Brahmotsavam Festival - It Is Celebrated Nine Days At Tirumala

BRAHMOTSAVAM FESTIVAL

AT

TIRUMALA

Source:templedetails

Srivari Brahmotsavam is an annual festival celebrated at Tirumala Tirupati Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati city of Andhra Pradesh, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, known as ‘Lord Venkateswara’,also named as ‘Lord Balaji’ as the chief presiding deity. Srivari Brahmotsavam is celebrated annually with great grand manner during the months of September – October for nine days in Tirumala.It was said that Lord Brahma, the God of creation, was the origin of this Brahmotsavam (Brahma’s Utsavam).

Lord Brahma was believed to be worshipped Lord Sri Venkateswara on the banks of sacred temple tank (Pushkarani) of Tirumala and thanked Him for the protection of humankind. And hence for this reason, this festival holds the name of Lord Brahma and is considered as a sacred purifying ceremony to honor Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma was revered in Sri Venkateswara Sahasranama stotram, one of the Hindu religious scripture which emphasize the importance of Lord Vishnu.

Lord Brahma was honored by the activity of carried on a small empty chariot called “Brahma Ratham”, which will be processioned twice in a day during the Brahmotsavam festival of Tirumala. During the ‘Brahmotsavams’ of Tirumala Venkateswara temple, Lakhs of devotees visits the temple to get the blessings of Lord Sri Balaji. And the fulfillment and josh experience experienced by the devotees is termed as ‘Vaikunth Anubhav’.

This festival is celebrated during the Sun is transiting in Kanyaa (Virgo) raasi in the zodiac, that generally coincides with Navarathri festival of Aaswayuja maasam (Telugu Month) as per Lunar calendar. Annual festival at Tirumala known as Saalakatla Brahmotsavam or Vaarshika Brahmotsavam will be held (after transit of Sun into Kanyaa raasi) for nine days with the 9th day coinciding with Sravana Nakshathra. Sravana Nakshathra is parameter for conclusion of Brahmotsavam.

Once in every three years when an extra month (Adhika Masa) comes according to Panchanga,Two Brahmotsavams will be performed. One in the month of Nija Bhadrapada (Telugu Month) and the other in the month of Aswayuja (Telugu Month) [during September and October respectively]. In normal course Srivari Brahmotsavam is performed in the month of Aswayuja only. Thus the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara temple celebrates Brahmotsavam twice in a year depending on the occurrence of Adhika masa.

Adhika masa is an additional month in the Hindu Lunar calendar and exists once in three years.This is taken into consideration only by the calendars that follows Lunar based calculations. Whenever, the year contains Adhika masa, Tirumala celebrates both the Brahmotsavams, Salakatla Brahmotsavam festival and Navaratri Brahmotsavam festival. Otherwise, the Tirumala temple celebrates only the Navaratri Brahmotsavam festival in a grand manner. The two Brahmotsavam festivals of Tirumala Sri Venkateswara temple are named as ‘Srivari Salakatla Brahmotsavam’ and ‘Srivari Navaratri Brahmotsavam’.

Date	Morning	Night
02-10-2016 [Sunday]	ANKURAARPANAM	--
03-10-2016 [Monday]	DHWAJAROHANAM	PEDDA SESHA VAHANAM
04-10-2016 [Tuesday]	CHINNA SESHA VAHANAM	HAMSA VAHANAM
05-10-2016[Wednesday]	SIMHA VAHANAM	MUTHYAPU PANDIRI
06-10-2016 [Thursday]	KALPA VRIKSHA VAHANAM	SARWA BHOOPALA VAHANAM
07-10-2016 [Friday]	PALLAKI UTSAVAM[MOHINI AVATARAM]	GARUDA VAHANAM
08-10-2016 [Saturday]	HANUMANTHA VAHANAM,SWARNA RATHAM	GAJA VAHANAM
09-10-2016 [Sunday]	SURYA PRABHA VAHANAM	CHANDRA PRABHA VAHANAM
10-10-2016 [Monday]	RATHOTSAVAM	ASWA VAHANAM
11-10-2016 [Tuesday]	PALLAKI UTSAVAM	CHAKRASNANAM DHWAJA AVAROHANAM(CHAKRASNANAM)

By Air

Hyderabad Airport is the nearest airport. There are daily flight services operated from the major cities of India to Hyderabad.

