All you need to know about Holi:- 

Firstly, HAPPY HOLI!!!

Holi is an ancient Hindu festival, it is also known as 'Festival of Love' or 'Festival of Colour'. It signifies the triumph of Good over evil. Every year as Mahashivratri, Holi is also celebrated on different dates.

In 2021, it's on 28th March (Holika Dahan) and on 29th March (when people play with colors all over the country).

Holi is a very auspicious and special festival among the Hindus as it brings positivity, love, and happiness. This auspicious festival is also celebrated as a vote of thanks for a good harvest. 

Now the main question is why is it so an auspicious occasion among the Hindus? What is the back story? 

First let me give you some valuable information about Holi, 

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in Phalgun. (Phalgun: it is a month in Hindu calendar featured as March- February) 

It represents the arrival of spring and victory of good and overcoming of evil by the truth, honesty, sincerity, and love. 

Now on to the question: Why is it celebrated? 

Like every other festival in India, Festival Holi also possesses various stories...

One of them is:- 

Holi is always celebrated on 2 different days if you have ever noticed... The first day we do Puja and the second day we play with colors, now why do we celebrate it like this? 

1st day, The story of Holika Dahan (28th March 2021):-

There was a very powerful but cruel king Hiranyakashipu,

(full info: Hiranyakashipu was an Asura and king of the daityas from the Puranic scriptures of Hinduism. translation of his name is "clothed in gold", and is depicting one who is fond of wealth. He went to the Himalayas and performed penance for many years. Lord Brahma was pleased by him and asked him for a boon, he asked that he could not be killed by human or animal, from inside or outside, by day or by night, and from no weapon.)  

He always wanted everyone in his Kingdom to worship him as a God, everyone did as he said because they were scared of him in the sense he would kill them. But his son, Prahlada was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and hence denied worshiping his father. He was very disappointed and angry by Prahlada's attitude of not worshipping him. King Hiranyakashipu had already tried to kill his son numerous times because of the reason that he doesn't worship him but he never succeed and failed his every attempt. 

King Hiranyakashipu had a demoness sister named Holika, she was as evil as the king was. Holika possessed a special power that she will not get affected by the fire. They came up with the idea that Holika will take Prahlada and sit in fire. But due to her evil and unforgiving intention the opposite happened, her power didn't come to escape and was ineffective this time and she was burnt to ashes. But on the other hand, Prahlada gained immunity and hence, he was saved from the fire and nothing happened to him. 

Angered by all his deeds, Lord Vishnu appeared as a half-man-half-lion (Narshimha) to kill Hiranyakashipu. He killed Hiranyakashipu on his lap at the threshold of his palace at dusk, because he cannot be killed inside or outside so threshold, he cannot be killed at night or day so at dusk and he cannot be killed by a human or Animal so, he appeared as a half-man-half human: Narshimha! 

Hence, it signifies that good will always overcome the bad and evil! 

2nd day, the story of Radha Krishna (29th March 2021):- 

In the region where the lord Krishna grew up -Braj (it is Uttar Pradesh) 

It is the devotional love of Lord Krishna and Radha. 

Lord Krishna had blue coloured skin because once a demon attempted to kill baby Krishna by giving him poisoned milk. Because of which Lord Krishna turned blue. But Lorr Krishna did not die and the demon was shriveled up into ashes.

When he becomes young or bigger he would often think and felt bad about darker skin than others he would be concerned about if Radha and other girls will like him as he was dark-skinned and she had fair skin and he was jealous, Lord Krishna's mother asked him to go and color Radha any color he wants to. So, when lord Krishna applied color to her face and made her one like himself.

He applied color on Radha and other gopis using water jets called pichkaris, it gained a lot of acceptance and popularity. So much that it evolved as a tradition and later, a festival. Lovers apply color on their beloved's faces and express their affection for each other.

(Extra: why do you say Radhakrishnan and not Krishnaradha?

- Lord Krishna gave Radha a boon according to which Radha's name will appear before Lord Krishna's name.) 

Lastly, how is Holi is celebrated? 

The most Indian state has their way of celebrating Holi. 

The celebration begins with a Holika bonfire on the night before Holi (Holika Dahan). People gather, sing, and dance around the bonfire and pray for the safety of their loved ones. The next day of Holi begins early in the morning, people play with colors, chase, and color each other with dry powder and colored water, with water guns and colored water-filled balloons for their water fight. This celebration is accompanied by songs and dance in a colorful and joyful atmosphere.

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                                         -जय श्री कृष्णा

All you need to know about the Hindu festival: Mahashivaratri! 

" Universe bow to LORD SHIVA, 

       I bow to LORD SHIVA!" 

Mahashivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva. The festival is not only celebrated in India and Nepal, but also in parts of the West Indies which have over 400 Hindu temples across the country.

 Mahashivratri is celebrated on a different day each year! So on 2021, Mahashivratri is on 11th March. 

