Day: October 2, 2010

Tirupati Tirumala Brahmotsavam : Amazing temple festival of Lord Venkateswara

Brahmotsavam is a celebration of nine days at the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara at Tirupati. This temple is cleaned according to the guideline given in the religious texts.  It is decorated with flowers and mango leaves.

The significance of each day ritual and holy celebration are … :

Day1: Pedda Seshavahana:

The first day of Brahmotsavam is commenced with the hosting of Garuda Dhwaja(A religious flag, with the sign of Eagle on it), It is followed by a  panoramic procession of Lord Venkateswara around the temple. This event starts at 10pm and continues till midnight. The vehicle on which the Lord Venkateswara is carried is called Pedda Seshavahana and is believed to be the manifestation of Adisesha (The thousand-headed serpent, on whom Lord Sri Maha Vishnu rests in his abode). The magnanimous march lasts for the first two day of Brahmotsavam.

Day 2: Chinna Seshavahana

The second day starts with the Lord’s procession, this time on Chinna Seshavahana. Whole day deities are worshipped and in the night they are taken to the Uyala Mandapam for the Unjal Seva. The day slips away in the worship of the Lord and in the night the deities are taken to the Uyala Mandapam for the Unjal Seva (swinging). This is followed by procession on a Hamsavahana through the temple streets. It is believed that Hamasavahana signifies purity, and the Hamsa (swan) on it is known to for it is ability to differentiate between good and bad, and said to denote peace.

Day 3: Simhavahana

Simhavahana performed on third day. On this day deities are carried on Simhavahana- a vehicle with lion’s emblem on it that denotes command and authority. It is considered that Lord assumes the form of Narasimaha (a mythological character who was half human and half lion) to kill the demon named Hiranyakasipu.  After the procession the deities are once again taken to the Unjal Seva followed by an exciting ride on Mutayalapandri Vahana; the symbol of purity.

Day 4: Kalpavriksha Vahana

The fourth day comprises of two processions, one on the Kalpavriksha Vahana in the morning followed by a procession on Sarvabhoopala Vahana in the night. According to legend, Kalpavriksham is name of a tree that grants boon

Day 5: Garuda Vahana or Mohini Avatarotsavam

Garuda Vahana or Mohini Avatarotsavam is celebrated on the fifth day to commemorate the lord’s incarnation as Mohini to assist the Devtas during Ksheerasagarmadhanam.

In the Vaishnava Puranas, Garuda is also called periyatiruvadi, meaning the first devotee. Therefore, Lord Venkateswara selected Garuda as his vehicle for the most important day of the Brahmotsavam.

Day 6: Gaja Vahana

On sixth day,  Gaja Vahana is celebrated, it is believed that in the night Lord mounted on the Gaja Vahana(elephant).

Day 7: Suryaprabha Vahana

On the seventh day of Brahmotsavam, Lord rides on Suryaprabha Vahana. According to Hindu Mythlogy Lord Vishnu is believed to be the center of the universe. To symbolize this, Lord Venkateswara uses the Suryaprabha(light of the Sun).

Day 8: Rathotsavam

The Lord is taken on a procession seated on a chariot known as Rathotsavam on the eighth day of Brahmotsavam. The idols of Lord Sri Krishna and the four horses are placed before the decorated idols of the Lord and his consorts.

Day 9: Chakrasnana Mahotsavam

On the last day, Pallaki Seva and Chakrasnana Mahotsavam in the morning and Dhwajavarohanam are performed in the evening. The processional images are anointed with turmeric powder, oil and other auspicious ingredients and Abhishekam is performed. Sudarsan Chakram is given a bath in the Swami Pushkarini. The Garuda flag is then lowered.

This year Tirumala Brahmotsavam festival is celebrated on 9th to 18th October 2010 at Tirupati. Lakhs  of tourist and pilgrims pay holy visit at Tirupati Tirumala Brahmotsavam Festival every year. May Lord Venkateswara call you to make the holy pilgrim this year.

Toshali Travel and Tours offers budget festival Holiday packages and arranges exclusive accommodation for Tirumala Brahmotsavam Festival at Tripati on demand, click on http://bit.ly/bRcZKo . Toshali Travel and Tours is authorised Travel and Tour Operator, recognized and accredited by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

To know more on the Tirumala Brahmotsavam Festival at Tripati pilgrim package, post you comments or Contact our Toshali Holiday Planner at metu@toshali.in

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Bhai Dooj Festival : Hindu Ritual for Sister & Brother

Bhai Dooj. is one of the major festivals of India, it is also spelt as Bhaidooj, Bhaiduj or Bhai Duj. ‘Bhai’ means brother and ‘Dooj’ means two days after new moon, this festival is celebrated between brothers and sisters other than Raksha Bandhan to strengthen the bond of their love. On this auspicious day, sisters put Tilak on their brother’s forehead and pray for their long life.  In return, brother promises their sisters to stand by their side in all hardships of life. This is the most awaited festivals in India. Every year this festival comes two days after Diwali in Karthik month.

According to the custom and rituals sister applying tika on the forehead of the sister, giving him eatables and in return receive gifted, the women and children sit around and hear the story.

India is a country of varied cultures, customs and traditions. The festival of Bhaiya Dooj is known by various names in different regions and has its own regional name that signifies different ceremonial celebrated connotations.

