Hindu Blog

Hartalika Vrat is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and it is believed that those unmarried women who observe this fast will be blessed with good husbands and those married will have a happy married life. A strict fast by women (nirjala vrata) is the order of the day.
On the Hartalika Vrat day, the idol of Goddess Parvati is decorated with fresh clothes and a pandal (small puja house) is made from banana bark and leaves. Today, most people prefer to observe the vrat in their usual pooja rooms and do not bother to create a pandal. A Shivling made from clay is placed along with Goddess Parvati. Listening or reading stories of Goddess Parvati and Shiva is considered auspicious.
In the evening, special Aarti is performed on the idols. After the Aarti, relatives and friends join in traditional singing and dancing. Fresh fruits and vegetables are offered to Goddess Parvati. Some people make special delicacies from coconut.
Women dress up beautifully on the day by applying mehndi. Green is the m…

Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai is one of the most popular Ganesh Pandals in Mumbai during Ganeshotsav. Lalbaugcha Raja 2017 will be open to public from August 25, Friday. Several newspapers have released the latest photos. In 2017, the image of Lalbaugcha Raja is seated on a tortoise, the second Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Located at Lalbaug in Mumbai, the Ganesh idol erected here during Ganesh Chaturthi festival is popularly known as Lalbaugcha Raja. It is visited by millions of people during the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Lalbaugcha Raja 2017 rests a tortoise throne against the backdrop of a Gajraj Mahal.
The tortoise was chosen as it signifies longevity and is the next holiest animal after cow.

Chinchpokli-based Kambli Arts has been making the Lalbaughcha Raja idol since 1935.

Kevada Teej, also known as Kevda Trij, is a Hindu ritual observed mainly in Gujarat on the third day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Bhadravo in Gujarat. In 2017, the date of Kevda Teej is August 24. This observance is quite similar to the Hartalika Teej Vrat. Married and unmarried women observe a fast on the day and offer Kevada flower to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.

Married women observe the Kevda Trij Vrata for a prosperous and happy married life and for the wellbeing of their husbands. Unmarried women observe it for getting a good husband. Flowers of Kevda (Agave) are offered to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on the day.

Women also offer special prayers in Lord Shiva Temples. Some people opt for a complete fast others observe a partial fast on the day.

Kevada plant is popularly known as fragrant screw pine.

Thousands of Ganesh Pandals are put up in Mumbai during the Ganeshotsava festival (August 25, 2017 to September 5, 2017. Each Ganapati mandal tries to outsmart the other by bringing in fresh ideas to the pandals and in Ganesh idols during Ganesh Chaturthi 2017 in Mumbai. Lord Ganesha is represented differently in each pandal. It is impossible to say which one Sarvajanik Pandal is the best but there a few Vianayak pandals that get attraction due to history, devotion, simplicity, tradition, and innovative ideas. And there are also several wish fulfilling Ganeshas.
Here is a list of Ganapati pandals in Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi 2017 with photos of some. 
Please note that the list is not based on any criteria. Details of more mandals will be added.
Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal This is one of the most popular Ganesh Mandals in Mumbai and attracts nearly a million people during the 12-day celebrations and is also one of the rich Ganesh mandals in Mumbai. (For more detai…