Ananthagiri hills is located 6kms from Vikarabad. This is one of the
big forest area in Rangareddy district. There is a Vishnu temple in this
forest area which is called Ananta Padmanabha Swami Temple. Temple will
be flooded with pilgrims during the weekends. The temple will be open
through out the day.
Forest guest house is 1 km from Ananta Padmanabha Swami Temple. There
is practically not much to see or do, but if u are nature freak and
want to be away from the clatter of city crowd you can chill out here.
This
trip can be for a day visit or if u are in a group try to plan for a
week end so you can stay in the forest guest house over the night and
enjoy time and nature
“Lord Ganesha” the word Ganesha
is a Sanskrit word which derived from gana & isha and a group, multitude or
categorical system refers to gana and the word “isha” master or lord.
There are many stories, why
Ganesha been born and how he got the elephant head and lord ganesha’s mother
Parvati, one day disappointed because of her appointed guards were out of lord
shiva’s army failed to stop him from barging into her private chambers.She decided to guard her for while until she
completes her bath. She created a body from dust and oil and infused life into
that body and told him that “I am your mother” and ordered until my bath,
guards the entrance, as soon as she went in lord shiva came to see Parvati and
lord shiva was unaware of his son and as his duty lord Ganesha blocked his way
and would not let him in and that time, lord shiva became irate and in great
anger fought with lord Ganesha, whose head got severed from his body.
As soon as, Parvati returned from
her bath and saw her son, she got very aggrieved anguish and threatened to
destroy the heavens and earth.
Later, the gods and shiva
pacified her and soon after sent out the ganas, to get the head of first living
being his head towards in north direction, as north direction is associated
with wisdom. After a while they found an elephant sleeping and faced towards
north and ganas took the elephants head, returned to lord shiva and he
emotionally involved the elephant’s head to the body and revived him back to
life.
After looking at lord Ganesha,
Parvati asked shiva who will believe this god with a face of elephant, as lord
shiva thinking to correct his big mistake and declared him, Ganesha, he will be
the lord of initiate and Devotees will worship him before any other god, in any
kind of task.
Parvati was delighted and
embraced her son, the giant headed lord Ganesha, by whom shiva named him, the
lord of his ganas “Ganapati”. On this occasion the lord’s declared his
birthday, as from the day the trend follows till now.
But, it is not known why and when
a ganesh chaturthi celebration begins, but the earliest celebrations were
started in the times of reign of dynasties of satavahan, rashtrakutha,
chalukya.As per historical records,
ganesh chaturthi initiated in Maharashtra by chatrapati Shivaji maharaja. As many
stories revealed about lord Ganesha, and his presence in universe as a lord.
This trend follows the centuries
and Vinayaka chavithi is celebrated as per hindu calendar month of
bhaadrapadha, beginning of the shukla chaturthi, usually between 19 Aug to 15
Sep.
May the Lord Ganesha bless us, on
which you initiate things to lead to a success in our lives.
He stands out from the regular pack
of travelers who travel on packaged deals to prominent tourist spots. He
mingles-not with tourist masses but rather that he jingles with the locals.
While most others set off on cozy holidays, he depends on his shoes, strings
and their budget! While they take guided tours, he takes the road less
traveled. All hail the Backpacker as he changes your definition of a true
vacation.
With
a growing need to stretch the buck, travelers are getting more and more
creative at exploring new travel dimensions and at extracting the maximum out
of a minimalistic holiday.
Backpacking
is a state of mind. You certainly have to shed your extravagant ways to find
out if you enjoy this new phenomenon. And believe me…. it got its own rugged charm!
The essence of backpacking is to get as close to the action as possible – be it
the local culture, sightseeing or discovery of newer aspects of the place
–while sticking to the least possible budget. So seeking newer economical ways
and means to doing so in itself is a thrilling experience. At the end of it
all, I’m sure you don’t mind the bank-balance that remains. Ofcourse, this
could be difficult to do with kids who would require their personal space
during the trips and let’s not forget the other travelers who need their
personal space from your kids – especially if you opt for the dormitory
accommodation.