  • Bhai Phota is celebrated in the state of West Bengal on the Dvitya i.e. on the second day after the Kali Puja
  • Bhai Tika / Bhai Teeka is celebrated in Nepal on the fifth and the final day of the popular Festival of Light called ‘Tihar’ or ‘Panchak Yama’  it is also known as ‘Bhai Tihar’ and it is a part of Tihar celebrations in the Himalaya Kingdom.
  • Bhathru Dwithiya is also known popular name for Bhai Dooj, it falls on the fifth and last day of Diwali festival. ‘Dwitheya Day’ meaning, second day after new moon. Sisters pray for their brothers long life.
  • Bhatri Ditya is just another name of the famous Hindu festival of Bhaiyya Dooj, This festival is celebrated to strengthen the beautiful bond shared between a brother and a sister, it is also considered a part of Diwali celebrations at many parts of India.
  • Bhai Bij, Bhaubeej or Bhav Bij amongst the Marathi speaking community in the states of Maharashtra and Goa. As like Bhaidooj festival celebrations in rest of India, Bhai Bij, Bhaubeej or Bhav Bij falls on the last day of five-day-long Diwali festival, here also in western India in Bhaubeej festival sisters pray for their brothers long and happy life as they perform tika ceremony.
  • Yamadwitheya is from the legend of god Yama Raja (the Hindu mythological god of Death)himself and it is one of the most commonly told story of Bhai Dooj. Here, the story told as after Yama Raaj long separation from his sister Yamuna or Yami. On the Dwitheya or the Dooj or the second day of the new moon When Yami met his brother Yama (also know as Dharam Raj) and welcomed whole heartedly, applied red tilak on his brother’s forehead and treated him a special meal. Yamaraj was overwhelmed receiving the warm welcome from his sister and he announced that whosoever receives a red tika from his sister on the day of ‘Dooj’ will not be hurled to hell.  Since that day Bhai Dooj is also known as Yamadwitheya.

In 2010, Bhai Dooj festival is celebrated on 7th November (Sunday)

Toshali Travel and Tours offers budget festival Holiday packages and arranges exclusive accommodation for Bhai Dooj festival on demand, click on http://bit.ly/aphUEF. Toshali Travel and Tours is authorised Travel and Tour Operator, recognized and accredited by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

To know more on the Bhai Dooj festival, post you comments or Contact our Toshali Holiday Planner at metu@toshali.in Do post your comment and suggestions, if you feel we have left out any information that would be helpful for your friends, family members. Also share this blog with Facebook, Twitter, Orkut and other Social Networking sites….

“Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” : A Tribute to ‘Bharat Ratna’ Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri

‘Bharat Ratna’ Lal Bahadur Shrivastava Shastri (2 October 1904 – 11 January 1966), he shares his birthday with the Mahatma on October 2. He was the second Prime Minister of the Republic of India and a significant figure in the Indian independence movement.

'Bharat Ratna' Lal Bahadur Shrivastava Shastri (2 October 1904 - 11 January 1966)
'Bharat Ratna' Lal Bahadur Shrivastava Shastri (2 October 1904 - 11 January 1966)

A staunch Gandhian he discontinued the use of his surmane as it indicated his caste. he was born in Mughalsarai and moving to Varanasi in persual of higher education. A 1915, speech of Gandhiji converted him into a lifelong Gandhian. He spend some 9 years in prison for participating in the freedom struggle. His values never ditched him. During one of his prison terms his daughter fell ill. He was released for 15 days from teh prison. She died and a stoic Shastri performed her funeral rites and returned to prison, before time. And when his son’s illness was not cured withing the stipulated parole time he returned to prison..

In prison he got acquinted  with the works of western philosophers, revolutionaries and social reformers and translated the autobiography of Marie Curie to Hindi.

After independence, he was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in Uttar Pradesh. Then He became Minister of Police and Transport. He was the first to appoint women conductors and ordered that Police use jets of water instead of lathis to disperse unruly crowds.

In 1951, he became the General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee and played an important role in the landslide successes of the Congress Party in the General Elections of 1952, 1957 and 1962.

In 1951, Nehru nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. He served as the Minister of Railways and Transport in the Central Cabinet from 1951 to 1956. In 1956, he offered his resignation after a railway accident at Mahbubnagar and three months later, he resigned accepting moral and constitutional responsibility for a railway accident at Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu that resulted in 144 deaths. His unprecedented gesture was greatly appreciated by the citizens.

In 1957 he was appointed as the Minister for Transport and Communications, and then as the Minister of Commerce and Industry. In 1961, he became Minister for Home. Chacha Nehru died in office on 27 May 1964. Then Congress Party President K. Kamaraj was instrumental in making and installing Shastri as Prime Minister on 9 June. He pushed through the Green Revolution which led to India becoming a food-surplus nation, although he did not live to see it.

During the 22-day war with Pakistan, Lal Bahadur Shastri created the slogan of “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” (“Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer”). He was instrumental in promoting the White Revolution.

The problem for Shastri’s administration was Pakistan. Laying claim to half of the Kutch peninsula, Pakistan sent incursion forces in August 1965,  leading to the Indo-Pak war. The Indo-Pak war ended on 23 September 1965 with a United Nations-mandated ceasefire. After the declaration of ceasefire, Shastri and Pakistani President Muhammad Ayub Khan attended a summit in Tashkent (former USSR) organised by Kosygin. On 10 January 1966, Shastri and Khan signed the Tashkent Declaration. The next day Shastri died, supposedly of a heart attack at 1:32 AM, and now he rest at Vijay Ghat, Delhi

He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, and his memorial “Vijay Ghat” in Delhi will forever remind Indians and humanity how this unassuming man personified ‘where there is a will there is a way’. His life would be a lesson for generations to come.

History has not forgotten this giant…… Jai Hind !!

Toshali Resotrts Pay Tribute and Celebrates the 106th Birth anniversary of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri on 2nd October’2010 (Saturday) and invites you for a Weekend Getaway at Toshali Sands, Puri India. For Reservation and travel booking contact your travel consultant metu@toshali.in

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