To experience the magic of Durga Puja 2023 in Kolkata ( Calcutta ), the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) has come up with attractive package tours to famous Kolkata Durga Puja Pandals in 2023 for both domestic and foreign tourists. Majority of the trips are on October 22, October 23 and October 24. There are also immersion trips by vessel on Ganga on October 24. Online reservation facility is also available at the official website of West Bengal Tourism. This West Bengal government initiative includes numerous tour packages with and without accommodation. There are one-day trips to various parts of Kolkata city, morning puja trips, evening puja trips, pre-puja trips, special Durga Puja trips to traditional Puja pandals outside Kolkata city and cruise rides on the river on the day of immersion of the Durga idols. For online booking you can visit the official website of West Bengal Tourism.

Seven Forms of Tandava performed by Shiva are: Kalika Tandavam – dance of creation Sandhya Tandavam – dance of preservation of cosmos Shankara Tandavam – dance of destruction Tripura Tandavam – dance of concealment Vurtha Tandavam or Anugraha Thandavam – the dance through which beings experience the world. The grace of Shiva with which He reveals to the self its true nature. Ananda Tandava – He carries out all the above said five functions – Nataraja Form Bhujangatirasam – Named after the serpent which Shiva wears. Another famous Tandava performed by Shiva is the Urdhva Tandava, when he competed with Goddess Parvati.

Sri Ram and Parshuram once met at Panchavadi during Sri Ram’s exile period. Sri Ram was watering plants in the forest when Parashuram arrived. During their talk, Sri Ram inquired what Parshuram was doing. Parashuram said that he was clearing the forests in the neighbouring region and building ashrams and villages. On hearing it, Sri Ram just smiled. The smile and eye contact conveyed a very important message to Parashuram. Parashuram then bid adieu to Sri Ram. While returning home, Parashuram met a few learned people. He told them that Sri Ram taught him a very important lesson today. The learned people wanted to know what the lesson was. He said that he cleared forests and built villages and ashrams. But Sri Ram was watering and nurturing plants in the forest. If people follow, my path there will be no forests in future. If there are no forests, there will be no people. The existence of human beings is directly related to the existence of forests. All people need

Coconut is an important offering in Goddess Shakti temples in North India . Unbroken coconut is offered in temples like Jwalamukhi and other important shrines. Symbolically offering coconut is equal to offering one’s own head. Legend has it that once there was an ardent devotee of Mother Goddess Shakti named Dhyanu Bhagat. He worshipped Mother Goddess Shakti in the Jwalamukhi form. He used to take pilgrims to the Jwalaji Temple in Himachal Pradesh. Dhyanu Bhagat lived during the period of Mughal emperor Akbar. Akbar who came to know about Dhyanu Bhagat's devotion summoned him to his court and enquired about nature of Goddess Jwalamukhi. Dhyanu Bhagat told him that She is the Mother of the universe and answers the prayers of Her devotees. To test the power of Goddess Jwalaji, Akbar cut the head of Dhyanu’s horse and asked him to have it put it back with blessings of Goddess. Dhyanu went to Jwalamukhi Temple and prayed a day and night. Goddess did not a

Lakshmi Narayana is one among the numerous names of Hindu God Vishnu. Goddess Lakshmi is the consort of Vishnu. The story of the divine couple is found in the Puranas and Epics. The name Lakshmi Narayana is of great significance. The reason why Lakshmi’s name is uttered first is that She is the Shakti of Vishnu. Vishnu sustains the world with the help of Goddess Lakshmi. Without Her He is not complete. Creation will not take place if Shakti is not present. Union is necessary for creation – not just of human beings but of all living beings including plants. What we call nature is the union of Vishnu and Lakshmi. Lakshmi Narayana was coined after the famous Samudra Manthan or churning of ocean episode . Goddess Lakshmi reappeared sitting on a thousand petal lotus and Vishnu made Her His consort. Vishnu then declared that Goddess Lakshmi’s name must be uttered first. Goddess Lakshmi resides on the chest of Vishnu and therefore he is known as Srinivasa . Shri is Go

Bajrang Bali means the strong one and is a popular name of Hanuman. Legend has it that Hanuman was given the title Bajrang Bali by Devas or Demi Gods. It is believed that the Gods blessed Hanuman with immeasurable strength. Why is Hanuman known as Bajrang Bali? Hanuman in his childhood reaches for the sun thinking it to be a fruit. Indra uses his thunderbolt to stop Hanuman. The thunderbolt strikes Hanuman on his cheek and child Hanuman falls on to earth. Vayu picks him up midair and goes into a cave. An angry Vayu avenges this attack on his son by removing air from earth. Soon all beings suffocate. Terrified, Devas approach Brahma who tells them the reason. Soon Devas and Brahma reach the cave. Brahma revives Hanuman. All the gods present their give Hanuman a boon each. Devas blessed him with unfathomable strength, which will never diminish and Agni blessed him that fire will not touch him. After attaining such powers, Hanuman was called Bajrang Bali by the

Damodarastakam is a popular prayer dedicated to Sri Krishna. The prayer is chanted on all days in Kartik month. It is also chanted on special occasions dedicated to Sri Krishna. This particular Damodarastakam prayer is in Hindi in pdf format. It contains the lyrics with meaning and explanation in Hindi. Link – Damodarastakam in Hindi Know more about Sri Krishna as Damodara Damodara or Damodar is one among the twelve important names of Lord Vishnu. Sri Krishna got the name Damodar when He as a child was tied to a grinding mortar by Yashoda, His foster mother at Vrindavan. Story of Sri Krishna moving the wooden grinding mortar ends when he pulls it through two trees that were standing close by in Vrindavan.  This he did to give moksha to Devas who were cursed by Sage Narada. Sri Damodara Ashtakam from the Padma Purana is chanted by devotees in the Kartik Month. Benefits of Chanting Damodara Ashtakam Moksha or liberation. Chanting it is a sign of unfathomable devot

Anandmurti Gurumaa (born on April 8, 1966) is a Hindu spiritual leader famous for her charismatic speaking and singing. Anandmurti Gurumaa Quotes are collected mostly from books, magazines, audios, videos and newspaper articles. Anger spices up tongue then tongue burns everyone with volley of its burning words to all those who comes in its vicinity. Widen up the window of your mind to see world in its expansive-ness. A small window means smaller view - hence lesser knowledge. Learn to enjoy your own company then you will never be lonely. Never keep closed mind. We don't know everything so keep doors to learning open. Don't ever think you are alone in every breath which goes in it is lords grace moving in. Enjoy each breath. All that you desire is right there within you, it is with you but you don't have that will to seek. The work of sages is not to give you knowledge; the work of mystics is to light that fire within, to inculcate a longing, a feeli

Hanuman Chalisa, composed by Goswami Tulsidas, is the most popular prayer (bhajans) dedicated to Hanuman. Below is the link to Hanuman Chalisa pdf in Hindi text. You can download it for free. It is uploaded into google documents. There is no authorization required for downloading. It is absolutely free. For easy download you need to be logged into gmail or any other google product. Link -  Hanuman Chalisa pdf Hanuman Chalisa is a hymn of forty verses that describes and praises the life, character, and exploits of Hanuman. In the Chalisa, we glorify the great beauty, strength and devotion that Hanuman embodies. The chalisa inspires each individual to attempt to garner the qualities of Hanuman.