Whether
it’s another cosmopolitan city that you’re visiting or trekking through dense
and rugged jungle terrain or scaling up a 14,000-foot snowy mountain, a
backpack can be your soul-mate – holding all your ‘inevitables’ on the trip.
Here are a few tips for the backpacking wannabies – straight from the seasoned
and the newbies: Read full story in here
1.Manali: Manali, "Land of the Gods” is the popular tourist destination located in the Northern state of India - Himachal Pradesh. Manali is a romantic and beautifulhill resort nested in the lap of the majestic Himalayas. It is a splendid destination for a honeymoon. Fruit orchards, splendid mountains, deodar and pine forests, caves and temples all around in Manali makes an excellent destination for a honeymoon.
Best time to visit: April to June and post-monsoon during the months of September-November.
2.Munnar:Munnar is a misty and lush green hill station situated on high ranges of the Western Ghats in “Gods Own Country” - Kerala. It is a refreshing place to visit at most times of year and is located in Idukki District of Kerala. Munnar has cool climate, calm atmosphere and is surrounded by the scenery hills and greenery, which attracts the honeymooners throughout the year.
Best time to visit: during the months of September-May.
3.Shimla: Shimla is one of the most famous hill stations and popular honeymoon destinations of India, located in the state of Himachal Pradesh . Shimla has pleasant climate and picturesque green hills with snow peaks, which attracts the most of the honeymooners.
Best time to visit: during the months of September - December and April – June.
4.Ooty: Ooty is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in South India, located in Tamilnadu.
It is also known as "Queen of the hills" and is surrounded by Beautiful
hills, and Botanical Gardens. Ooty is the short-form used for
Ootacamund, is nestled in the Nilgiri Hills or Blue Mountains. Best time to visit : Drung month of April - June and Sep - Nov. Source :- Travel As You Like in India
Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area near Thekkady covering an area of 925 sq. km. 350 sq. km of the core area was declared as the Periyar National Park in 1982.
It is an elephant and tiger reserve located high in the Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the southern Western Ghats. The Pamba River valley is a beautiful scenic valley seen from here. About 75% of the entire protected area is covered of natural evergreen or semi-evergreen rain forest with tall tropical tree species going upto a height of 40 to 50 meters. The forest consists of 13% damp leaves forest, 7% of Eucalyptus plantation and 1.5% of grassland. The remainder (around 3.5%) of the protected area is covered by the Periyar artificial lake and the Periyar River and Pamba Rivers.
Elephants at Periyar National Park
The animals of the Park are elephants, tiger, Mouse deer, Malabar giant Squirrel, Indian Porcupine, Small Indian Civet, Sloth bear, gaur, Bison, sambar (horse deer), barking deer, mouse deer, Dholes (Indian wild dogs), mongoose, foxes, Nilgiri Tahr, Langur, leopards etc. There are about 350 species of birds in the park including darters, cormorants, kingfishers, the great Malabar Pied Hornbill and racket-tailed Drongos. The reptiles are of about 45 kinds consisting of snakes, turtles, python, cobra and lizard species. About 38 types of fishes are found here and about 160 species of butterflies.
The flora consists of about 2000 species of flowering of which the rare ones are Hopea parviflora, Dipterocarpus indicus, Palaquium elliptium, Veteria indica and Myristica dactyloides.
The wonderful artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the glory of the park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the excitement of viewing wildlife very closely from a boat on the lake. Herds of wild elephants come to the lake and river which is a major attraction.
The most important attraction in Thekkady is the Periyar National Park, which is located in the banks of artificial Lake of Periyar. The National Park is covered with green grasslands and dense forest covers. The wildlife present here include Indian tigers, elephants, lion tailed macaques, gaurs, deer, sambar. Boat cruises are arranged by the forest department that takes visitors around the lake for two hours from 7.00 am to 4.00 pm. Elephant Safari rides are also available for visitors. Timings for the ride are from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm for half an hour.
