Dhanu Yatra is one of the biggest open air theater festivals in the world and is held in the Pushya month (December – January) at Bargarh District in Odisha. Dhanu Yatra 2023 - 2024 will be held from January 16, 2024 to January 25, 2024. The theatrical performance is based on the stories of Lord Krishna – for the performance Bargarh and nearby places are transformed into Mathura and other places in Lord Krishna stories. Dhanu Yatra is a 11-day festival and it chronicles the birth of Krishna and his childhood Leelas, visiting Mathura and the killing of Kansa. Bargarh is converted to Mathura and Ambapalli village on the outskirts of the town is the Gopapura (Lord Krishna’s village) and the river Jira which flows in between is river Yamuna. This drama is hosted in 14 open air theaters. Time - When - Where is Dhanu Yatra Held? It is observed from Paush Shukla Paksha Sashti to Paush Purnima as per Oriya Calendar (mostly during the last week of December or first fortnight of Ja

Swargavathil Ekadasi, or Vaikunta Ekadashi, observed in the Dhanu Masam as per Malayalam Calendar followed in Kerala is of great importance at the famous Nelluvaya Dhanwanthari Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Dhanvantari – the Hindu god of medicine and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Swargavathil Ekadasi 2023 festival date at Nelluvai Dhanwanthari Temple is December 23, 2023. The Shuddhi Karma for Nelluvai Ekadasi starts from Ashtami Tithi (December 20, 2023). Navakam, Panchagavya and Sree Bhootha Bali are performed on this special occasion. There will be Vilakkezhunnallippu and Udayasthamana Pooja as well. These Vazhipaadu are offered by devotees. Pakalpooram is observed on the Ekadashi Day. The Ezhunnallippu from the Sreekovil will have only the Kolam; one maala will be adorned on it and there will be no Thidambu. After completing the Melam in Pakalpooram in the western entrance, Nadakkal Para is offered by devotees as a special Vazhipadu. Ezhunnallunnu is per

Motherhood, or woman’s power of creation, is considered holy in Hinduism. To the Hindu, God reveals Himself in the form of Mother. Devi Mahatmya states that all women are aspect of the Supreme Goddess. Women are looked upon in the Hindu tradition as the embodiments of Shakti, the primordial energy of the universe at the root of all existence. In Hinduism, marriage is the means of uniting two beings. It is stepping stone to self realization through the fulfillment of natural tasks. The Hindu wife practices self purification through fasts, prayers and penances etc, before conceiving a baby. The conjugal union marks “the greatest prayer between man and wife, the prayer that is going to bring into the world another jiva (being) fraught with a tremendous power for good or evil” (The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda VIII 61). The Hindu eugenics tradition prescribes the couple’s performing certain religious rites in order to beget babies of merit. In her role as mother a woman not

Demoness Ajamukhi was the daughter of Sage Kashyapa and Surasai. She assisted her brother Surapadman who was responsible for conquering all the worlds and annihilating Dharma in the universe. Muruga or Kartikeya appeared to defeat Demon Surapadman. There is an interesting story regarding the birth of Demoness Ajamukhi. Asurendra, the king of demons, was worried about the increasing strength of Devas or demigods. He approached his guru Shukracharya for a solution. As part of his plan, Shukracharya blessed Surasai, daughter of Asurendra with the power of Maya and asked her to bring out her magical powers to defeat Devas. Shukracharya asked Surasai to seduce Sage Kashyapa who was in deep penance on the Mount Meru. He asked her to get powerful offspring from the great sage. Shukracharya knew that the sons born from the union of Sage Kashyapa and an Asura woman will have greater powers than the Devas. Surasai took the form of a heavenly maiden and disturbed the penance of Sage Kashy

In the Hollywood movie Avatar, it is not just the term ‘Avatar’ that is associated with Hinduism. The core concept of Hinduism is that all animate and inanimate are the result of a single energy source, which is Brahman or God. All the plants, animals, human beings rise and fall in this single energy source. This formless and indefinable is given form by humans and worshipped as God. One of the important themes of Avatar is based on this core concept of Hinduism which was taught first time more than 5000 years ago. In the movie, the Na'vis are able to physically connect to animals and plants. And they believe that they are just a part of the whole which includes all animate and inanimate present on their planet Pandora. This concept is explained beautifully and there is a magical scene in which the Tree is connected to the human body and this body is connected to all the Na’vis through holding their hands each other. Another striking aspect is the use of the color blue. Hindu

Bali Theyyam is a theyyam widely performed during the annual thira theyyam kaliyattam festival at kavu, tharavadu and temples in Kannur district, Kerala. As per information, this theyyam is based on Bali or Vali from the Ramayana. As per Bali theyyam story, he arrived in the region along with Vishwakarma. He is the main deity worshipped by Vishwakarma community (carpenter) in Kannur region. ഭൂമി കുലുങ്ങുമാറ് പിറവികൊണ്ട ബാലകനാണ് ബാലി . പുണ്യതീർത്ഥമായ വടുവക്കോട്ടയിൽ കുളികുറിതേവാരം കഴിച്ച് ബാലി വന്നുചേർന്നപ്പോൾ അവിടെ ഭക്തോത്തമനായ മണ്ണുമ്മൽ പ്രധാനിയായിരുന്ന വിശ്വകർമാവിനെ കണ്ടുമുണ്ടി .  വിശ്വകർമാവിന്റെ കെട്ടും ചുറ്റും കുറിയും നെറിയും അടുക്കും ആചാരവും കണ്ട് കയ്യൊഴിച്ച്കൂടാ എന്ന് കരുതി ബാലി അദ്ദേഹത്തിനൊപ്പം എരമം മണ്ണുമ്മൽ സ്ഥാനത്തേക്ക് ശേഷിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു .  പിന്നീട് മോറാഴ , കുറുന്താഴ , വടക്കൻ കൊവ്വൽ എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിൽ പീഠം നേടി വിശ്വകർമജരുടെ കുലദൈവമായി ഒരുവിളിക്കൊമ്പത്തു കൂറ്റുകാട്ടി ക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ രക്ഷകനായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു . ആശാരിമാരുടെ കുലദൈവമായ ബാലി കെട്