By Train

Tirupathi is a major junction in South Central Railways. Indian Railways [1] operates direct trains from nearby metro cities – Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and other major Railway stations to Tirupathi. Trains can be boarded at nearby cities – Renigunta

By Road

National Highway NH 205 passes through Renigunta and hence is accessible from Chennai (4-6hrs), Bangalore (6½+ hours), and Hyderabad (10-12 hours) and other nearby cities.

Behdienkhlam Festival - A Type Of Football Is Playing With A Wooden Ball In This Festival Days

BEHDIENKHLAM FESTIVAL

AT

MEGHALAYA

Source: flicker

Most popular festival of the Jaintia tribe, Behdienkhlam is celebrated in the month of July for good health, property and bumper harvest. Although Behdienkhlam is celebrated all over the Jaintia hills, the main spectacle happens in the town of Jowai, about 64 km away from Shillong. The ceremony and ritual was carried out for three days and on the last day, in the afternoon people gathered in a place called Aitnar and both young and old danced to the tunes of the pipes and drums.

The dancers are highly emotional when tall-decorated structures called rots and a wooden post-called khnongs were brought into the pool. As part of the celebration, a game similar to football called dat la wakor was held between the residents of the northern side of Jowai and the southern side each team trying to score a goal with a wooden ball. The one to score first is the winner and it is also believed that the winner would have a bumper harvest.

The non-Christian 'Pnar' people who believe either in the traditional faith of 'Niamtre' or Hinduism observe this festival. According to folktales, Jowai town was once covered by thick forest, without any human habitation. It was home of five deities, four stones and a river nymph. The four huge stones can still be seen at the four corners of Jowai town. 

The five deities wished that god would send humans to settle in this region, and thus a wandering Mongolian tribe arrived in this forest. To celebrate the presence of humans, 'U-Mokhai' the eldest of the deities began a ceremonial dance. Upon seeing the thunder and noise from the dance, the tribes got scared and began to flee. U-Mokhai then stopped and addressed them that they are safe and are meant to inhabit this forest. 

The festival begins with sacrificing pig to 'Knia Pyrthat' (Thunder) followed by the 'Wasan' (Priest) ringing the brass bell along the main road of the town to the point where the forest begins. Rounded, polished and tall trunks of tree are felled in the sacred forest and are left in the woods for couple of days. The trunks are then brought to the town with great fanfare, dancing and singing. On the fourth day, the youth of the town led by the priest visit each and every home, climb to the roof and beat it with a bamboo stick to chase away any evil spirits. 

The people also display their artistic skills by erecting 'rots' (tall bamboo structures decorated with colour paper and tinsel). The rots are then carried to the 'Aitnar site', where women and men gather. The rots arrive and the polished, rounded logs are thrown into the river. The dancing men rush and try to balance themselves on the rolling and slippery logs. At the end, 'Dad-Lawakor', a type of football is played with a wooden ball.

Njangattiri Aanayoottu - A Special Feast To Elephents In Kerala

NJANGATTIRI AANAYOOTTU

AT

PALAKKAD

Festival Date - 21-7-2017

Venue - Njangattiri Bhagavathi Temple

Location - Pattambi

District - Palakkad

Elephants are usually seen decorated and paraded around during temple festivals in Kerala. However, during this elephant feeding ritual, they remain unadorned. The elephants are taken inside the temple premises and given a delicious feast of sugarcane leaves, coconut, jaggery and other local produce by people who come to worship them. The ritual aims to please Lord Ganesha, for the removal of obstacles and fulfillment of wishes.

A grand ceremony wherein a special feast is prepared for the elephants, the Njangattiri Aanayoottu ritual is held in the Njangattiri Bhagavathi Temple at Pattambi in the Palakkad district. In the Aanayoottu (Aanayoottu meaning feeding of elephants) ceremony, the elephants are fed specially medicated food. The ceremony is based on the principles of Ayurveda which consider the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam as a month of rejuvenation. Accordingly, this Ayurvedic tradition of rejuvenation is extended towards Elephants as well.

During this festival, the elephants are lined up in a row in the temple premises and are offered delicious and healthy food.  The special feast of elephants is prepared by following ayurvedic principles. Being a sacred animal, feeding elephants is also considered auspicious according to Hindu mythology and culture. Scores of people throng the temple premises to feed the elephants. 

