utsava and observance

8/20/2019 Utsava and Observance

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Utsava and observance

Uthsava or Utsava or Utsav is derived from theSanskrit word,Utsava . The Sanskrit wordUtsava comes from the word "ut" meaning "removal" and "sava" which means "worldlysorrows" or "grief".[1]

A festival may be observed with acts of worshi , offerings to deities, fasting, feasting, vigil,rituals, fairs, charity, celebrations,!u a, #oma, aarti etc. They celebrate individual andcommunity life of #indus without distinction of

Observance periods (tithi)

$n the#indu calendar dates are usually rescribed according to the lunar calendar . $nvedictimekee ing, a tithi is alunar day..

MythologyThe festivals ty ically celebrate events from #indu mythology, often coinciding with seasonalchanges. There are many festivals which are rimarily celebrated by s ecific sects or in certainregions of the$ndian subcontinent.

List and descriptions of major

Major Hindu Festivals Photo Hindu tithi of observance escriptions

%akar Sankranti or !ongal

Thai

!ongal in&olombo

%akar Sankranti or !ongal marks

the transition of the Sun into%akarrasi. $t marks the gradualincrease of the duration of the day.

!ongal is the first day of'ttarayana and coincides with the beginning of theTamil month ofThai.

!ongal is one of the most o ular harvest

festivals of southern $ndia, mainly Andhra!radesh,Tamil (adu and )arnataka. !ongaloccurs in the middle of *anuary every year andmarks the aus icious beginning of 'ttarayan+sun s ourney northwards-. The !ongal festivallasts for four days. &elebrations include adrawing of )olam, swinging the cooking ofdelicious !ongal.[/]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homa_(ritual)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aartihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aartihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_timekeepinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_timekeepinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_timekeepinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makar_Sankrantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pongalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makar_Sankrantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pongalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C4%81%C5%9Bihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttarayanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_monthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-Pongalfestival.Org-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thai_Pongal_at_Sivan_8.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homa_(ritual)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aartihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_timekeepinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_timekeepinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makar_Sankrantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pongalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makar_Sankrantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pongalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C4%81%C5%9Bihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttarayanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_monthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-Pongalfestival.Org-2


2/23

This day coincides with %akara Sankranti.

0asant!anchami

oddessSaraswati in)olkata

2ifth day of the wa3ing moon of

%agh +#indu &alendar -

Vasant Panchami +also calledSaraswati Puja by4engalis and 5riyas- is celebrated for the

blessing of Saraswati, goddess of wisdom andthe arts.[6]

Thai usam or )avadi

%urugan duringThai usam

The full moon day of theTamil month of Thai

Thaipusam is a #indu festival celebrated mostly by theTamil community. The word Thai usam is derived fromthe Tamil month name Thai and !usam, which refers toa star near the location of the moon during the festival.The festival commemorates the occasion when !arvatigave %urugan a s ear so he could van7uish the evildemon Soora adman.

Kavadi Attam +Tamil8 - is a dance erformed by the devotees during the ceremonial

worshi of %urugan, theTamil od of 9ar .[:]

$t is often erformed during the festival ofThai usam andem hasises debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a hysical burden through which the devotees im lore for helfrom the od %urugan.[;]

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3/23

%ahaShivaratri

A statue ofShivameditating

Thirteenth night of thewaning moon of%agh +#indu &alendar -

Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, duringwhichfollowers of Shiva observe religiousfasting andthe offering of4ael +4ilva- leaves to Shiva.%ahashivaratri 2estival or the ord Shiva, one of the deities of #indu Trinity.Shivaratri falls on the moonless 1:th night of the newmoon in the #indu month of !halgun, whichcorres onds to the month of 2ebruary ? %arch in@nglish &alendar. &elebrating the festival of Shivaratri

devotees observe day and night fast and erform ritualworshi of Shiva >ingam to a ease >ord Shiva. Tomark the Shivratri festival, devotees wake u early andtake a ritual bath, referably in river anga. Afterwearing fresh new clothes devotees visit the nearestShiva tem le to give ritual bath to the Shiva >ingumwith milk, honey, water etc. 5n Shivaratri, worshi of>ord Shiva continues all through the day and night.@very three hours riests erform ritual oo a ofShivalingam by bathing it with milk, yoghurt, honey,ghee, sugar and water amidst the chanting of 5m

(amah Shivaya= and ringing of tem le bells. (ightlong vigil or aagran is also observed in Shivatem les where large number of devotees s end thenight singing hymns and devotional songs in raise of>ord Shiva. $t is only on the following morning thatdevotee break their fast by artaking rasad offered tothe deity.[B]

