Chitalagi Amavasya is observed in the Shraban or Shravan month in Odisha. Chitalagi Amavasya 2023 date is July 17. It is associated with the Jagannath worship in this eastern state of India . Amavasya (referred as no moon day or new moon day) is the darkest month in a Hindu lunar calendar is considered apt for performing pujas and rituals associated with the Dead. On the Chitalagi Amavasya day, a special ritual is held at Puri Jagannath temple. The forehead of the murti of Jagannath is adorned with a golden mark known as Chitta. A special delicacy known as Chitau Pitha is prepared on the day at homes.

Nagara Amavasya, or Nagar Amavasi, is the no moon day in the month of Ashada as per traditional calendar and Panchang followed in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Nagara Amavasya 2023 date is July 17. Please note that some people refer to Amavasi as the new moon day. The Amavasya day is associated with the Nag Panchami that will be observed five days later. Special pujas are offered on the day at Naga Temples (Snake). Preparation for Nag Panchami festival begins in many regions from the day. The worship of Naga (serpent) god has been widely prevalent in coastal Karnataka since time immemorial. The Hindus offer prayers at the Naga Kallu (murtis of Nagas) placed under peepal trees (Naga Bana - grooves dedicated to serpent worship). The Tulu speaking Hindu community of  widely observe Nagara Amavasya. On the day, the figures of Nagas are drawn using turmeric and rice powder. In some cases, it is drawn using charcoal.  Naga worship in this region is associated with Su

Thiruvanikavu Devi temple is located at Chirakkal Kurumpilavu on Kottam road in Thrissur district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali. The murti here is carved in wood – Dharu Vigraham. The darshanam of Kurumbilavu Thiruvanikavu Devi is towards west. The annual temple festival is held in Karthika nakshatra day in Kumbha Masam (February – March) and is famous as Kurumpilavu Thiruvanikkavu Karthika vela. The Aswathy Vela held two days earlier is also equally famous. This is small but powerful Bhagavathi temple with shrines of upa devatas, chuttambalam, and namaskara mandapam. Bhagavathi is worshipped in a chathura sreekovil. The upa devatas here include Shiva, Ganapathy and Sastha. The annual festival is famous for panchavadyam performance, ezhunnallathu of Devi and nine caparisoned elephants. Melam, Kerala performing art forms and other temple rituals held in Thrissur district are part of the annual festival. The temple also observes Ramayana Masam, Thiruvathira, Th

Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of each month is observed by Shiva devotees as Shivaratri. This falls a day or two before Amavasya or new moon day.  Shravan Shivratri 2023 date is July 15 as per traditional Hindi Calendar followed in North India.  The Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi day in Shravan or Sawan month is of great importance. Millions of people visit Shiva shrines on the day in North India and special Gangajal Abhishekam is performed.  The popular Mahashivratri is observed on Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi in February or March. Staunch Shiva devotees observe it on all months in a year and it is known as Masa Shivaratri. सावन शिवरात्रि पूजा विधि शिव पुराण में सावन शिवरात्रि का विशेष रूप से वर्णन किया गया है।   सावन शिवरात्रि पर सच्चे मन से शिवलिंग का गंगाजल से अभिषेक करके उनकी आराधना करता है, उसकी सभी इच्छाएं भोले शंकर पूरी करते हैं। सावन शिवरात्रि पर भगवान शिव को भांग ,धतूर, बेल पत्र और गंगाजल अर्पित करके उन्हें प्रसन्न किया जा सकता है।  सावन शिवरात्रि व्रत विधि  जो ल

Mullurkara Thiruvanikavu Temple is located at Mullurkara in Thrissur district, Kerala. The temple is Goddess Bhadrakali and darshanam of the deity is towards west. The murti worshipped here is carved out of wood. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy and Vazhalikkavu Bhagavathy. The 8-day annual festival in the temple begins on Bharani nakshatra in Kumbham month. Pavakoothu is held here for 7 days during the festival. As per history, the temple originally belonged to Manakottachan. Later it came under the control of Paliyattachan.

