, is a most revered sacred bathing spot in Rishikesh and is situated on the banks of Ganges River. 

Lakshman Jhula - Rishikesh

Lakshman Jhula, the famous hanging bridge across Ganga, is about 3 km from the main township of Rishikesh. It is 450 feet long and is situated at a height of 70 feet from the river. As per mythological tales, once Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Rama, crossed river Ganga at the same site where the bridge now stands. At that time, there was only a suspension bridge, made of jute. After this incident, the bridge came to be known as ‘Lakshman Jhula’. With time, the jute bridge eroded and a new iron bridge was built along the same path in 1939. 

GOVIND DEVJI TEMPLE

The temple of Govind Dev Ji is one of the most sacred and famous tourist destinations in India. It is located in the City Palace complex, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The deity, Govind Dev Ji, is none other than Lord Shri Krishna himself. It is believed that the image in this temple looks exactly how Lord Krishna looked during his incarnation on earth. The idol was originally kept in the temple of Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh and was later brought to Jaipur by Raja Sawai Jai Singh, a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna.

GIRIJATMATA VINAYAK MANDIR

Girijatmaja Vinayaka Temple of Lenyadri in Maharashtra is the famous sixth Ganesh Temple to be visited on the Ashta Vinayaka Mandir Pilgrimage.This Temple is situated at the Lenyadri Mountain in a Buddhist Cave which is around 95 Kms from Pune. Lenyadri is in North of the Pune City on the banks of River Kukdi. The beauty and pollution free environment in this area does not go unnoticed to anyone who visits this Shrine.

JAGAN MOHINI KESHAVA SWAMI TEMPLE

Sri Jagan Mohini (Sri Maha Vishnu) temple is situated in East Godavari district (Atreyapuram Mandalam) of Andhrapradesh, India. This area is also called Kona Seema, a purely well irrigated area of Andhrapradesh due to many tributories of river Godavari.

SHRI SHARAVU MAHAGANAPATHI TEMPLE

Shri Sharavu Mahaganapati temple in the city of Mangalore which is well-known as a pilgrim centre.The temple is located in the heart of the city and easily accessible.It is one among the ancient temples of Dakshina Kannada District. The story of its origin and importance of the temple is narrated in the Skanda Purana. 

Vishram Ghat - Mathura

Vishram Ghat is a ghat, a bath and worship place, on the banks of river Yamuna in Mathura, India. It is the main ghat of Mathura and is central to other 25 Ghats. It is at Vishram Ghat that the traditional parikrama (circumambulation of all the important religious and cultural spots of the city) starts and ends.  Lord Krishna is said to have rested at this place after killing Kansa.

Pithori Amavasya

Pithori Amavasya is observed on the Amavas (No moon) day in the month of Bhadrapad (August - September) as per North Indian calendar. The corresponding month in other regions is the Shravan month.

Goddess Durga is worshipped on Pitori Amavasya . As per Marati Calendar, Pithori Amavasya, also celebrated as Pola, falls on Amavasya in the Sravan month.

Uses Of Turmeric In Hinduism

Turmeric is a spice that is widely used as a spice for cooking in Indian kitchen. It is one of the most basic Indian spices without which food cannot be cooked in Indian households. But turmeric is not just a culinary ingredient. Turmeric has many spiritual uses in India. These spiritual uses of turmeric extend to Hindu religious rituals.

TTD TO RELEASE INTERNET QUOTA OF SEVA TICKETS ON SEP.4

With an aim to enable global devotees to have Darshan of of Arjitha Seva of Lord Venkateswara, TTD is set to release 32,759 tickets on Internet on September 4 for the period of October 3 to November 15 will be available from 11 am onwards.

LIST OF RELIGIOUS EVENTS IN SEPTMEBER 2015 AT TIRUMALA

Every day is a festival in the abode of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. There is no exaggeration, that the Lord of Festivals enjoys about 450 festivals all round the year which includes monthly, annual, nakshatrotsavams etc. The month of September this year’s witnesses a series of religious events apart from the nine-day annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara.

TTD : VENUES OF KALYANOTSAVAMS IN SEPTEMBER 2015

With an aim to spread Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Cult in nook and corner of the country, the Sri Venkateswara Kalyanotsavam Project of TTD has been conducting Srivari Kalyanams at various places every month. The celestial marriage is scheduled in the following places in the month of September.