In the buffer zone there is also the temple of Sabarimala, which is visited by a number of pilgrims annually.
The best time to visit the park is in the summers as during the monsoons wild animals do not come out in search for water. The months of March and April are the driest months when animals can be seen near the Lake.
The Periyar Tiger Trail is an exciting facility offered by the forest department to provide a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the wildlife deep into the forest. It is managed and organized by the guides who are well-versed with the forest and are experts in wildlife. The team consists of 5 tourists, 5 guides and 2 forest department officials. There are two types of programs offered, such as 1 night and 2 days or 2 nights and 3 days covering a distance of around 35 km. Team members trek through the forest during the day time and stay inside the tents at nights.
Food is cooked in the forest using vegetables and fruits available in the jungle. This is a unique and thrilling life time experience to come across wild animals such as giant squirrels, elephants, sambar, sometimes even tigers.
Tezpur is the largest city of all the
places on the north-banks of River Brahmaputra and is located at 26.63°N
92.8°Ewith an average elevation of 157 feet above sea level in Assam
State. Tezpur is also the 8th largest city of Assam; a Municipal Board and the Administrative Headquarters (the Secretariat) of Sonitpur District in Assam.
Tezpur is 175 kms northeast of Assam
State Capital - Dispur; 170 kms from Guwahati; 63 kms northeast of
Nagaon; 162 kms west of Jorhat; 290 kms southwest of Dibrugarh; 300 kms
east of Bongaigaon; 337 kms southwest of Tinsukia and 370 kms north of
Silchar.
Originally called 'Sonitpur', the place
was renamed 'Tezpur' (in Sanskrit meaning 'place of blood') after a
Hindu Mythological Battle between the armies of Lord Krishna and
Banasura on this site which left the place entirely stained in blood.
Beautifully landscaped and well-kept parks, enchanting wide lakes;
surrounded by never-ending Tea Gardens; captivating views of the mighty
River Brahmaputra in the south and lush green hills and valleys of
Arunachal Pradesh State in the north; plus the views of the snow-capped
Mountains of the Himalayas beyond them is what makes Tezpur one of the
Tourist Hotspots of Assam State. Tourists interested in Archaeological
Ruins, history and River-Tourism must visit Tezpur as there are several
options here to satiate your appetite.
Tezpur offers an interesting mix of places for all. There's a lot for
everyone here. The high-points of tourism in Tezpur are the
archaeological ruins of 'Da Parbatia' and 'Bamuni Hills'; 'Mhabhairab Temple' and the likes and the 'Cole Park' and 'Agnigarh' among others.
For those with an appetite for adventure sports, Tezpur offers
trekking, river-rafting and fishing at 'Jia Bharali River'. You could
even drive out 45 kms north to the Nameri National Park, 60 kms west to
Orang Wildlife Sanctuary or 83 kms east to Kaziranga National Park which
houses the country's largest population of Rhinos and two-thirds of
world's Rhino population.
In order to truly catch the cultural-pulse of the culture-capital
like Tezpur, you ought to visit the culture-clubs and hubs such as Ban
Theatre; Tarun som Sangha, Jyoti Bharati, Jonaki Hall, Hem Baruah Hall,
Jyoti Kala Kendra Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Estantic Club; and thr Hindu
Vaishnv Sattras such as Nikamul, Sipaha, Madar guri, Balipukhuri,
Kundarbari, Baralimara, Naleswar, Dakshinpat, and Soudkuchi satra.
Interwined with the Indian culture is the British culture in Tezpur
which you can get to see at the British-established and
Tea-planters-operated 'Planter's Clubs such as the Tezpur Station Club,
Borsola Gymkhana Club, East Boroi Club, Biswanath Gymkhana Club and
Thakurbari Club.