Nearest railway station: Shoranur, about 18 km

Nearest airport: Coimbatore International Airport (Tamil Nadu), about 55 km from Palakkad

Teej Festivals 2017 - Women Of All State Seek The Blessings Of Marital Happiness

TEEJ FESTIVALS

IN 

INDIA

Teej is one of the most sacred Hindu festivals observed in India. It is observed in different parts of the country by the womenfolk to seek blessings for their husband’s long life. Teej honours the devotion of Ma Parvati who underwent penance for years to become the consort of Shiva. Women seek her blessings for a happy married life and unmarried girls fast to attain an exemplary husband like Shiva.

There are three types of Teej celebrated in India. These are Haryali Teej, Hartalika Teej and Kajri Teej. The Hariyali Teejalso known as ‘Chhoti Teej ’held in the Shravana. This is followed by Kajari Teej also called ‘Badi Teej’, held after fifteen days of Hariyali Teej. The third type of Teej, Haritalika Teej falls in the ‘Bhado’ month and is held almost a month after Haryali Teej. Though customs may differ from state to state, the unifying factor is that women of all state seek the blessings of marital happiness and long life of their husband.

Haryali Teej Festival date 27-7-2017

Hariyali Teej is a fasting festival for Hindu women (married or unmarried), celebrated for marital bliss and the wellbeing of their husbands. Hariyali teej is the 3rd day of the first fortnight in the Hindu month Shravan. It is a celebration of the new look of the earth after a very hot and dry summer. On this occasion women worship Goddess Parvati and they fast for the long life of their husband. It is believed that Devi Parvati underwent great penance and prayed continuously so that after 108 births and rebirths Lord Shiva accepted her as his wife.

Kajari Teej also known as Badi Teej is celebrated on the third day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. Kajri Teej gets its name from the blackish hue of clouds that signal the onset of rains. Kajri Teej is celebrated in Madhya Pradesh and in Uttar Pradesh, especially Mirzapur and Varanasi.

Hartalika Teej takes its name from the name ‘Hartalika’ by which Ma Parvati is known. The festival coincides with the first fortnight of the Bhadrapad month. It is native to the Northern and western parts of India and is celebrated in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and is some parts of Maharashtra.

Women gather in a place to install the idol of Ma Parvati and offer flowers, fruits, sweets, ‘sindoor’ or vermillion. On or two persons read out the Teej Vrat Katha. Unmarried girls also devotedly listen to the Katha. In some places, after the ‘puja’ women follow the custom of bathing themselves with mud around the Datiwan plant to be rid of their bad karma. A very important ritual is to light an oil lamp that is supposed to be lit uninterruptedly through the night.

Some women do ‘vrata’ or fast by consuming only fruits and some do ‘nirjala’ vrata without a drop of water and also refrain from sleep. During Kajri Teej, women gather around the holy neem tree and pay obeisance to the neem plant.

Women apply ‘mehendi’ (floral patterns made with henna paste) on their hands and feet, wear beautiful sarees with matching bangles and ornaments on this day. Usually, green is the more favoured colour especially during ‘Hariyali Teej’. Those observing Teej get cosmetic items and jewellery for ‘Shringara’ by their parents. Women offer decorated coconut to their relatives. They visit their maternal home and seek the blessings of the elderly and enjoy a get together with family members.

Teej dance imitates the beautiful dance of the peacock during the rains. Women take turns while singing in swings bedecked with flowers. Songs that are paeans to the monsoon season and marital happiness, and others that are reminiscent of lovers’ woes of separation are sung, especially during Kajri Teej.

One of the main attractions of Kajari Teej of Bundi in Rajasthan is the procession wherein the Teej Goddess is taken through the city. The procession starts from Naval Sagar in an ornamented palanquin. Cultural folk music and dance performances are held in Bundi, Rajasthan.

A variety of regional traditional sweet dishes are made such as ‘ghevar’, ‘kheerpuri’, ‘nariyalladdoo’, ‘badamkahalwa’, ‘sheera’, ‘gujiya’ and ‘kajukatli’ are prepared during Teej, as family members and groups of married women get together.

Champakkulam Boat Race - Snake Boats Ripping The Calm Water For A Grand Visual Spectacle

CHAMPAKKULAM BOAT RACE

AT

ALAPPUZHA

The Champakkulam Boat Race starts off the season of boat races and unleashes a visual splendour as the snake boats slice through the calm waters accompanied by the rhythmic chant of boat songs in the Alappuzha District Of Kerala State of India.

