Janmashtami History

Janmashtami is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna, the re-embodiment of Lord Vishnu who gave us the vital message of Bhagwat Gita- the guiding principle for every Hindu. Janmashtmi is celebrated with full energy all over the country. It is celebrated in various parts of India to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. It is observed on the eight day of the Shravan month according to the Hindu calendar. The temples throughout the country witness an extravagant and colorful celebration on this occasion.


Raslila (an act) is performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha.

Lord Vishnu is invoked in his human manifestation as Krishna on his birth anniversary in the festival of Janmashtmi. The idol of Krishna is taken for bath in the midnight and is placed in the cradle. Devotional songs and dances mark the celebration of this festive occasion all over the northern India.

Janmashtmi is a very auspicious night for those seeking for God's realization. It is the day when the supreme power appeared on earth. It may seem totally unbelievable that the creator that the creator himself appeared in a province, in a village in India. If you will try to understand all this, your mind will fail. So make one thing very clear that he came on earth because he had great compassion for all souls. He appeared to help the souls. He appeared among us. And what did he do? He did everything to help us.

On this day, in some parts of India, especially Maharashtra, youths celebrate it by breaking the clay pots filled with curd and butter suspended high above the ground. Young men and children form human pyramid to reach the pot and break it. This custom follows from Lord Krishna who use to steal butter from the villagers in this manner along with his friends. The reason for this is that Gokul; the place where Lord Krishna spend his childhood used to generate a lot of milk and people used to sell it in Mathura, thus depriving their children from milk and butter which was very essential for them.

Therefore in order to pay our homage to a such great god, we celebrate his birthday all over the country.

Over half million pilgrims visit Amarnath shrine

Srinagar, Jul 21 (PTI) The number of pilgrims to the 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir crossed half a million mark - a record achieved during the first half of the 46-day annual pilgrimage.The footfall at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam, touched the five lakh mark this afternoon, official sources said.The annual pilgrimage commenced on June 29 from the twin tracks of Baltal in Ganderbal and Pahalgam in Anantnag district and scheduled to end on August 13 coinciding with the Hindu festival of 'Raksha Bandhan'.This is for the first time in the history of the yatra that five lakh pilgrims paid their obeisance at the shrine during the first 23 days and the number is expected to surpass the highest figure of 5.33 lakh recorded in 2008.In 2004, the duration of the pilgrimage was increased from 30 days to 45 days and during that year the highest number of 3.82 lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrine.In 2005, 3.88 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine followed by 3.47 lakh pilgrims in 2006 and 2.96 lakh pilgrims in 2007.The year 2009 saw 3.81 lakh pilgrims, while 4.56 lakh pilgrims offered their prayers at the shrine despite unrest in the Valley last year.The yatra was going on smoothly from both the tracks, the official sources said adding that fresh batches of over 8,000 pilgrims left the base camps of Baltal and Nunwan towards the holy cave shrine this morning.Meanwhile, a 65-year-old pilgrim died of cardiac arrest at Sheshnag along the traditional 42-km Pahalgam route, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to 81, the sources said.Govind Raja Ram, a resident of Maharashtra, died at Sheshnag last night, they said.

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Bhudda Amarnath yatra to commence from August 1

Jammu, July 20 (PTI) The annual Bhudda Amarnath yatra in Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Poonch will begin from August one."The annual Bhudda Amarnath yatra will start in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir from August one," National Vice Coordinator, Bajrang Dal, Rajesh Panday told reporters here today.The first prayers will be held in the Himalayan shrine of Lord Shiva in Mandi belt of Poonch district on August one, he said, adding that the first batch for the yatra will leave from Bagwati Nagar basecamp in Jammu from August 2.The yatra would be for a period of 10 days and will commence from Jammu, Panday said.Over 2 lakh pilgrims are expected to visit the border shrine, he said.He also appreciated the efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir government for including the shrine in pilgrim tourism and constructing a yatri bhawan in the shrine complex for trouble-free stay of pilgrims.
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The Legends of Rakhi/Raksha Bandhan

Origin
The Shravana or the monsoon month carries all hues and shades of nature and emotions. Religiously speaking Shravan is a pious month and full moon of this all-important month is considered to be a very holy day. It is celebrated in different ways for different reasons almost throughout the country.

For the siblings it is the eternal tie of love, for Brahmins the day to take the pledge of Brahmanik rites and for those who depend sea and monsoon, it is the beginning of the new season.

Indian festivals are based on the weather changes and their significance in the lives of people but they do have a story to support the celebrations. The rich Indian Mythology provides a religious reason to celebrate the day in a specific way. Many epics are related to the day and the origin of Raksha Bandhan. The festival finds a mention in most of the epics and its origin can be traced back to the mythological Pouranik times.

The legend in the Bhavishya Puran
The legend refers to a war between the Gods and the Demons. The demon King Brutra was advancing and the Gods lead by lord Indra, were on verge of defeat. The king of Gods, Indra approached Guru Brihaspati to find a solution to the situation. Brihaspati asked Indra to tie a sacred thread on his wrist, powered by the sacred mantras on the Shravan Purnima. Lord Indra's Queen Sachi also called Indrani, empowered the thread and tied it on to his hand on the decided day. The power of the sacred thread called Raksha helped the Gods to victory.

The tradition of thread tying still continues. It is a gesture of goodwill.

The legend of King Bali and Goddess Laxmi
According to another legend Demon King Bali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu had taken up the task to guard his kingdom leaving his own abode in Vaikunth. Goddess Laxmi wished to be with her lord back in her abode. She went to Bali disguised as a Brahmin woman to seek refuge till her husband came back.