Lord Hayagriva Temples

·        Tiruvahindapuram Hayagriva Temple, near Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu

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    Tirumala Hayagriva temple on North Mada street of Balaji Temple, Tirumala, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh

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  Sri Lakshmi Hayagriva Temple, Tank Bund Road, Gandhi Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka

  

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   Sri Lakshmi Hayagriva Temple in Sri Ramakrishna Nagar, Muthialpet, Pondicherry

·       

   Chettypunyam Hayagriva Temple, near Chengalpattu,Tamil Nadu

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   Sri Lakshmi Hayagriva Temple, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

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  Sri Lakshmi Hayagriva Swami Temple, Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh

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   Sri Hayagreeva Swamy temple, Medipally Hyderabad, Telangana.

Most of the major Vishnu temples in Tamil Nadu have a separate shrine for Lord Hayagriva.

HINDU FESTIVAL CALENDAR 2016

Here is list of Festivals in 2016 :

January 2016

Date	Festival Name
05th January 2016 (Tuesday)	Saphala Ekadashi
15th January 2016 (Friday)	Uttarayana Sankranti , Pongal
20th January 2016 (Wednesday)	Pushya (Paush) Putrada Ekadashi
24th January 2016 (Sunday)	Pushya (Paush) Purnima
27th January 2016 (Wednesday)	Sankasta Chaturthi

Karthigai Deepam Dates 2017

Karthigai Deepam - the festival of lights that is celebrated throughout Tamil Nadu during the month of Karthigai (November-December).It is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in the State, perhaps even before people began celebrating Deepavali and Navarathri. Karthigai is basically a Tamil festival and is virtually unknown in most other parts of the country.Karthigai is essentially a festival of lamps. 

Masa Shivaratri 2016 Dates

The Shivaratri vrata is a very powerful and auspicious vratham that is dedicated to the Supreme Lord Shiva. The greatness of this vrata is mentioned in the all the major Hindu puranas. The Skandha Purana especially provides all the details and other information for observing the Shivaratri vrata. There are four main Shivaratris mentioned in the Skandha Purana.

Sankranti Calendar 2016

There are total twelve Sankranti in Hindu Calendar.Among them Makar Sankranti is celebrated throught out india.

Sankranti days are considered good for charity activities and all auspicious ceremonies are avoided on the day of Sankranti(s).

Purnima Dates 2016

According to the Hindu Calender Full moonday is called as purnima. Purnima is also spelled as pournami, punnami, Poornima. Poornima marks the end of a month and is considered a highly auspicious day by Hindus and some people in India even fast on Poornima. Many important rituals and festivals take place on Purnima. 

Amavasya 2016 Dates

The new moon day is called Amavasya (Amavasi) and is observed as a day of fasting in India.Since the Hindu calendar is organized according to the lunar month, Amavasya is the beginning of the new lunar month which last 29/30 days.

Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy Temple - Tirumala

Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy temple is located exactly to the opposite of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala. This ancient temple enjoys priority after Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy temple and Lord Sri Venakteswara Swamy temple. Every day, after offering naivedyam to these deities, it is brought to this temple.

Kanwar Yatra

Kanwar Yatra is an auspicious pilgrimage observed by the devotees of Lord Shiva annually.The people who are a part of this yatra are called as Kanvarias. This yatra takes place in the month of shravan (saavan) which falls in, July-August, in Hindu calendar.

Giri Pradakshina In Simhachalam Temple

Giri Pradakshina in Simhachalam temple is celebrated on Ashada Pournami i.e. on full moon day in Ashada Month.

It is considered that by doing Giri Pradikshina all the wishes of devotees will come true and their family will be blessed with peace. Special darshan of the temple at the hill top will be provided in the early hours os next day for those who complete the pradakshina. People from all parts of Andhra pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Orissa participate in the auspicious event.

The journey of Giri Pradakshina covers about 30 - 32 Kilometers.

2016 :

Giri Pradakshina begins on July 18th and concludes on 19th July.

Mata Chintapurni Temple

Mata Chintapurni Temple in Himachal Pradesh is dedicated to Mata Chintpurni.It is located in the Una district. The Chintpurni Shakti Peeth is dedicated to the temple of Chinnamastika Devi or Chinnamasta Devi. Chhinnamasta or Chinnamastika temple is one of the 7 major and 51 total Shakti Peethas.

TTD TO PERFORM VENKATESWARA VAIBHAVOTSAVAMS IN NELLORE FROM AUG 8-16

The temple administration of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is set to perform third phase one of its most popular spiritual programmes, Sri Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavams in Nellore from August 8-16. The officials have chosen A.C.Subba Reddy stadium to perform this nine day spiritual fete in Nellore city.