#oli

#oli in!ushkar,Ca asthan

2ull moon of the!halgun month +#indu &alendar -

Holi or Phagwah is a o ular s ringfestival. #oli commemorates theslaying of the demoness #olika by>ord 0ishnus devotee!rahlad. Thus,the festival s name is derived from theSanskrit words "#olika Dahanam",

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaghahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaivismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalgunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prahladhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prahladhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Holi_celebrations,_Pushkar,_Rajasthan.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bangalore_Shiva.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaghahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaivismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalgunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prahlad


4/23

which literally mean "#olika s slaying"

Cang!anchami

At many laces in$ndia festival ofcolors iscelebrated on

Cang !anchamifive days after#oli.

Shigmo

Eoung boy atthe Figmo

Shigmo is celebrated in oa as one of the rominent festivals of the)onkani #inducommunity.

angaur

%otheraur

" angaur" is the colourful and the one of the mostim ortant festivals of eo le of Ca asthan and isobserved throughout the state with great fervour anddevotion by womenfolk who worshi auri, theconsort of >ord Shiva during %archGA ril.

0asant (avratri

Bhajan in&oimbatore

Navratri is the #indu festival ofworshi and dance. $nSanskrit the term literally means "nine nights". During

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rang_Panchamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rang_Panchamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigmohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konkani_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navarathrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navarathrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhajanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coimbatorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Navaratri_Bajan.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La_d%C3%A9esse_Gangaur_%28mus%C3%A9e_du_Fort_Meherangarh,_Jodhpur%29_%288416559160%29.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:India_Goa_Shigmo_Boy.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rang_Panchamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rang_Panchamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigmohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konkani_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navarathrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navarathrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhajanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coimbatorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worship


5/23

this festival the forms ofShakti are worshi ed, andeffigies are burned.

Cama (avami

#ome shrineon Cama (avami

Rama Navami is the celebration of the birth ofCama.Cama (avami is the day on which >ord Cama, the seventhincarnation of >ord 0ishnu, incarnated in human form inthe land of Ayodhya. #e is the ardha ansh of 0ishnu or hashalf the divinitive 7ualities of >ord 0ishnu. The word

CamaH literally means one who is divinely blissful andwho gives oy to others, and one in whom the sagesre oice. Cam (avami falls on the ninth day of the brightfortnight in the month of &haitra +A rilI%ay- andcoincides with 0asant (avratri or &hait Durga !u a.Therefore in some regions, the festival is s read over ninedays. This day, marking the birthday of >ord Cama, is alsoobserved as the marriage day of Cama and Sita and thusalso referred to as )alyanotsavam. $n Ayodhya, the birth lace of >ord Cama, a huge fair is held withthousands of devotees gathering to celebrate this festival.The fair continues for two days, and rathyatras, carryingthe Deities of Cam, his brother >a3man, #is wife Sita, and#is greatest devotee %ahavir #anuman, are taken outfrom almost all Cam Tem les. #anuman is known for ishis devotion to Cama, and his tales form an im ortant artof the celebration. $n Andhra !radesh, Cam (avami iscelebrated for 1J days from the &haitra sa tami to the4ahula !adyami that fall in the month of %arch and A ril.Tem les re?enact the marriage of >ord Cama and Sita tocommemorate this event, since this day is also the day theygot married.[K]

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6/23

udi !adwa,&hetichand

udi 2irst Day of wa3ing moon of &haitra +#indu &alendar -

udi Padwa ! "h#ti"hand is celebrated on the first day ofthe &haitra month, and is celebrated as (ew Eear s Day by%arathis, )onkanis and Sindhis . According to the 4rahma!urana, this is the day on which 4rahma created theworld.The date kee s changing every year in the month ofmarch.

'gadi

#oligey or4hakshalu re aredon 'gadi

Ugadi +meaning "the start of an era" in )annada- is (ew Eear s Day for the )annadigas and Telugus. $ttakes lace on the same day asudi !adwa.

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7/23

0ishu

A traditionalvishu $ani

0ishu is a #indu festivalcelebrated in)erala . $t fallsaround 1: A ril of the

regorian year.

Tamil (ewEear

The Tamil (ew Eear followsthe (irayan vernal e7uino3. itfalls around 1: A ril of the

regorian year.