Dreaming of peacock feather is a good omen as per dream meaning and interpretation. The dream means you will see change of luck and there will be happiness. It also means showing spiritual interest and getting involved in new things. It also means you will decide to undertake pilgrimage or visit to natural surroundings faraway from city and buildings. Dreams of peacock feather and you are seen buying it means you will encourage people who are doing bad things. It also means you buying something without thinking. Dream of peacock feather and you are unhappy in the dream means you will witness someone hurting something you love. It also means helplessness. Dreaming of peacock feather and you see peacocks in the dream means you will find excitement in something. It also means witnessing something that you rarely get to see. Dreams of peacock feather and you are picking them up means you will travel to distant places. It also means being with people you love.

Dreaming of people fighting is a warning sign as per dream meaning and interpretation. The dream means you will witness something untoward. It also means things getting delayed due to activities of other people. It also means you will be forced to go to police or authorities to explain about something you have witnessed. Dreams of people fighting and you are not seen in the dream means something bad will happen in a place associated with you especially when you are away. Dreams of people fighting and you are seen trying to stop it means you will have to play the role of mediator between neighbors or friends. It also means an old problem returning back to haunt you. Dream of people fighting and you do not know these people means you will be late for work or important meeting in near future. It is a warning sign and you need to start a bit early to avoid being late.

Sri Shankara explains arjava as simplicity (saralata) or the absence of crookedness. True simplicity entails tallying one’s words with one’s thought. Simplicity thus goes much deeper than our dress or habits. Perfect alignment in thought, word and deed constitute true simplicity. Sant Dnyaneshwar elaborates on arjava a little more. In his celebrated commentary on the Gita, called Jnaneshwari, he gives the following meanings for arjava: Favouring all equally without likes or dislikes: As a corollary, this amounts to loving all equally. Not making any distinction of ‘mine’ or ‘of others’: Lack of simplicity arises primarily from selfishness and a feeling of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ that characterize human life. How can we get rid of our ‘I’ and ‘mine’? Certainly it is not easy to give up this sense of ‘unripe ego’ all of a sudden. An upright mental attitude: According to Jnaneshwar, an upright person does not bear grudge against anyone. His mental attitude is straight like the sweep of the

Dreaming of crashing is a bad omen as per dream meaning and interpretation. The dream means you can expect trouble in life in near future. It also means you will face sudden financial problems or you will be unable to do anything when a tragedy hits your life. Dreams of crashing means in near future you will not know what to do about something. Dreaming of crashing and you are crying means bad luck and unhappiness. You need to be careful about all your actions. Do not indulge in any kind of selfish actions. Dream of crashing and blood all over mean you will face relationship problems. There will be also sudden change of health. It also means you acting harshly or without thinking and it resulting in serious injury. Dreams of crashing and you see vehicles means there will be accidents. There will death or diseases to you or a family member. Dreaming of crashing and you do not see any help means you will be abandoned to suffer or those you thought will help you will ignore you.

Dreaming about a computer is both good and bad omen as per dream meaning and interpretation. The dream means you will do research and will work long hours sitting. It also means getting occupied with something that is interesting or challenging. It also means you will have to dig up something from the past or use an old machine to get important information. Dreams of computer and you are not seen in the dream means in your absence important data will be stolen. It also means theft or getting blackmailed. Dream of computer and you are seen angry or irritated means something that is part of your daily routine will get damaged or will stop functioning all together. Dreams of computer and you are happy in the dream means success or financial gains. It also means travel and happiness. Dreaming of computer and you are seen breaking it or in violent mood means fight with colleagues. It also means anger causing delusion and causing serious damage to your career and reputation.

Dreaming of peanut butter is a good omen as per dream meaning and interpretation. The dream means you will go on tough treks or walks or bicycle rides in near future. It also means showing interest in exercise and body building. It is also a sign that you will try out a new diet. Dreams of peanut butter also mean you will get into a sticky problem and it will give you some tough times. Dream of peanut butter and you are trying to hide it from someone means you will be forced to drop your current diet. It also means you will be diagnosed with lifestyle diseases. Dreaming of peanut butter and you are seen sharing it with others means get together or picnic or going on trips that involve physical exertion. Dreams of peanut butter and you are getting covered with it means problems that will cause embarrassment. It also means you will do something bad and leave a trail.

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Tuesday, 3 January 2023 – It is Shukla Paksha Dwadashi tithi or the twelfth day during waxing or light phase of moon   in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Dwadashi tithi or the twelfth day during waxing or light phase of moon till 10:48 PM on January 3. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Trayodashi tithi or the thirteenth day during waxing or light phase of moon till 11:50 PM on January 4. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.)  Good – Auspicious time on January 3, 2023 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time after 4:25 PM.  Nakshatra  – Krittika or Karthigai or Karthika nakshatra till 5:48 PM on January 3. Then onward it is Rohini nakshatra till 7:17 PM on January 4. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Krittika or Ka