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Showing posts from January 9, 2016


Engandiyur Ayiramkanni Bhagavathy Temple Annual Festival – Engandiyur Pooram

Engandiyur Ayiramkanni Bhagavathy Temple is located at the coastal village of Engandiyoor in Thrissur District and the shrine is around 24 km west of Thrissur town. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi. The annual pooram is held on Rohini nakshatra in Kumbham month.  The festival includes "varavu pooram", many poorams comes from different desham, and many variant traditional Kerala performing art forms meet at the temple compound and makes a very colorful visual.  In some years, nearly 32 elephants participate in the festival along with various types of melam including panchavadyam. Unique rituals are observed during the weeklong festival. A fair too is part of the festival.  Traditional performing arts, music, songs and other cultural activities are held during the period. Caparisoned elephants, colorful processions and fireworks are other highlights. The festival ends with arattu on the final day. This is a traditional Kerala style temple with a chuttambalam

Manmath Swami Janmotsav at Galdev in Jaoli or Jawali in Maharashtra

Manmath Swami Janmotsav at Galdev Village in Jaoli or Jawali in Maharashtra is observed in Magh month. It is the Jayanti or birth anniversary of Manmath Swami, a great saint of the Lingayat sect of Shaivism. Manmath Swami Janmotsav at Galdav is on February 2, 2025. He wrote numerous books and described the Abhanjas and Ashtanga Acharan for common people. Manmath Swami Yatra is annually observed on Magh Shukla Paksha Panchami Tithi or the fifth day of the waxing phase of moon in Magh month.

Bhogi Festival and Pollution

Bhogi is the first day of Pongal celebration in Tamil Nadu and the first day of Sankranti celebration in Andhra Pradesh . One of the most important events on the day is the burning of dirt and rubbish accumulated over a period of time. Earlier the event was limited to farm waste but nowadays people burn plastic, rubber, tyres and non-degradable material causing environmental pollution. Thanks to the campaigns conducted by State governments and NGOs, there is awareness among public regarding the pollution caused by tyres and plastics. There are also court orders against burning of plastics and tyres and the Environment Protection Act, 1986, Section 15, specifies penal action for persons who cause air pollution. In spite of all these efforts, there are people who still burn plastic and tyres. The Bhogi bonfires increase particulate matter in air and cause several diseases. There is also a low visibility level on Bhogi day due to the smog. Burning tyres emit dangerous

Nishnai Devi Yatra at Pangare in Pune, Maharashtra

Nishnai Devi Yatra is observed in Magh month. The annual fair and festival at Nishnai Devi Temple at Pangare, Pune, Maharashtra attracts hundreds of devotees. Nishnai Devi Yatra 2025 date is February 2. Pangare village is located around 42 km from Pune and around 17 km from Jejuri. It is considered highly meritorious to take blessings of the deity on the day. The annual ritual attracts thousands of devotees. The shrine is decorated with lamps, lights and flowers. Nishnai Devi Yatra is held annually on Magh Shukla Paksha Chaturthi Tithi or the fourth day during the waxing phase of moon in Magh month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra.

Vaduj Ganesh Jayanti Utsav – Ganesh Jayanti Festival at Vaduj Ganpati Temple

Vaduj Ganesh Jayanti Utsav – is annually observed in Magh month. This is an important fair and festival at the Ganpati Temple in Vaduj in Satara District. The temple festival is observed on Ganesh Jayanti day. Vaduj Ganesh Jayanti Utsav 2025 date is February 1. Hundreds of people participate in the annual yatra. The shrine is traditionally decorated during the period with leaves and lights. Vaduj is located in Ratnagiri District. The shrine is located around 54 km from Satara town.

Makar Sankranti Puja Time in 2024 – Auspicious Time to take bath, prepare Khichdi and to do Pujas

Makar Sankranti is an auspicious day in Hinduism based on the movement of the Sun (Surya). On the day, Sun or Surya enters the Capricorn or Makar Rashi. As per Hindu tradition, in 2024 the best time to do puja is from 7:17 AM to 9:14 AM January 15, 2024. Please note that Holy bath will be performed on the morning during sunrise. People will be taking bath and will be preparing Khichdi on the morning of January 15. Please note that most people do not follow time for Makar Sankranti and they perform holy bath and ritual on the morning during sunrise on January 15. The transition – Surya enters the Capricorn or Makar Rashi at around 2:55 AM  on January 15, 2024. The time varies from region to region. As sun has set on the day, Sankranti is observed on January 15. Makar Sankranti is also known as Uttarayana Punyakalam or the entry of sun into the Northern Hemisphere.