#anuman*ayanti

Shri#anuman%andir

Hanuman %a&anti is the celebration of the birth of#anuman,Camas loyal devotee. To mark the birth of >ord #anuman,#anuman *ayanti is celebrated all over $ndia in the month of&haitra in #indu calendar. The great #anuman is known forits great strength, ower and his immortal devotion towards>ord Cama. #e is considered to be a greatest follower of>ord Cama and layed a crucial role in his life. #e is alsoknown as Sankat %ochan who eo le remember in bothgood and bad times. #e is considered to be as one of themost owerful #indu gods in $ndia. According to #indumythology, as the son of !awan , the od of 9inds and

An anee often referred to as !awan utra, is blessed withimmense hysical and mental strength that is greatly

ins iring. &elebrations on #anuman *ayanti began early inthe day with s ecial u a being erformed by devotees.Devotees erform holy !u a in tem les dedicated to Sree#anuman or at #ome. !eo le in $ndia organiLe s ecial rayers for >ord #anuman to get rid of evil s irits. The odis known for its magical owers. !rayers and #ymns aresung all day long in various #anuman tem les dedicated tothe lord. #anuman is considered as a symbol of !ower and

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8/23

great strength in #indu mythology. #e is believed to havecarried a whole mountain in his shoulder. 5n aus icious dayof #anuman *ayanti, !eo le a ly red Sindur from >ord sfeet on their foreheads. This is considering being a ritual forgood health and good luck.[M]

4ihu

4ihudancer with

e a

0aisakhaI4ohag+Assamesecalender- G The first month of#indu &alendar

Congali 4ihu +mid?

A ril, also called4ohag 4ihu-, the most o ular 4ihu celebratesthe onset of theAssamese (ew Eear+around 1; A ril- andthe coming of S ring.

SitalsasthiSi3th day of the brightfortnight of the monthof *yestha +#indu&alendar -

The marriage ofShiva and!arvati is celebrated asSitalsasthi. $t is celebrated asa carnival, in which eo le

and artists from differentwalks of life artici ate,making it more beautiful and bringing out the true colourof life.

0at!ournima

Tying threadsaround a banyantree +wata -.

2ull moon of*yeshta +#indu &alendar -

Vat Pournima is observed in %aharashtra. Pournima means "full moon." 9omen ray for the ros erity of their husbands by tying threads arounda banyan tree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vaisakha/Bohag(Assamese_calender)&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vaisakha/Bohag(Assamese_calender)&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitalsasthihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parvatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vat_Pournimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vat_Pournimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banyanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyeshtahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banyanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DrzewaPie%C5%84OplecionyNi%C4%87mi1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bihu_dancer_with_a_horn.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vaisakha/Bohag(Assamese_calender)&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vaisakha/Bohag(Assamese_calender)&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitalsasthihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parvatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vat_Pournimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vat_Pournimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banyanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyeshtahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banyan


9/23

4onalu

9omen with 4onam erforming arikrama

Bonalu is a Telugu#indu festival celebrated for a%other oddess + such as the goddesses!ochamma, Eellamma, etc.- in the Telangana.

4athukamma

9omen dancingaround 4athukammas

Bathu$amma is a Telugu #indu festival celebratedduring the months of Se tember and 5ctober in1J districts of Telangana.

Cath Eatra

Cath *atra in!uri Rath 'atra is the festival associated with*agannath.

Ca a !arba+5riya8 -

Ca a Doli The second day+Ca a Shankranti- Raja Par(a is a four day long festival.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonaluhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathukammahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rath_Yatrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_carhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Parbahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriya_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Raja_Doli_khela_Odia_festival.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rath_Yatra_Puri_2007_11071_crop.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Batukamma2-1.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parikrama.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonaluhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathukammahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rath_Yatrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_carhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Parbahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriya_language


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khela, 5riyafestival

signifies beginning of the solar month of%ithuna

$t inaugurates and welcomes theagricultural year all over5disha.

uru !urnima

A sanyasi erformingV&asa puja

2ull moon ofAshadh +#indu &alendar -

uru Purnima is the day devotees offer u a+worshi - to theiruru. This was also the daywhen0yasa, author of the%ahabharata was born.

%ahalakshmi 0rata

A mahalakshmi erforming Mahala$shmi

Mahala$shmi Vrata is a u a erformed by married#indu women to seek the blessings of%ahalakshmi, goddess of wealth and ros erity.