Balichar Festival, Sivaratri Festival and Bare Shaharia Bhaona are
the big fairs which are indigenous and unique to Tezpur and its
District. Due to the strong culture-mix of this city, the major
festivals that are celebrated here are Bihu, Durga Puja, Eid, Christmas,
Bathou Puja and Chat Puja.
Nagaon (63 kms); Jorhat (162 kms); Guwahati (170 kms); and Dibrugarh (290 kms) are the nearest bigtowns to Tezpur.
Dispur is Assam State Capital which is located in the environs of
Guwahati. Located at 26°09′0″N 91°46′0″E, Dispur has an average
elevation of about 180 feet above sea level.
The great Brahmaputra River flows 10 kms away - flowing north to
northeast of Dispur with the city of Guwahati in between. Dispur is
located in the Eastern flanks of the Himalayan Mountain Range and is at
the foothills of the Shillong Plateau.
Guwahati Zoo lies 5 kms north of Dispur; 51 Sub Area Military
Cantonment is 10 kms east of Dispur; Lord Shiva Temple in Basistha
Ashram lies 5 kms south of Dispur; and the Saraighat Bridge on River Brahmaputra is 20 kms west of Dispur.
The Assam Trunk Road as well as the GS Road pass through Dispur from the centre.
Dispur is Assam State Capital which holds the powerhouse of the State
- the Secretariat of Assam Government. Dispur is a well-laid out city
which encompasses the Assam Secratariat; Assam Assembly House; National
Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Regional Office;
State Bank of India (SBI) Zonal Office; the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre
(GTAC); and the French Moto Car Company Ltd.
You enjoy the wonderful cityscape of Dispur city which has both old and new buildings in a well laid out manner.
From Tourism point of view, Dispur is visited majorly for the
Guwahati Tea Auction Centre. Sankardeva Kalashetra - the hub of all
Assamese cultural activities of the State; 'Jatia' and ancient city of
Assam State and the famous Basistha Ashram are located just around
Dispur.
Dispur and Guwahati share the infrastructure - which makes them the twin cities.
Guwahati (1 km west), Tezpur (185 kms northeast), Jorhat (305 kms
northeast), Haflong (307 kms southeast), Dibrugarh (433 kms northeast),
Shillong (Meghalaya State Capital - 99.5 kms south), Siliguri (in West
Bengal - 437 kms west), and Kolkata (WB Capital - 1003 kms southwest)
are the nearest bigtowns to Dispur..
Come September, the extreme eastern
state of India – Nagaland would be the perfect place to visit as these agrarian
mountain-folk whose lives revolve and depend on agriculture, celebrate the
harvest festival – ‘Mongmong’ which in the local ‘Sangtam’ dialect means ‘togetherness
forever’. Mongmong is celebrated week-long during the first week of September.
Mongmong Festival celebrates
harvest and friendship that has kept these mountain tribes of Nagaland together
always. The festival starts off with the village priest (beburu) announcing ‘Zangnyuo
Mongmong Nung Eh-Lehe’ or the commencement of the festival with prayers and rituals
at midnight.
·On the first day – which is called ‘Singkithsa’,
the oldest person of the area is asked to perform the festival rituals at the
well. The villagers spend the day collecting millets, vegetables and firewood
from the fields. Livestock (cows, pigs and mithuns) transactions are closed on
this day.
·On the second day, as the gathering of the
firewood and the vegetables continues, meat for the festive delicacies is
arranged.
·On the third day which is called ‘MÜSÜYANGTAP’,
people worship their three oven stones in belief that these stones represent
God (Lijaba). Families eat food only after this worship is done. Local rice
beer dancing, tug of war and other merry-making activities take over next.
The Ganga Lake also called as (Gyaker Sinyi) is a major tourist spot of Itanagar. It is a beautiful natural lake that is known as Gyekar Sinyi (meaning restricted water in the Nyishi tribal language).
