Gudi Padwa is the Hindu New Year in Marathi culture as per traditional lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra. Gudi Padwa 2019 date is April 6. It is observed mainly in Maharashtra, Goa and parts of Karnataka. As per traditional Marathi calendar, this New Year is the Vikari Nama Samvatsara and the Shri Shalivahan Shaka 1941 begins on the day. The first month in the Marathi calendar is Chaitra and Gudi Padwa is observed on Chaitra 1 or the first day of Chaitra. The most important event on the day is the hoisting of the Gudhi (victory flags) in front of the homes.


Vikari Nama Samvatsara begins from April 6.
Shalivahana Saka year - 1941 begins on April 6.
Ugadi (Kannada and Telugu New Year) will be observed on April 6, 2019.

Vikram Samvat 2076 begins in North India on the day. Why is Gudi Padwa Observed? There numerous reasons for observing Gudi Padwa - the most important legends are the defeat of Shakas by Shalivahan and some people observe it to commemorate the victories of Chatrapati …

Sahadeva is one of the Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata. He is the son of Queen Madri and is counted as the fifth of the Pandavas – Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. He was the wise man among the five Pandavas and he was the twin brother of Nakula. Here are some unknown facts about Sahadev.

He was the youngest of the Pandavas.

He had the special skill of knowing the past and future.

Before Yudhishthira became king of Indraprastha, a Rajasuya Yajna was conducted, Sahadeva travelled to the south of the country before the yajna and defeated Dantavakra associated with Jarasandha, Srenima, Vinda and Anuvinda, the brothers of Avanti and Nila of Mahishmati in the deepest south of Bharata Varsha.

He brought huge treasures from the South thus making the new kingdom, Indraprastha, rich. 
It is said that Vibheeshana of Ramayana was a chiranjeevi and he was still ruling Lanka when Sahadeva travelled to the south before Rajasuya Yajna. Sahadeva wanted to invite Vibheeshana for R…

The human personality is itself a ratha, which is on a yatra from beginningless time. The Katha Upanishad describes the ratha as comprise of the body, sense organs, mind, intellect and the soul. Ratha (chariot) symbolism in Hinduism is mainly found in the Upanishads.

The Atman is the master of the chariot, the body is the chariot, intelligence is the charioteer, diversified mind is the reins, sense organs are the horses and sense objects are the roads along which this chariot is driven.

But why should the ever perfect and ever free Atman have the need to go anywhere?

Lord Yama tells Nachiketa in Katha Upanishad that the journey is made by the Atman when it is conditioned by identification with the ratha. When so conditioned, the Atman is called jivatman.
Liberation from this conditioning is the goal of human life. And the journey towards liberation begins when the senses are restrained from traveling towards the sense objects, the mind is made one-pointed, and the intellect is turned…

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Friday, 29 March 2019 – Krishna Paksha Navami Tithi or the ninth day during the waning phase of moon inHindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the waning phase of moon till 1:10 AM on March 29. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Navami Tithi or the ninth day during the waning phase of moon till 2:31 AM on March 30. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.)All time based on India Standard Time.
Good – Auspicious time on March 29, 2019, as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time.
Nakshatra – Purva Shada or Pooradam Nakshatra till 2:45 PM on March 29. Then onward it is Uttarashada or Uthradam Nakshatra till 4:55 PM on March 30. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India.)
In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Purva Shada or Pooradam Nakshatra till 12:41 PM on March 29. Then onwa…

Punyahavachanam is a purification ceremony. It is performed on the eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth or sixteenth day after the birth of a child. It is also performed before an important event or after an untoward incident. It mainly involves sprinkling of purificatory water.  These are the following steps in Punyahavachanam:

Vighneswara Puja – Worshipping of Ganesha

Kalasha Puja – Worship of Kalash – worshiping the water in sacred pot which will be used for Punyahavachanam

Dhupa and Deepa – offering the incense and the light with wicks dipped in ghee. This is offered to the water in sacred pot.

The pot is then worshipped with flowers.

The pot is then worshipped with camphor
In the final step, water is sprinkled on the heads of the performer, people present and on all auxiliary objects.

There are many devotees who are mere fortune seekers. Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj talked about them in 12th century and it is highly relevant in the current situation.

He reaches the height of happiness when he gets the thing he likes and he sinks due to sorrow when he gets what he does not like. One who worries because of favorable and unfavorable circumstances, however highly intelligent he may be, is in reality an ignorant person. He is devoted to me (Vishnu) but that devotion is with a material objective in mind. He makes a show of my devotion but keeps his sights on pleasures. If he does not get them after being devoted to me, then he gives up the devotion saying that the talk of God etc. is all lies.