5nam

Thiruvathira)ali during5nam in )erala

)nam is also known as 0amana *ayanthi, is a #indufestival and the state festival of )erala celebrated by the eo le of )erala, $ndia. The festival commemorates the0amana avatar of 0ishnu and the subse7uenthomecoming of the legendary @m eror %ahabali. $t fallsduring the month of &hingam +AugustGSe tember- andlasts for ten days. The festival is marked by variousfestivities, including intricate flower car ets, elaborate ban7uet lunches, snake boat races, 5na ottan,)aaLhchakkula in uruvayoor, !uli )ali, )aikottikkalietc. These festivities make 5nam a uni7ue festival on theearth which is embellished by most number of culturalelements and it can be undoubtedly said that these

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odishahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Purnimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanyasihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanyasihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashadhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyasahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharatahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalakshmi_Vratahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalakshmihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalakshmihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_deitieshttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/prosperityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thiruvathira_Kali_During_Onam.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ravi_Varma-Lakshmi.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chaturmas.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odishahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Purnimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanyasihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashadhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guruhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyasahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharatahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalakshmi_Vratahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalakshmihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_deitieshttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/prosperityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala


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elements constitute the colorfulness, diversity andrichness that no other festival can claim.5n 5nam day eo le conduct s ecial rayers in #indutem les.Although !rayers in #indu tem les areim ortant art of the festival, non?#indus are not

allowed to enter tem les..Caksha

4andhan

Cakhis 2ull moon ofShravana +#indu &alendar -

Ra$sha Bandhan is afestival celebrated mainlyin northern $ndian states.Cakhi is a s ecial occasionto celebrate the chaste

bond of love between a brother and a sister.

Tee di Third day after Caksha4andhan

"Tee di" is a festival ofSindhis. 5n this day Sindhiladies observe a day longfasting for longer life oftheir husbands. They takedinner after "&handraDarshan" i.e. seeing %oon.

)rishna*anmaashtami

ovinda!athaks

forminghuman tower

@ighth day of waningmoon of 4hadra ad

+#indu &alendar -

Krishna %anmaashtami is the#indu festival celebrating the

birth of)rishna . $t is actuallycalled as )rishna *ayanthi. Thedate falls not only on the eightday of the waning moon of4hadra ad, but always onCohini (akshatra.*anmashtami, the birthday of>ord )rishna is celebrated with

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shravanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teejdihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna_Janmaashtamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna_Janmaashtamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrapadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrapadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Govindashtami.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rakhi_2.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shravanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teejdihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna_Janmaashtamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna_Janmaashtamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrapadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna


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great devotion and enthusiasmin $ndia in the month of *uly orAugust. According to the #inducalendar this religious festivalis celebrated on the Ashtami of

)rishna !aksh or the Mth day of the dark fortnight in the monthof 4hadon. Sri )rishna isconsidered as the one of themost owerful humanincarnations of the >ord0ishnu. #e was born around;,/JJ years ago in %athura.The sole ob ective of Sri)rishna s birth was to free the@arth from the evilness of

demons. #e layed anim ortant role in %ahabharataand ro agated the theory of bhakti and good karma whichare narrated dee ly in the4hagwat eeta. Sri )rishnawas born in a rison in thecustody of )ansa. 0asudev, #isfather immediately thought ofhis friend (and and decided tohand over his child to him to

save )rishna from the clutch of)ansa. )rishna grew u inokul and finally killed his

uncle, )ing )ansa. The actualcelebration of *anmashtamitakes lace during the midnightas Sri )rishna is believed to be born on a dark, stormy andwindy night to end the rule andviolence of his uncle, )ansa.All over $ndia this day iscelebrated with devotionalsongs and dances, u as, arti, blowing of the &onch androcking the cradle of baby Sri)rishna. The *anmashtamicelebration of %athura and0rindavan, the laces where Sri)rishna had s ent his life, are


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very s ecial. 5n this daytem les and homes arewonderfully decorated andilluminated. (ight long rayersare offered and religious

mantras are sung in the tem les.[N]

Cadhastami @ighth day of wa3ing moon of4hadra ad +#indu &alendar-

Cadhastami is celebratedall across $ndiaes ecially in (orthern$ndia on 4hadra adShukla !aksha Ashtamias birth anniversary of

oddessCadha, consortof lord )rishna.

owri #abba

owri Ha((a is

celebrated in )arnataka,Andhra !radesh, andTamil (adu. owri isworshi ed for herability to bestow courageto her devotees. (ewlywed cou les are invitedto the house of thegroom s arents andserved with varieties offood.

anesh&haturthi

anesh0isar an in%umbai.

2ourth day of the wa3ingmoon of4hadra ada +#indu&alendar -

an#sh "haturthi isthe celebrated as thearrival of anesh onthe earth.