Uttararamacharita is a celebrated Sanskrit play by Bhavabhuti on the life of Rama after his return to Ayodhya. The play occupies a very high place in Sanskrit dramatic literature, and it is widely accepted as a masterpiece of Bhavabhuti. Uttararamacharita is based on the well known story of Uttara Kanda of the epic Ramayana, with certain changes introduced by the poet. The drama is divided into seven acts. Some main points in the development of the plot are as follows – banishment of Sita to sage Valmiki’s ashram, Rama’s visit to the Dandaka forest in connect with Sambuka’s austerities, Ashwamedha Yagna commenced by Rama in Ayodhya, birth of Lava and Kusa, and capture of the horse by them at the ashram of Valmiki, fight between Lava and Candraketu; arrival of Rama on the scene, which puts an end to the fight, and his formal introduction to his sons; declaration of Sita’s purity by Mother Earth, the divine Ganges and Arundhati; and finally the happy union of Rama and Sita. Uttara

Machattu Thiruvanikavu temple is located at Thekkumkara near Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district, Kerala. The temple is famous as Machattu Thiruvanikavu and the main deity worshipped in the temple is Goddess Bhadrakali. The annual five-day festival is held on the second Tuesday of February (Kumbha Masam). The festival is famous as Machad Mamangam. The highlight of Machad Kuthira Vela or Thiruvanikkavu Kuthira vela is the arrival of effigies of horses from five desams.  The festival begins with the parayeduppu.  Th e festival is organised by five desams in a competitive way. The decorated effigies of horses are taken out in a grand procession to the accompaniment of Chenda Melam. The festival is famous for Poothan, Thira, Andi and Nayadi. Tholpavakoothu is another highlight of the festival. അഞ്ചു ദിവസത്തെ ഉത്സവത്തിന്റെ അവസാന നാളിൽ ഗംഭീരമായി അലങ്കരിച്ച കുതിരക്കോലങ്ങൾ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിലേക്ക് എഴുന്നള്ളിക്കുന്നു. കുതിരവേലയുംചെണ്ടമേളവും കൂടിച്ചേരുമ്പോൾ മച്ചാട്ടുവേലയ്ക്ക് മാമാങ്കപ്പൊലിമ കിട്ടുന്നു. 

Thiruvanathu Sree Krishna temple is located at Ayyanthole in Thrissur district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Sri Krishna. The darshanam of Thiruvanathu Sree Krishna is towards west. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Shiva, Sastha and Ganapathy. As per history, the temple belonged to Kezhakiniyedathu Mana. This family revolted against the Kochi king by joining forces with the Samoothiri of Kozhikode. The properties of the family were forcibly taken by the Kochi king and as a result the temple was left to ruins without anyone to look after. Tipu Sultan looted and destroyed the temple. The ruins of the temple were located near the property of Appan Thampuran. When the murti of Sri Krishna worshipped in the temple was retrieved from a nearby pond, Appan Thampuran spent 30,000 rupees and performed the renovation and jeerondharana of the temple. He had hoped that the government would pay the amount to him back but this never happened.

Thiru Nayathode Siva Narayana temple is located at Nayathode (around 3 km south of Angamaly) in Ernakulam district, Kerala. Thiru Nayathode Siva Narayana temple festival 2023 date is January 14 to January 18. The 5-day annual festival begins on Makar Sankranti day. It is said that the temple used to earlier hold 10-day festival. For the temple festival in the same pit two different flag posts are erected. The vahana of Shiva is offered puja in the south and the vahana of Vishnu is offered puja in the north just before kodiyettam or flag hoisting. For the ezhunnallathu there is only one kolam but there are two thidambu. There is no Utsava Bali during the annual festival. The main murti in the temple is Shivling but the important pujas are offered to Vishnu. Both the deities face east. The Upa Devata in the temple is Ganapathy. The puja to Vishnu is performed in between the Shiva puja. Naivedya is prepared in two different vessels. Mula, Panchagavya and Navagam are prepared sep

Shikshapatri, originally written by Lord Swaminarayan, is read daily by the Swaminarayan devotees. Here is a collection of few teachings from Shikshapatri. Even the most learned of men will become morally declined if he is not involved in devotion to God and in good acquaintance. The killing of any animal such as a goat, etc., for the purpose of sacrificing to the Gods and Pitris, must not be practiced; because it is declared, that abstinence from injury to others is the highest of all duties. Narayana and Shiva should be equally regarded as manifestations of one and the same Universal Spirit, since both have been declared in the Vedas to be forms of Brahman. An unrighteous act that may have been committed by great persons in former times must not be imitated; but their virtuous conduct only is to be imitated. Whenever a wicked person abuses them or beats them they shall never abuse him nor beat him, in return, but shall pardon him and always wish good

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Wednesday, 11 August 2021 – It is Shukla Paksha Tritiya tithi or the third day during the waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Tritiya tithi or the third day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 5:00 PM on August 11. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Chaturthi tithi or the fourth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 3:33 PM on August 12. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on August 11, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Purva Phalguni or Pooram nakshatra till 10:42 AM on August 11. Then onward it is Uttara Phalguni or Uthiram nakshatra till 10:05 AM on August 12 . (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and