Like an ignorant peasant he sets up different deities and after failing with one he goes to the next.

He joins that Guru tradition where there is a great pomp and show, receives Guru-mantra from him and considers others as ordinary. He behaves cruelly with living creatures but showers…

Sheetala Mata Puja is performed on Krishna Paksha Ashtami day, the eight day during the waning phase of moon in Hindu lunar calendar. The most famous puja is performed on Chaitra Sheetala Ashtami. Here is a description of Sheetala Mata Puja Vidhi. Please note that you can perform the puja by using minimum items. When you do the Sitala Mata puja you can also skip some steps.


Sheetala Mata Puja Vidhi Items need for Sheetala Mata Puja A picture or murti (idol) of Goddess Sheetala Mata or a good stone (representing Goddess Sitala) and another small stone (representing Jvareshvara)Red clothUsual items for aartiFlowersKum kumWaterYoghurtWheatRed threadHennaFood prepared on the previous day. How to do or perform Sitala Mata Puja?The picture or murti (idol) of Goddess Sheetala Mata or a good stone and another stone is placed under a tree or in the puja room.The picture or stone or idol is then installed on a red clothKumkum is applied on the murti or stoneFlowers are then offered.Wheat is offer…

Chaitra Navratri, also known as Vasant Navratri, begins on April 6, 2019. This festival of nine nights in Hinduism is dedicated to Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. It is also known as Chaitra Navratri or Spring Navratri or Vasant Navratri. As this Navratri coincides with Ram Navami, it also referred as Ram Navratri. The dates are from April 6, 2019 to April 14, 2019.



Chaitra Navratri is observed in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March – April). It is believed that Goddess Durga was originally worshipped (Durga Puja) in the Chaitra month and was also referred as Basanti Puja. It was Lord Ram who changed the period of Durga Puja. Chaitra Navratri  2019 dates Ghatasthapana – Navratri Day 1 – April 6, 2019Sindhara Dooj, Dwitiya – April 7Gaur Teej, Saubhagya Teej, Tritiya -  April 8Varad Vinayak Chaturthi -  April 9Sri Laxmi Panchami Vrat, Naag Vrat Pujan -  April 10Skanda Shashti, Yamuna Jayanti -  April 11Maha Saptami Vrat, Chaiti Chhath, Vijaya Saptami - April 12Sri Durga Maha Ashtami,…

Some of us might have come across the 81 small squares on the ceiling of the mandapas of certain temples especially in South India – Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This vastu-defined formation is known as navapada.

The 81 squares have a different pattern.
This arrangement is considered highly beneficial as it attracts positive energy. Such Mandapas or halls are good for meditation.

Square plan is of great importance in Vastu Shastra.
There are 10 different types of square combinationsSakala (1 square) - Eka-pada (single divided site)Pechaka (4 squares) - Dwi-pada (two divided site)Pitha (9 squares) -  Tri-pada (three divided site)Mahaapitha (16 squares) -  Chatushpada (four divided site)Upapitha (25 squares) -  Pancha-pada (five divided site)Ugrapitha (36 squares) -  Shastha-pada (six divided site)Sthandila (49 squares) -  sapta-pada (seven divided site)Manduka/ Chandita (64 square) -  Ashtapada (eight divided site)Paramasaayika (81 squares) -  Nava-pada (nine divided site)Asana …

Budhwa Mangal is dedicated to Hanuman and is observed on Tuesday or Mangalwar in certain months as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. It is observed after Holi in Chaitra month (March 26, 2019) and on the last Tuesday in the Bhadrapad month. Budhwa Mangal 2019 date in Bhadrapad Month is September 10. (In some regions it is also observed during the Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapad month and this is on August 27, 2019.)

Note - Bada Mangal observed in certain parts of Uttar Pradesh in Jyeshta month (May - June) is also referred to as Budhwa Mangal.

Budhwa Mangal is also marked on April 2, 2019 in some regions as Vridh Angarak.
Budhwa Mangal Mantraॐ नमो हनुमतेरुद्रावतारायविश्वरूपायअमितविक्रमायप्रकटपराक्रमायमहाबलायसूर्यकोटिसमप्रभायरामदूतायस्वाहा। Om Namo Hanumate Rudravataraya Vishwaroopaya Amita Vikramaya Prakatparakramaya Mahabalaya Surya Koti Samprabhaya Ramadootaya Swaha.
Chant the mantra 108 times on Budhwa Mangal for peace and prosperity in life.

Budhwa Mangal After H…