(uakhai 2ifth day of thewa3ing moon of4hadra ada +#indu&alendar -

Nua$hai is celebrated to

welcome the new rice of theseason. This is an agriculturalfestival mainly observed by eo le of western5disha +)osal -.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radhastamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gowri_Habbahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnatakahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnatakahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakshayanihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaktihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaktihttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/newlywedhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/newlywedhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/newlywedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_foodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_foodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_foodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrapadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrapadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuakhaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrapadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrapadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odishahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Odishahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anant_Chaturdashi.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radhastamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gowri_Habbahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnatakahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakshayanihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaktihttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/newlywedhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/newlywedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_foodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_foodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrapadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuakhaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrapadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odishahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Odisha


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15/23

decorations +#indu &alendar -

lightsIlam s" inkannada andtelugu andSanskrit is called"Diwali" in (orth $ndia, Dee ameans lam and in #indi a lamis mostly called a Diya or Di.

The festival is celebrated on theoccasion of>ord )rishna and hiswifeSatyabhama killing a demon (arakasura. Another story saysthe festival is celebrated for thereturn of Cama andSita to thekingdom Ayodhya after fourteenyears of e3ile.Cama is e3iled to the forest for1: years, his devoted wife Sitaand humble brother >a3man

decide to oin him, after 1: yearsthe whole village know he isreturning so light lam s or divasto guide him, his wife and brother home. So every yearlam s are lit to re resent Camafinding his way back home afterthe harsh unishment of beingsent to e3ile in the forest.

4hai doo Second day of the wa3ing moonof )artik +#indu &alendar -

Bhai dooj , also referredto as Bhau(##j , is the

ceremony erformed by#indus, generally, on thesecond day ofDee avali.$t is celebrated among brothers and sisters and issimilar to Ra$sha

Bandhan , e3ce t there isno tying ofra$hi involved.

)artik !oornima 1;th of the2ull moon day of

!arti" +(ovemberGDecember-

A uni7ue festival iscelebrated in 0aranasi

this day which is calledev evali . The )artik!urnima festival alsocoincides with the#ain light festival and$uru%ana" #ayanti

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannada_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyabhamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narakasurahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayodhyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayodhyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhau-beejhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartika_(month)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepavalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartik_Poornimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartik_Poornimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartika_(month)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Light_festival&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Jayantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Jayantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannada_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyabhamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narakasurahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayodhyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhau-beejhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartika_(month)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepavalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartik_Poornimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartik_Poornimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartika_(month)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Light_festival&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Jayantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Jayanti


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&hhath

%orningworshi at*amshed ur

"hhath is mainlyobserved in4ihar andTerai, but is alsocelebrated elsewhere.$t is a festivaldedicated to theSun

od for bestowing the bounties of life andfulfilling wishes.

Skanda Sashti

S$anda Sashti is decided on lunarmonth during si3th day of)arthika %asam +5ctober? (ovember-. $t is one of the mostim ortant festival dedicated to>ord%urugan the second son ofShiva. 5n this festival iscelebrated the victory of %uruganagainst theAsuras.

!rathamastami After M days of)artik !urnima

Prathamastami is a festival thatoriginated in 5riya. $t is held onthe eighth day of the month ofAgrahayana, when older femalerelatives ray for the ros erity of their eldest child. The festival isfollowed by rituals and recitationsof the lory of %ahalakshmi andShashti devi.

Eatra

Dnyaneshwar s alkhi holding thefootwear of the saint

'atra +also +atra and jatra - refers to the ilgrimagefestivals celebrated at#indu tem les. $dols andmurtis are taken out on s ecial rocession in a

pal$hi +a alan7uin- or a chariot called therath .@very tem le observes this festival once a year onthe traditional day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamshedpurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biharhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teraihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity#Hinduismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity#Hinduismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sooranporuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muruganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asurashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odisha#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartik_Purnimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartik_Purnimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriya_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriya_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrahayanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shashtihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_templeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murtihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palanquinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palanquinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alandi_Palki_08.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:People_Celebrating_Chhath_on_2nd_Day_Morning_Around_the_Pond.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamshedpurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biharhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teraihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity#Hinduismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity#Hinduismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sooranporuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muruganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asurashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odisha#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartik_Purnimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartik_Purnimahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriya_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrahayanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shashtihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_templeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murtihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palanquin


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18/23

5hQ Do atheists have ceremoniesR Aren=t ceremonies only for religious eo leR These are soof the 7uestions asked by eo le to atheists. 9ellQ Atheists do have ceremonies and celebratethem with all colour and festivity, but with a rational outlook. Atheist &entre has been in theforefront of encouraging such secular ceremonies.

Atheism is an alternative way of life based scientific as well as social outlook. Atheism aims atdevelo ment of the ersonality of the individual, free from su erstitions and blind beliefs. #encin atheist way of life, there is no rigidity and frigidity. 'nlike in religion, where there are fi3edand rigid rules and sti ulated so?called aus icious timings for the ceremonies, in atheism andhumanism the ceremonies are conducted as er the convenience of the eo le.