Kerala is one of the best kept secrets of India. A culture in which the heritage of the land is proudly preserved in the hearths and hearts of all the people of the land, a study into the culture of Kerala is a fascinating tale of natural beauty coupled with an ancient heritage. Perhaps no other aspect of the heritage of Kerala exhibits it as much as do the various festivals in Kerala, notable among which is the Champakkulam Boat Race.

The Champakkulam Boat Race is all set to begin on June 26, this year. The festival, which is one of the most-awaited events in the calendar of Kerala, has an origin which dates back to centuries in time. This spectacular snake boat race is held on the River Pampa on the day of the 'moolam', which is followed in accordance to the Malayalam month of Midhunam. The day is considered to be especially sacred as it is the day when the Deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple was installed.

The Champakulam Boat Race is held in accordance to a legend which is strongly adhered to by the people of Kerala. According to the legend, the king of Chempakasseri in Devanarayana, under the influence of instructions, provided to him by the royal priest erected a temple in his kingdom. However, just before the installation, he was informed that the idol was not auspicious. 

To make amends, the king brought the idol of Sree Krishna from the Karikulam temple in Kurichi, which legend claimed was handed over to Arjuna by Lord Krishna himself. It was during this journey that the king made a stop over at Champakulam. The next morning saw thousands of boats assembled at the site in a riot of colors in order to honor the sacred event and to escort the idol home

The banks of the Pampa River gets swarmed by people from far and near, cheering and egging on the oarsmen to a resounding finish. These snake boats ripping through the serene waters and propelled by hundreds of oarsmen splashing and beating their oars about in the waters in unison makes for a grand visual spectacle. Boats such as chundan (snake boat), veppu, iruttu kuthi, churulan and others from nearby regions line up to participate in this spectacular water sport. 

It is this scene which is enacted in this part of the world every year and which is known as the Champakkulam Boat Race.

Nearest Railway Station is Thrissur and it is about 25km.

Nearest Airport is Cochin International Airport and it is about 78km.

Perumthitta Theyyam Festival Is Commonly Lasts For Ten Days Spreading Across December - january

PERUMTHITTA THARAVAD FESTIVAL

AT

KASARAGOD

Perumthitta Tharavad is a popular festival that is being celebrated in Kottamkuzhy, Kasaragod District of Kerala near Chandrapuram. This is an annual festival which attracts a large crowd from all over the country. 

This is rated as one among the most popular festivals of the state, Perumthitta Theyyam festival is one of the oldest ritual art forms of Kerala where most of the Theyyam forms are on display and is really a grand affair. The pomp and grandeur of the Theyyams are charming and is helping to keep the ancient tradition alive this.

This is a ten-day Theyyam festival held at Perumithitta Tharavad Kottamkuzhy. This festival is a grand affair which showcases an array of Theyyams where the colorful ritual dance of Kerala which is recognized as one of the oldest folk art forms of India. 

Theyyam dance is not a single dance form rather a collection of about 400 dance forms each representing a mythological, historical character. During the festival,

Theyyam varieties like Elayor Theyyam, Chamundi Theyyam, Panchoorla Theyyam and Muthor Theyyam are presented. The festival includes dance, mime, music, and enshrines the rudiments of ancient tribal cultures. 

This is adhered with great importance to the worship of heroes and ancestral spirits. This week long festival is being held in the premises of Perumthitta Tharawad at Kottamkuzhy every year.

This is a well recognized form of Theyyam festivals which is being held around the time of New Year’s Eve. It is observed that the tentative date is from December to January. 

The festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam Calendar in Kerala. The dates of some traditional, customary and auspicious events are also influenced by local practices. Falling under this category, the dates of the Perumthitta Tharavad festival are approximate which needs to be confirmed with the local authorities.

The event is a stage for a variety of Theyyams like Elayoor Theyyam, Chamundi Theyyam, Panchoorla Theyyam and Muthor Theyyam to name a few. The performer dons the role of heroes and ancestral spirits. The Theyyam as such is a visual treat that arouses awe. Witnessing such an array of Theyyams together makes for an experience worth a lifetime.

By Air

The nearest airport is Mangalore airport which is located in the neighbouring state, Karnataka and is about 50 kilometers from Kasaragod

By Rail

The nearest railway station is Kasaragod which is at about 26 kilometers.

By Road

One can reach Perumthitta through the route: Bekal – Palakunnu – Mudiyakkal – Chandrapuram - Perumthitta.

Start date: 06-12-2016
End date: 15-12-2016