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Showing posts from December 12, 2009


Pancha Ganapati Festival in December – Ganesh Puja in Hawaii

Pancha Ganapati is a five day festival observed in December month in Hawaii by the Kauai Ashram during the Christmas week. Pancha Ganapati festival is from December 21 to December 25. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, founder of Hinduism Today, started the festival. The festival is meant for children and is popular among the Kauai Ashram followers. A major highlight of the festival is that during the five-day puja, Lord Ganesha is dressed up in a different color on each day. Ganapati appears in golden yellow on December 21. On December 22 in Royal blue, on December 23 in ruby red, on December 24 in emerald green and December 25 in orange color. You can read about Pancha Ganapati Festival here at the official website of Hinduism Today .

Name of the Months in a Hindu Calendar

The Hindu calendar is based on the lunar and solar system. There are twelve lunar months in a year and begins with Chaitra (March - April). But as many of the calendars are based on the lunar system there will be a difference of 11 days in year from the Gregorian or English calendar. This difference of 11 days is solved by adding an extra month known as Adhik Mas to a Hindu Year after 32 months. There is an Adhik Mas in 2012 and it is known as Adhika Bhadrapada Maas . The Hindu months are Chaitra – (March – April) Vaishakh – (April – May) Jaishta – (May – June) Ashada – (June – July) Shravan – (July – August) Bhadrapad – (August – September) Ashwin – (September – October) Kartik – (October – November) Margasheersh – (November – December) Paush – (December – January) Magh – (January – February) Phalgun – (February – March)

Safala Ekadasi Vrat Katha – The story of Saphala Ekadashi

Safala Ekadasi falls during the waning phase of moon in December. It is observed during the Krishna paksha of Paush month in North India and the corresponding month in other regions is the Krishna Paksha of Margashirsh month. There is an interesting story regarding the glory of Saphala Ekadashi . This Safala Ekadasi Vrat Katha is read or listened by those observing the fast. Once there lived a very powerful and famous king named Mahishmata. He had four sons but the eldest son Lumpaka was arrogant and was indulged in all sort of bad activities including harming the citizens. The king was not ready to tolerate the behavior of his eldest son and exiled him. Lumpaka began to live in a forest on the outskirts of the kingdom and started robbing travelers. He used to sleep during the day time under a banyan tree where there was a small idol of Lord Vishnu but he never bothered to worship it. His meals consisted of raw meat and fruits. He lived like this for several years and