The world is slowly, but steadily, moving towards a ost?religious society. The stranglehold ofreligion cannot continue for long. 9ith the s read of science and scientific and social outlook,search for alternatives is a must. As religion reigned su reme for hundreds of years andsu ressed dissent with social sanctions, it left a mark on all the ceremonies. Cight from birth t

death of an individual, religions rescribe many ceremonies. Some of these are directly orindirectly connected with god and religion. As $ndia is a multi religious, multi?ethnic and mutlcultural with multitudes of eo le, regional variations of these customs are abundant.

5ver the years the ceremonies became rigid and intransigent and eo le are forced to follow theage?old customs and traditions by habit and eer?grou social ressure.

Atheists and humanists have to build an alternative to religion. #ence, atheists develo ed theirown ceremonies, which are based on gender e7uality and social ustice. Atheists know that theis only one life, no rebirth or hell or heaven. Atheists are individually and socially res onsible ftheir actions and behaviour. #umans are makers of their systems, transcending caste, religion,and all other arochial considerations.

Atheists are ha y eo le and try to lead a dignified life with oy and social commitment.Ceality, social outlook and develo ment of individual ersonality are their goals. They act withself confidence and determination.

$n contrast to religious ceremonies, atheist ceremonies are not observed on fi3ed dates and timeand they are fle3ible to suit their convenience.

%aming &eremony'

4irth of a child, irres ective of gender, is a ha y occasion for atheists and they share oy withothers. They name their children as er the events in history, current and $nternational affairs,social and olitical changes or reflecting the beauty of nature.

$n order to break the barriers of caste and religion, atheists name their children in a secularmanner, connoting a meaning relevant to the time or an event which has no religiousconnotation. Taking the case of children in Atheist &entre,Samaram +$$ 9orld 9ar-, Ni&anta +dictator-, ,avanam +Salt, was born on the eve of andhi=s Salt Satyagraha-,Vija&am +0ictory.


19/23

2irst success of &ongress in eneral @lections-, 0idya-.ducation/ and the younger generationwith uni7ue names such as Sanketh +$nformation-, 0idwat + Knowl#dg# -, Saujas +Cedoubled0igour and Eouthfulness-,Saaras T#jas +$ndigenous manned aero lanes develo ed by $ndia-,)los +5lym ics >os Angeles- to mention a few. %any atheists are making the ne3t generationsecular and ost religious. Atheists also stress on the need for birth registration, which is

neglected in $ndia.9hen they admit their children in educational institutions, in the a lication forms they mentionin the caste and religion column as "nil". &hildren=s u bringing is secular. As society continue be traditional, sometimes, they have to fight for their rights without mincing matters.

Marriage &eremony'

%arriages in $ndia are either erformed generally under #indu %arriage Act, &hristian %arriagAct, or %uslim %arriage. #owever there is a s ecial facility for atheists and the liberal mindedin the form of the S ecial %arriage Act. The s ouses can give "notice of intention" one month

advance in overnment %arriage Cegistrar=s office and they can marry in a secular way, withutmost legal validity. $t is very sim le and cost effective. 4igamy is rohibited by law and thedivorced and widowed also are eligible to marry under the S ecial %arriage Act without anystigma. Cight from its ince tion in 1N:J, Atheist &entre has been romoting hundreds of suchcasteless and religionless marriages under the S ecial %arriage Act. Such cou les are felicitate ublicly for their courage of conviction to usher in secular social change

$n !re?$nde endent $ndia, braving stiff resistance of riests and the vested interests, some atheand rationalist social reformers cham ioned riestless and tradition?less marriages by e3changof garlands by s ouses in a ublic meeting. %ahatma !hule, Canade and other social reformersin the 1Nth &entury encouraged widow remarriages. $n the early /Jth &entury, !eriyar @0Camaswamy romoted hundreds of "Self Ces ect" + sw##&a mar&ada/ marriages by e3change ofgarlands in atheist meetings. @ven though they had no legal validity, they had social a roval!ost?$nde endent $ndia, hundreds of such marriages were legally validated by Tamilnadu

overnment. $n other states also, the atheists and rationalists challenged the mono oly of the riestly class in social relations. $n Andhra, Tri uraneni Camaswami develo ed marriageceremonies devoid of riests and religion.