This beautiful lake is surrounded by rocks, greenery, orchids and tall trees making it an absolute scenic place. The Arunachal Government has introduced boating and a swimming pool here.
Nested in a jungle and in the arms of the hills, the lake leaves an unforgettable experience to visitors. One needs to climb up a hill and look down to view the lake that gives an amazing boating experience.
The local residents and tourists love to enjoy a day out here and have a picnic.
India has always been a fascinating country for tourists. This peninsula offers a multitude of delightful sightseeing and tourist spots for travelers, adventurers, amateur archeologists, historians, pilgrims and those with a spiritual and mystical bent of mind. The presence of a singularly diverse and deep culture, a culture that is distinctive and unique to each state, only serves to add to India’s attraction as a haven for the seasoned traveler. As a result, tourism has developed into one of the top revenue generators of foreign exchange in India.
The architecturally inclined and the religiously minded will have no end of places in India to choose from. From the magnificent wonders of the Taj Mahal with the nearby Moti Masjid and Fatehpur Sikri to the temples of the south, there are a number of architectural styles belonging to different cultures and different time periods on display. One can visit the red stone structures in Rajasthan, the exquisitely built temples of Tamil Nadu in places like Madurai, Tanjore and Mahabalipuram, the Ajanta and Ellora caves with carvings displaying great skill, the Khajuraho temples with their erotic carvings and the temples in Konark and Puri.
Those looking for cool climates and nature’s beauty can visit India’s famous hill stations like Darjeeling, Kulu and Manali, Mussourie, Dehradun, Ooty, Shimla, Kodaikanal. In addition to being weekend getaways, these places also offer multiple activities such as hiking, trekking, boating and rock climbing.
India is surrounded in the east by the Bay Of Bengal and in the west by the Arabian Sea. Thus the two coasts are host to a large number of beaches and coastal roads. Some beaches, for example in Goa, are very famous, but there are a few that are relatively unknown and untouched by commercialization, these are really worth visiting. Chandipur on Sea is one such delightful beach found in Orissa.
For adventure tourists, there is no place that offers as many options as India. One can go trekking, hiking, rock climbing and mountaineering in the Himalayas and many other mountain ranges. One can indulge in skiing in places like Manali and Auli. One can go boating and rafting among the plentiful waters of the Ganges or the Brahmaputra rivers. The high altitudes of places like Ladakh results in their being used for long distance driving and rallies. One can even go on camel safaris in Rajasthan and nature safaris in the many sanctuaries that are present in India.
India is a huge country and one cannot do justice to all its potential in the space of two pages if one is writing about it, or two weeks, months or maybe even years if one is exploring it. For every famous and world renowned site in India, there are so many unknown but equally beautiful places that are discovered only by the well versed traveler. It is these unknown places that have the most to offer for they present India in its most natural form.
Any tourist coming to India for the first time will need to be well prepared in order to have a safe and enjoyable journey. The sights, smells, sounds of a city at first sight can be intimidating or even off putting, and the crowds frightening. Once one gets past this, however, one can begin appreciating the seamless integration of countless cultures, huge number of languages and extensive social and economic disparities to form one pulsating and vibrant experience.
The primary and most important aspect that any tourist should pay attention to is health. In order not to suffer from the customary low immunity that foreigners have, one is advised to take simple precautions to avoid common diseases like traveler’s diarrhea, over even some uncommon ones like dengue or malaria. Some of these include drinking only bottled or sterilized water, eschewing all forms of roadside food, taking appropriate medications before visiting places that have endemic diseases, use of insect repellants etc. Appropriate precautionary measures will go a long way in ensuring an enjoyable and disease free trip.
Tardiness is not uncommon in many Indian public transport systems, so one must always factor this into one’s plans while making travel arrangements. Patience is a virtue, never more so than in one who is travelling the length and breadth of India. The best way to enjoy the journey is to not stay beholden to the time, and be flexible enough to adjust to all kinds of minor delays and glitches.