During the Shravan Purnima celebrations, Laxmiji tied the sacred thread to the King. Upon being asked she revealed who she was and why she was there. The king was touched by her goodwill for his family and her purpose and requested the Lord to accompany her. He sacrificed all he had for the Lord and his devoted wife.

Thus the festival is also called Baleva that is Bali Raja's devotion to the Lord.It is said that since then it has been a tradition to invite sisters in Shravan Purnima for the thread tying ceremony or the Raksha Bandhan

Yama and the Yamuna
It is said that the Raksha Bandhan was a ritual followed by Lord Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yamuna. Yamuna tied rakhi to Yama and bestowed immortality. Yama was so moved by the serenity of the occasion that he declared thar whoever gets a rakhi tied from his sister and promised her protection will become immortal.

In the Epics
Raksha Bandhan finds a mention in Mahabharata when Lord Krishna advised Yudhishthir to perform the ceremony to protect himself and the army from the dangers of the war. It is said that Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas tied rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu and Draupadi to lord Krishna.

Raksha Bandhan in History

The traditional Hindu festival 'Raksha Bandhan' (knot of protection) was came into origin about 6000 years back when Aryans created first civilization - The Indus Valley Civilization. With many languages and cultures, the traditional method to Rakhi festival celebration differs from place to place across India. Following are some historical evidences of Raksha Bandhan celebration from the Indian history.

Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun
The story of Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun is the most significant evidence in the history. During the medieval era, Rajputs were fighting Muslim invasions. Rakhi at that time meant a spiritual binding and protection of sisters was foremost. When Rani Karnawati the widowed queen of the king of Chittor realised that she could in no way defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun. The Emperor touched by the gesture started off with his troops without wasting any time.

Alexander The Great and King Puru
The oldest reference to the festival of rakhi goes back to 300 B.C. at the time when Alexander invaded India. It is said that the great conqueror, King Alexander of Macedonia was shaken by the fury of the Indian king Puru in his first attempt. Upset by this, Alexander's wife, who had heard of the Rakhi festival, approached King Puru. King Puru accepted her as his sister and when the opportunity came during the war, he refrained from Alexander.

Lord Krishna and Draupathi
In order to protect the good people, Lord Krishna killed the evil King Shishupal. Krishna was hurt during the war and left with bleeding finger. Seeing this, Draupathi had torn a strip of cloth from her sari and tied around his wrist to stop the bleeding. Lord Krishna, realizing her affections and concern about him, declared himself bounded by her sisterly love. He promised her to repay this debt whenever she need in future. Many years later, when the pandavas lost Draupathi in the game of dice and Kauravas were removing her saari, Krishna helped her divinely elongating the saari so that they could not remove it.

King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi
The demon king Mahabali was a great devotee of lord Vishnu. Because of his immense devotion, Vishnu has taken the task of protecting bali's Kingdom leaving his normal place in Vikundam. Goddess lakshmi - the wife of lord Vishnu - has became sad because of this as she wanted lord Vishnu along with her. So she went to Bali and discussed as a Brahmin woman and taken refuge in his palace. On Shravana purnima, she tied Rakhi on King Bali's wrist. Goddess Lakshmi revealed who she is and why she is there. The king was touched by Her and Lord Vishnu's good will and affection towards him and his family, Bali requested Lord Vishnu to accompany her to vaikuntam. Due to this festival is also called Baleva as Bali Raja's devotion to the Lord vishnu. It is said that since that day it has become a tradition to invite sisters on sravan pournima to tie sacred thread of Rakhi or Raksha bandan.

When is Raksha Bandhan 2011

Rakhi on August 13, 2011, Saturday

Feasted with the love and enamor with care, every soul is ready to celebrate the sacred festival of raksha bandhan on 13th August, 2011. The day which has become the cynosure of brotherhood, is celebrated around the world, with the rays of love and affection blooming in it. Rakhi festival is not only a ceremony of tying rakhi but it has moreover transited into the trust and love which a girl ties on her brother's wrist and hope that this hand will always hold her in every ups and downs of life.

As per the Hindu calendar rakhi festival falls on the shravan purnima(full moon day), which corresponds to the month of July-August as per the English calendar. The day is being celebrated as per the Indian calendar, which changes every year, hence the festival also falls on the different dates of the English calendar. So all brothers be ready to stand on the threshold of festive moments and see your sister beaming with joy when you surprise her with amazing gifts.

In Mumbai, rakhi festival is called narial purnima or coconut full moon and keralean people called the occasion as the avani avittam. Every region has their own names and ways for enjoying the occasion but the real spirit of the day enliven in every part, which swabs the true color in the mirage of the India.

Security increased in Haridwar ahead of Shravan pilgrimage

In view of the recent blasts in Mumbai and heavy inflow of pilgrims during auspicious Shravan month of the Hindu calendar, security in the holy city of Haridwar has been increased.

Thousands of pilgrims from across India have started converging at the banks of River Ganga here for the annual pilgrimage, beginning tomorrow.

The district administration has deployed a large number of police personnel, including some in white clothes, at locations like Chandighat and Premnagar, where heavy rush of kanwarias (pilgrims) are expected, officials said.

On major roads, connecting Haridwar with other major cities, vehicular traffic has either been fully suspended or partially suspended, seeing the rush of bare feet pilgrims.

A senior police official said in the wake of Mumbai blasts, strict security vigilance is being maintained and kanwarias have been barred from bringing articles like tridents and hockey sticks.