During the freedom movement, rationalists, atheists, socialists, communists and the liberal?minded o ulariLed secular marriages by e3change of garlands in ublic meetings. $n thetraditional #indu marriage,Saptapadi +walking seven ste s together- and tying ofthali +so?called #oly?thread of gold- by husband to his wife is a must. 4ut in atheist marriages thesecustoms are o enly defied, for the religious rites make women inferior. CecogniLing theim ortance of liberation to women, many did not wear ornaments or a(indu on the forehead, breaking the taboos of the #indu religious system.

ora and Saraswathi ora, founders of Atheist &entre, s earheaded castelesss and religionlessmarriages as a movement to break the stranglehold of untouchability, caste, religion and of riestly class. They tried to bridge the ga between rece t and ractice by marring their ownchildren first and set an e3am le to others.


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Atheist marriages are celebrated in com lete o enness. $n the case of intercaste or inter religioor casteless marriages, the s ouses inform their arents about their intention. 5n some occasionthe marriages take lace in the teeth of o osition. 4ut the e3 erience shows that arents andrelations tend to reconcile soon and social ostracism for the cou le tend to be less.

&elebrating the nature s beauty'

%ost of the su erstitions are attested to women, es ecially during their uberty and regnancywith articular reference to viewing ecli ses. Atheists view the rare natural occurrences such asolar ecli ses, by defying the traditional taboo with rational action, demonstrating that viewingof ecli se has nothing to do with the deformity of a new born baby.

eath &eremony'

2or every religion there is a s ecific ty e of ceremony and the main conce t of theism is life

after death. Atheists realise that there is no life after death. Atheists ledge for organ, eye and body donation. The body of the deceased is either electrically cremated, or burnt or buried,without any religious ceremonies. The ashes and bones do not hold any significance and no tomstone is erected in the name of the dead. !ost death ceremonies are mainly focused on organiLin ublic gatherings to recall his or her achievements in life. $n religions, death ceremonies areconducted on certain s ecific days, as laid out in the religious calendars and decided by the mal riest. $n the case of atheist ceremonies, both men and women reside the gatherings, breakingthe religious and gender barriers, thereby celebrating the life contribution of the individual. Somatheists, in the memory of their lost ones, donate money for scholarshi s to the marginaliLedcommunities or the merited students.

$n the religious customs, when the husband is dead, his wife is sub ected to inhuman traditiona ractices by breaking her bangles, removal ofthali0 forcing her to wear a white sari and she ismade a non?entity in the family. #er social osition is degraded and for some time she is notinvited to weddings in the family. This kind of treatment given to widows is regarded by atheistas mental cruelty and is o enly o osed. Atheists invite widows to attend marriages, conductwidow re?marriages and demonstrate that widows are in no way inferior to men or other wome

Thus atheist marriages o en u avenues to show to others the need for social reform and gendee7uity. They em hasiLe on all round e7uality for women and their female children. 9ith windsof social change, some of the cruel religious customs wane slowly in some sections of society.

ocial &elebrations'

Atheists recogniLe the contribution of inventors, discoverers, social reformers, and nationalleaders who have made significant contribution to the rogress of the society and in enhancingscientific tem er and secular outlook. Social functions are celebrated to commemorate theinventions and discoveries as well as social reform, so as to make the younger generations awarof their significance and advocating for investing in romoting critical thinking and free in7uiry


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Atheist &entre encourages celebration of life in a rational and scientific way. 2or the last si3decades, it has been romoting atheism as an alternative life stance. The ceremonies eo lefollow must be in tune with the changing times and aims and as irations of the eo le. Theymust be rogressive and tend to romote social change. Atheists and humanists fight blind beliefs and harmful traditions and strive towards e7uality of all in every s here of life. They mu

be in line with the rogress of science and scientific tem er. $mitation or trans lantation ofinstitutions may not be relevant in the changed circumstances. @ternal vigilance, social good,individual freedom and oy must reflect in observing ceremonies. The aims and as irations of young the youth must be ke t in mind and their innate talents must find e3 ression. #enceceremonies of different ty es must cater to the creative urges of every generation to make lifecheerful and meaningful. 9e have only one life and hence let us live with self res ect, dignity,social harmony and e7uality.

Celigious ceremonies tend to re are eo le look for salvation and to so?called life after deathwhere as atheist and humanist ceremonies try to im rove the 7uality of life here on earth whichis real and ractical. >et us strive make the world a better lace to live in eace, oy and

harmony. !leasure lies in ursuit.

Celebrations

5n Ce ublic Day, flag hoisting ceremonies and arades by armed forces and school children areheld in different arts of the country. The grandest and most im ortant of these arades is held Ca ath in (ew Delhi, which showcases a multi?hued image of the country s rich cultural

heritage and military rowess.This arade is resided over by the!resident of $ndia +@3ternal website that o ens in a newwindow-. 5ne of the main functions of the Ce ublic Day !arade is to ay tribute to the martyrswho have sacrificed their lives for the country and to confer bravery awards on military ersoncitiLenry and children for showing courage in the face of adversity.

