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What is a Griha Pravesh Puja? ‘Griha Pravesh’ or ‘Grihapravesham’ is a housewarming ceremony performed on an auspicious day by Hindus, before entering a new house for the first time. The name is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Griha’ which means ‘house’ and ‘Pravesh’ which means ‘entry’. A Griha Pravesh Puja is performed not just by the owner, but also by all the members of family, to welcome the blessings of the divine power. This puja is believed to purify the environment of the house, and ward off negative energies. The auspicious day and a ‘shubh muhurat’ (an auspicious time),...

What is Diwali and why is it celebrated? Diwali, also known as Deepavali is one of the major religious festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Newar Buddhists across the world. The word ‘Diwali’ is derived from the words ‘deepa’ which means ‘lamp’ and ‘avali’ which means ‘row’. Thus, the name represents all the clay lamps which are lighted in a row during Diwali, outside homes, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, and good over evil. Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom – Ayodhya, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, after 14...

Karwa Chauth ‘Karwa Chauth’ is also known as ‘Karak Chaturthi’, where the word ‘karwa’ means ‘pot’ through which water offering (‘argha’) is given to the moon. It is a one-day festival celebrated among Hindu women of India in the month of ‘Karthika’, on the fourth day of ‘Purnima’. On this day, married women especially in North India, observe fast from sunrise to moonrise for their husbands. In Andhra Pradesh, this day is celebrated as ‘’Atla Tadde’’.  This festival is more popular in the Indian states of Delhi, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra....

Dussehra Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain also known as Vijayadashami, is a major Hindu festival which is observed on the tenth day of Ashvin in the Hindu calendar, which usually falls in the months of September and October. In the northern, north-eastern, and southern parts of India, this festival is known as Vijayadashami and celebrates Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. While in western and central parts of India, it is called as Dussehra and celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana. This festival also starts preparations for another festival, called Diwali which is usually celebrated twenty days after...

Durga Ashtami The eighth day of Durga Puja celebrations is known as ‘Durga Ashtami’ or ‘Maha Ashtami’ and considered as one of the most auspicious days of the year, according to Hinduism.  In the Hindu calendar, Durga Ashtami falls on the Ashtami tithi of the Aswina month. This day is celebrated with great enthusiasm where devotees observe fast and worship the 64 Yoginis and Ashta Shakti (Eight Shaktis of Goddess Durga) during the Durga Puja rituals. The idols of Goddess Durga are installed across India while huge Durga Puja pandals are set up for people to worship and seek the...