Do's and Dont's at Sri Raghavendra Swamy Temple

Some useful instructions and directions for devotees who are visiting Mantralayam

Govindaraja Swami Temple - Tirupati

Sri Govindarajaswami is the elder brother of Lord Balaji. His temple is the main landmark of Tirupati .It  is one of the most important temples in Tirupati.

There are two shrines and not one, as usual, in the centre of the innermost enclosure. These two shrines are enclosed by an outer wall. The shrine to the South is that of Krishna, popularly known as Parthasarathi, while the shrine to the North is that of Govindaraja.

Godavari Pushkaralu - Instructions

Devotees Must follow some instructions to make this Pushkaralu most memorable moments in your lives.

• Please follow Government Instructions
• Dont rush into crowded places
• Please Co-operate with other Devotees
• Kindly Co-operate with the Volunteers 
• There are many rumors spreading out, dont believe in that rumors.

Major Temples Celebrating Sakambari Festival

The major temples of Shakambari include Shakambari Temple in Sakarai, Rajasthan,Sakambhari Mata Temple same as in Sakarai Rajasthan now at Pakaur (jharkhand) 150 km from Kolkatta, Banashankari Amma Temple in Badami and in Bangalore, both in Karnataka state. There are many more temples to Shakambari in other parts of India, such as in Nagewadi, Maharashtra; near Satara; in Shakambari Devi near Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and in Sambhar in Rajasthan. According to a legend, the Sambhar Salt Lake was given to the people of that area some 2,500 years ago by the Goddess Shakambari. A small white temple in her honour stands under a rocky outcrop jutting into the lake. This temple is more than 200 years old.In some regions Maa Shakambari Devi is worshipped for nine festive nights with utmost devotion. In Vijayawada Kanaka Durga Temple, Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal Andhra Pradesh Shakambari Navratras are celebrated jubilantly. Ashada Navratri are celebrated as Guhya Navratri in Himachal Pradesh.

Sakambari Festival in Kanakadurga Temple - 2015

The Sakambari festival will take place in ashada month in Kanakadurga temple.It is observed from Ashada Shukla Paksha Trayodasi to Purnima.

During this days Goddess Durga is decorated with Green leaves and vegetables.in 2015 it begins on 29th July and concludes on 31st July.

Shakambari Festival at Bhadrakali Temple - 2015

Shakambari Navratri,  festive nights dedicated to Shakambari devi, is observed in Ashada masam at Bhadrakali Temple in Hanamkonda (Warangal), Telangana.

During this days,each day the godesses is decorated with Variety of fruits and vegetables.In 2015 this festival begins on 17th July and ends on 31st July.

TTD ISSUES LADDU TOKENS IN COMPARTMENTS

In a pro-pilgrim gesture, TTD on Monday, has introduced issuing of laddu tokens in the compartments itself for pilgrims who are waiting for their turn of darshan in VQC II.

This will enable the pilgrims to avoid long waiting hours to procure laddus after their darshan.

Adi Mulaikattu Urchavam in Madurai Meenakshi Temple

Adi Mulaikattu Urchavam is a popular festival celebrated during Aadi month in Madurai Meenakshi Temple and all other Shakti Amman Temples in Tamil Nadu. During this festival, women carry ‘mulaipari’ (pots of seedlings) and offer them to the Goddess and worship her for a good agricultural year. On the first day the seeds are sown and on the 10^th day the seedlings are immersed in nearby tanks or rivers.

Tirumala Tirupati Salakatla Brahmotsavam dates 2015

Tirumala Brahmotsavam is an annual festival at  Lord Venkateswara Temple celebrated for nine days in the months of September or October.

Swami Samarth (Akkalkot Maharaj) Teachings

Swami Samarth Maharaj  (also known as Akkalkot Swami Maharaj) of Akkalkot  was a Indian Guru of the Dattatreya tradition , widely respected in indian states of Maharashtra as well as in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. With Shripad Shri Vallabha and Narasimha Saraswati. His existence in physical form is dated in the nineteenth century AD.He is often accounted one of three successive reincarnations of Lord Dattatreya.

Other Places to visit at Bhadrachalam Temple

Parnashala :

This is supposed to be the exact spot where Rama, during his vanavasa in Dandakaranya, constructed a hermitage and spent his exile with his concert Sita and brother Laxmana. Agastya had selected this spot for Rama and is about 35KMs from Bhadrachalam.