The !rime %inister of $ndia first lays a wreath at the Amar *awan *yoti at $ndia ate, in memoof all members of the armed forces who gave u their life for the country. After that there is the/1 gun salute, unfurling of the (ational 2lag and singing of the (ational Anthem. (e3t, awardssuch as the !aramvir &hakra, Ashok &hakra and 0ir &hakra are resented to gallantry award

winners.The arade begins with winners of gallantry awards saluting the !resident in o en military eefollowed by the dis lay of various tanks, missiles and other e7ui ment added to the arsenal ofthe military. After this, is the march? ast of different regiments of the armed forces, olice, #om

uards and (ational &adet &or s. The !resident of $ndia, being the &ommander?in?&hief of th$ndian Armed 2orces, takes the salute. This is followed by a vibrant arade com rising tableau3from different States and cultural dances by atriotic school children.

http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=3http://presidentofindia.nic.in/http://presidentofindia.nic.in/http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=2http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=6http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=15http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=15http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=6http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=6http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=3http://presidentofindia.nic.in/http://presidentofindia.nic.in/http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=2http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=6http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=15http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=6


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(External website that opens in a new window)

&hildren who have won (ational 4ravery Awards ride ast the s ectators on colourfullydecorated ele hants. These children are honoured and awarded by the $ndian &ouncil for &hild

9elfare for erforming outstanding deeds of bravery and selfless sacrifice.The Ce ublic Day !arade is concluded by dare devil motor cycle riding and a fly ast by $ndianAir 2orce fighter ets over Ca ath, as s ectators look on with their hearts filled with ride.

* salute to the Legends

*anuary 6J is marked as%artyrs Day +@3ternal website that o ens in a new window-, to honourand ay homage to those martyrs who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom, welfare and rogress of our beloved country. $t was on *anuary 6J, 1N:M when %ahatma andhi wasassassinated. And, since then every year the nation ays homage to the %ahatma and othermartyrs on this day.

The!resident +@3ternal website that o ens in a new window-, the 0ice !resident +@3ternalwebsite that o ens in a new window-, the !rime %inister +@3ternal website that o ens in a newwindow-, the Defence %inister, and the three service &hiefs gather at Ca ghat and lay wreaths othe Samadhi of %ahatma andhi, decorated with multi?colour flowers. The inter?servicescontingent reverses arms as a mark of res ect to the martyrs. A religious rayer ceremony is heand andhi i s favourite bha ans are sung.

+eating ,etreat &eremony

The ceremony at the 0i ay &howk on *anuary /N every year marks the culmination of the fourday?long Ce ublic Day celebrations. The &hief uest of the function is the !resident of $ndiawho arrives in a cavalry unit escorted by the !resident s 4odyguards +!4 -. 9hen the !residearrives, the !4 commander asks the unit to give the (ational Salute, which is followed by the laying of the $ndian (ational Anthem, *ana ana %ana, by the %assed 4ands, and at the sametime by the unfurling of the (ational 2lag of $ndia on the flag ole. %ilitary 4ands, !i es andDrums 4ands, 4uglers and Trum eters from various Army Cegiments erform during theceremony. 4esides, there are bands from each of the (avy and Air 2orce. %ost of the tunes being layed by the Army s %ilitary 4ands are based on $ndian tunes.

4eating the Cetreat has emerged as an event of national ride when the &olours and Standarare araded. The ceremony traces its origin to the early 1N;Js when %a or Coberts of the $ndiaArmy indigenously develo ed the uni7ue ceremony of dis lay by the massed bands. 4eatingCetreat marks a centuries old military tradition, when the troo s ceased fighting, sheathed thearms and withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the cam s at sunset at the sounding of thCetreat. &olours and Standards are cased and flags lowered. The ceremony creates longing forthe times gone by.

http://republicday.nic.in/http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=16http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2000/fjan2000/f270120001.htmlhttp://presidentofindia.nic.in/http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/http://pmindia.nic.in/http://pmindia.nic.in/http://pmindia.nic.in/http://republicday.nic.in/http://knowindia.gov.in/myindia/myindia_frame.php?id=16http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2000/fjan2000/f270120001.htmlhttp://presidentofindia.nic.in/http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/http://pmindia.nic.in/http://pmindia.nic.in/


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The grandest celebrations take lace in (ew Delhi with the flag hoisting ceremony followed by arade, showcasing $ndia s rich cultural heritage and military rowess...

utsava and observance

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