Even after adequate preparation, research and time, it is almost impossible to experience all of India’s gifts in one visit. Indeed, it is the second time or third time visitor, with all the accumulated experience of the previous sojourn, who will derive maximum pleasure from the latest visit. The kind of traveler who does not mind taking the extra bit of effort, who has patience, who is inquisitive and curious, and who does not mind adventure, is the kind to whom India will reveal the most
According to Islam, the ninth month of the Muslim or ‘Hijri’ calendar – ‘Ramadan’ is the holiest month of the year. During Ramadan, believers of Islam observe strict fasting from dawn to dusk during which period; they abstain from food and drink and spend the days in spiritual reflection. After 30 days of Ramadan is ‘Shawwal’ – the tenth month according to the Hijri calendar. And the first day of the Shawwal month is ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’ – the joyous festival of breaking the 30-day Ramadan fast. Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations span three whole days when Muslims worldwide meet all their families and friends in person to partake of the Eid celebrations. From the sighting of the first crescent of a new moon after the eighth Islamic month, the ninth month – Ramadan begins when Muslims observe fasting, reflection, devotion, sacrifice and generosity – the five Tenets of Islam. Not only do the Muslims comply to this imperative, they feel blessed by this compliance. The five tenets or pillars of Islam are: 1. Creed or Testimony or ‘Shahadah’ – where Muslims recite under oath, the Islamic creed - "'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh", or "I testify there are no deities other than God alone and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." 2. Prayer or ‘Ṣalāh’ – these are ritual prayers which Muslims perform five times a day at five different periods of the day: Fajr (near dawn); zuhr (noon); asr (afternoon); maghrib (just after sunset) and isha (at nightfall). The Arabic word ‘Salah’ is popularly known by its Persian counterpart – ‘Namaz’ – both of which mean bowing, homage, worship and prayer. 3. Alms-giving or ‘Zakāt’ – it is an act of voluntary alms-giving of a fixed portion of accumulated wealth to help the poor or the needy. Zakāt is to Muslims what ‘Ma’aser Kesafim’ is to Jews and ‘Tithe’ is to Christians. During Ramadan, Muslims donate 2.5% of their personal wealth after ‘nisab’ (meeting essential needs) is reached. 4. Fasting or ‘Sawm’ – in order to inculcate ‘taqwa’ or ‘God consciousness’, Muslims abstain from food, drinks and sex from dawn (fajr) to sunset (maghrib) during Ramadan. Fasting or abstinence from any indulgence, helps one to empathize with those less fortunate ones. Abstinence also helps gain control over one’s desires and increases focus on devotion to God. Usage of expletives or thinking evil thoughts is strictly avoided during Ramadan. And even before fasting, it is a practice among Muslims to explicitly express their intention to Fast which is called ‘Niyyah’ or ‘Niyyat’ in Arabic. Infact, without the prior outward commitment – Niyyat, even fasting is not considered valid. The emphasis here is to solidify commitment of the person who is fasting towards this tenet of Islam by outward expression. 5. Pilgrimage or ‘Hajj’ – every Muslim is to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia during the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar – Dhu al-Hijjah. Mecca is the holiest place of Islam religion as Mecca is the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad. Mecca is also where the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad centuries back. Every Muslim on earth who has the financial and physical capability to travel to Mecca needs to perform Hajj at least once in his lifetime. Millions of Muslims perform Hajj at Mecca each year. Bound by these Principles of Islam, Muslims believe that they are commanded by Allah – as mentioned in the Holy Quran – to observe fasting right up till the end of Ramadan plus pay ‘Zakāt’ before performing the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer. Typically, on the day of Eid, Muslims wake up before sunrise offer ‘Salatul Fajr’ (the pre-sunrise prayer) then at the time of offering Eid Prayers they walk up to the Mosque reciting the ‘Takbir’ or incantation until they reach the Mosque or until the ‘Imam’ commences worship. It is forbidden to fast on Eid so a mini-breakfast – mostly made of dry fruits is had before performing the Eid Prayer. The Eid Feast in India – is a lavish spread of dry fruits, biryani and sweet meats which the women-folk prepare at home. People of other faiths visit their Muslim friends – sometimes many households on the same day, to wish them ‘Eid Mubarak’ and partake of their joy and festivities. Besides four weeks of austere fasting and heightened piety, Ramadan also is the much awaited month for shoppers of the other faiths as some of the most ostentatious, ornate and attractive apparel and jewelry are sold during this month. Night-bazar trend is another thing to look forward to during the Ramadan season when brightly illuminated marketplaces display their best wares and solid retailing continues till the wee hours of the morning. ‘Qawwalis’ or Sufi songs are heard on music systems everywhere you go in the market. Especially at places like Delhi and Hyderabad, you would see equal number of non-Muslims shopping at nights during Ramadan when these cities’ shopping places come alive after dark. The marketplaces are overcrowded with shoppers and vehicular traffic is diverted during this month. ‘Haleem’ – a wheat and meat delicacy is made and sold only during the Ramadan. Hyderabad is the ‘Haleem Capital’ of India and is visited by countless Muslims and non-Muslims for the sole purpose of eating Haleem during Ramadan. No wonder then that Haleem alone does a whopping business of Rs. 100 crores during Ramadan in Hyderabad. Popular Mosques of India are: 1. Cheraman Juma Masjid – located in Thrissur District of Kerala – is the first Mosque of India built in 629 AD by Malik Ibn Dinar.
2. Jama Masjid – located in Delhi – is the largest Mosque in India, built in 1650 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The capacity of this Masjid’s courtyard is 25,000 people at one go.
3. Makkah Masjid – located in Hyderabad – built by bricks which were made from the soil brought from Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty – Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah commissioned this Mosque which was completed in 1694. Mosque can hold 10,000 worshippers at a time. IT took about 8000 workers to build this Mosque.
On the occasion of birthday of lord ganesh, a festival celebrated by hindus known as Vinayaka Chavithi or Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, Vinayagar (in Tamil Nadu), In the duration of festival devotees believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees.
Lords Shiva and Parvathi are his parents; on this day lord shiva declared that his son Ganesha as superior to all the gods. Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of knowledge, prosperity and good luck and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new work or at the start of journey.
His birthday is also known as “Ganeshotsav” by the devotees, which is observed in the month of Bhaadrapada (as per Hindu calendar), starting on the “shuklachaturthi” (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The days usually fall between 19th Aug – 15th September. Ganeshothsav lasts for 10 days 9 nights (Nav Rathri), ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the increasing moon period).
Ganesh chathurthi is widely celebrated all over India, however mostly involved in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. This festival is also celebrated in other countries such as Nepal, US, UK, Singapore etc by Hindus.
A life-like clay model of Lord Ganesha is made 2-3 months prior to the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The size of this idol may vary from 3/4th of an inch to over 25 feet.
On the day of the festival, it is placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents for people to view and pay their homage. The priest, usually clad in red silk dhoti and shawl, then invokes life into the idol amidst the chanting of mantras. This ritual is called 'pranapratishhtha'. After this the 'shhodashopachara' (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21 'modakas' (rice flour preparation), 21 'durva' (trefoil) blades and red flowers are offered. The idol is anointed with red unguent or sandal paste (rakta chandan). Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.
For 10 days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped. On the 11th day, the image is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man. All join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the river to immerse it.
The whole community comes to worship Ganesha in beautifully done tents. These also serve as the venue for free medical checkup, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, dramatic performances, films, devotional songs, etc. during the days of the festival.
Take fresh spiritual resolves and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all your undertakings. Watch the Lord Ganesha's Birth Story
May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all! May He remove all the obstacles that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you all material prosperity as well as liberation!
