PATCHIAMMAH A/P DORAISAMY (M20142002035)

SACRAL TIMES AND RELIGIOUS TIMES

Sacral Times Of Hinduism

In general, Hindu festivals "are intended to purify, avert malicious influences, renew society, bridge
over critical moments, and stimulate or resuscitate the vital powers of nature.
1. Holi : Holi or Phagwah is a popular spring festival. Holi commemorates the slaying of the
demoness Holika by LordVishnu's devotee Prahlad.
2. Vasant Panchami : Vasant Panchami (also called Saraswati Puja by Bengalis and Odias)
is celebrated for the blessing of Saraswati,goddess of wisdom and the arts.
3. Thaipusam : Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. The
word Thaipusam is derived from the Tamil month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a
star near the location of the moon during the festival. The festival commemorates the
occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a spear so he could vanquish the evil
demon Soorapadman.
4. Maha Shivaratri : Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, during which followers of
Shiva observe religious fasting and the offering of Bael (Bilva) leaves to Shiva.
Mahashivaratri Festival or the The Night of Shiva is celebrated with devotion and religious
fervor in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity.
5. Navratri : Navratri is the Hindu festival of worship and dance. In Sanskrit the term literally
means "nine nights". During this festival the forms of Shakti are worshipped, and effigies are
burned.
6. Krishna Jayanthi : Birthday of Lord Krishna
7. Rama Navami : Rama Navami is the celebration of the birth of Rama. Rama Navami is the
day on which Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, incarnated in human form
in the land of Ayodhya. He is the ardha ansh of Vishnu or has half the divinitive qualities of
Lord Vishnu.
8. Mahalakshmi Vrata : Mahalakshmi Vrata is a puja performed by married Hindu women to
seek the blessings of Mahalakshmi, goddessof wealth and prosperity.
9. Guru Purnima : Guru Purnima is the day devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru. This
was also the day when Vyasa, author of the Mahabharata was born.
10. Ganesh Chaturthi : Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebrated as the arrival of Ganesh on the earth.
11. Vijayadashami : Vijayadhashami is the Hindu celebration of good over evil.
12. Skanda Sashti : SkandaSashti : is decided on lunar month during sixth day of Karthika
Masam (OctoberNovember). It is one of the most important festival dedicated to
 Lord Murugan the second son of Shiva. On this festival is celebrated the victory of Murugan
against the Asuras.

Religious Times
1) Diwali
Deepavali which means "row of lights/lamps" in kannada and telugu and Sanskrit is called
"Diwali" in North India, Deepa means lamp and in Hindi a lamp is mostly called a Diya or Di. The
festival is celebrated on the occasion ofLord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama killing a
demon Narakasura.
Another story says the festival is celebrated for the return of Rama and Sita to the
kingdom Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile.Rama is exiled to the forest for 14 years, his devoted
wife Sita and humble brother Laxman decide to join him, after 14 years the whole village know he
is returning so light lamps or 'divas' to guide him, his wife and brother home. So every year lamps
are lit to represent Rama finding his way back home after the harsh punishment of being sent to
exile in the forest.

2) Ponggal

Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festivals of southern India, mainly Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Pongal occurs in the middle of January every year and
marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan (sun's journey northwards). The Pongal festival lasts
for four days. Celebrations include a drawing of Kolam, swinging & the cooking of delicious Pongal.[2]