Shiv: lord of destruction- Shiva 

Ratri: night 

• Many people believe that Mahashivratri is celebrated because of the grand wedding of Lord Shiva (God of Destruction, Meditation, Yoga, Time and Dance; The Destroyer of Evil; Parabrahma, Supreme Being Shaivism) and goddess Parvati (goddess of fertility, love, beauty, harmony, marriage, children, and devotion; as well as of divine strength and power.)
• Few believe that Lord Shiva drank the poison (halahala/kaalakoota) to save the world. Goddess Parvati was shocked and she gripped lord Shiva's neck to stop him from swallowing the poison. That's is why lord Shiva neck is blue (hence, he is called Neelkanth)
• However, according to some this auspicious day is celebrated as Lord Shiva performed 'Tandava' the dance of primal creation, devastation, and protection. 

It has something to do with the astronomical phase of the planet. Everything that happens in the solar system on Mahashivratri, happens to you in some or another way. On this day, there is an upsurge or multiplication of energy.

• There are 12 Shivratri in a year but Mahashivratri is the most promising and important out of all. 

This auspicious festival of Mahashivratri falls on the 14th night of the new moon during Krishna paksha in the Hindu calendar's month Phalgun. (February-march of English calendar) 

Celebration: 

1. All the devotees keep a fast through day and night and also visit Shiva temples by wearing fresh clothes and they open their fast by taking Prasad offered to the deity. 
2.  Devotees also perform ritual baths of Shiva lingam with milk, water, and honey. The Shiva lingam is also decorated with fresh flowers and worshippers apply Haldi- kumkum on the Shiva lingam. 
3. Aarti and devotional songs take place at the temples.
4. It is also advised to worship the 'Rudraksha' as it removes all the negative energies. 
5. Devotees chant 'OM NAMAH SHIVAY' along with different names. 
6. Devotees also participate in the Rudrabhishek Puja on Mahashivratri to wash their sins out and welcome peace and happiness in their lives. (Lord Shiva is also known by the name of Rudra - that represents his fiercest form. The Rudrabhishek refers to the ritual bath of the Shiva Lingam. It is one of the most substantial and prominent and traditional ceremonies to please Lord Shiva and is seen as the incredible and greatest spiritual puja in all the Vedic scriptures.)

It is believed that the one who keeps fast can neglect and restrain the feeling of annoyance, desires, and jealousy or grudge and continue a Happy Life! 

People also stay awake on this auspicious day because this is the sacred night of the year and we can overcome grief, darkness, and ignorance, and insensibility!

• Main do's in Mahashivratri:- 

1. Spent time listening to devotional songs and aartis of Lord Shiva

2. Stay awake and worship Lord Shiva! 

3. Visit Shiva temple. 

4. Keep fast 

Main don't in Mahashivratri:- 

1. Don't just try to kill the time during Shivratri by watching movies or wasting time playing games. Abstain from any kind of indulgence. You should dedicate this precious and invaluable time only to cherish the Lord with full emphasis and devotion.

4. Never resort to falsehood and quarrels on this day. Do not eat non-vegetarian food. Refrain from consuming alcohol and any other kind of addictive stuff.

5. Do not sleep, and think of the Creator! 

                                             -ॐ नमः शिवाय

 Women's day special: a day in the life of women!

Happy Women's day!

International women's day is celebrated on 8th March every year. This day is  celebrated culturally, politically, economically, socially for a women

Women are the best and one of the most precious and valuable gifts given by God! We need to realise the worth. 

Because HERSTORY IS ALSO IMPORTANT AS THE HISTORY IS! 

Women have a rich record of efforts for gender equality. 

There are many challenges a woman faces every day, it is seriously not easy for a woman. 

Lists of struggle woman face every day:-

1. Managing housework:- 

Women have to suffer a lot, they manage all the housework alone like cleaning the house, cooking, buying stuff for the house and their children, managing and taking care of their children and looking after the child's studies, exercise, and lastly self-care. It is indeed difficult for one person to handle all of this alone! 

2. Workplace discrimination:- 

Women are also going through racism and exploitation at the workplace and many other fields which are heartbreaking! 

Equal pay for the same work is a human right but still, this is one of the battles of our country's women, this also leads to monetary dependence and can also increase the risk of deprivation of wealth in later existence or being! 

3. Not getting sound sleep:- 

As I already notified you that women have a lot to do at residence, they have a long schedule and long list of work to complete, which is really tiresome, after all of this they don't have any energy left, our body on an average need sleep for 8 hours but women don't get sleep! 

4. Lack of appreciation and respect for taking care:- 

As you all understand that women take care of everything at home, still they are not appreciated and adored for the hard work! Raising children, taking care of them, making them independent, and taking care of their academics. Do you think that it is manageable effortlessly and handily? We must always recognise that women's work is proportional and comparable with men's work! Both need a lot of effort, emphasis, and hard work! 

5. Education:- 

Education is a big matter in a life of a woman, many people don't bother for a girl child to be educated and nurtured. 7% of women are most concerned about education! 

• woman are at forefront of the battle against covid-19 pandemic also, all of them are risking their life and not being selfish at all! 

women actually play a key role at a lot of places. 

This time do something special for the women around you: make them happy, tell them their worth, love them the way they are! 

I hope you like my blog, and once again happy women's day! comment down below about how you like that (~BP ㅋㅋ) 

       -NAVISTHA