Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Hop Around India's August Newsletter

August is a special month in the year 2012. Generally a full moon occurs after every 29.5 days, so there in one full moon day in every month. But in the month of August, 2012 we will have two full moon days i.e on august 2nd and another on 31st august.

Krishna Janmashatmi: Aug 9th & 10th 

Krishnashtami or Gokulashtami is the birth anniversary of Lord Sri Krishna. Lord Krishna was born on the Astami thidi on Krishna paksha during Shravan Masam. Mathura, Gokul and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, the places where lord Krishna had spent his childhood, attracts visitors from all over India and they participate in these festival celebrations with joy. People in the city of Dwaraka in Gujarat where Krishna has established his kingdom; celebrate the festival by visiting the Dwarakadhish temple. On this holy day Kite flying is an important part of celebrations in Jammu. In Puri, Orissa and Nabadwip in West Bengal people celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and praying till midnight. This festival is celebrated in Manipur at two temples in Imphal. First temple is the Govindaji temple and the second one is in International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple. Gokulastami popularly called in Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra as Dahi Handi, is celebrated with enormous zeal and enthusiasm.More… 

Onum: Aug 29th 

Onum is the most important festival in Kerala. It is celebrated in the beginning month of chingam, the first month of Malayalam calendar (Kollavarsham). Onum is a 4 days festival. The most important day in Onum is the Thiru Onum and is celebrated in 2nd day of Onum. On this holy day people decorate their houses with flowers arranged in beautiful patterns to welcome the King (Lord Krishna). Feasts served on banana leaves(feast known as Onasadya), dancing, sports, games, and snake boat races form an important ritual on this festival day. An important feature of Onum is the performance of beautiful dances like Kummatti Kali - the Mask dance, Pulikali / Kaduvakali, Kathakali, Thumbi Thullal and Kaikotti Kali. More…. 

Nehru Trophy Boat Race: Aug 9th – 12th 

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the most important sporting event, held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha in the state of Kerala. This event took place for the first time in 1952. Pd Jawaharlal Nehru, our first prime minister of independent of India visited Kerala in 1952. He enjoyed the thrill of being part of the snake boat race, and announced a trophy to the winner. During the race, each snake boat has 95 Oarsmen, five ‘Amarakkar’ or Controllers, and 10 ‘Nilakkar’ or Cheerleaders. Vanchipattu, or songs with very catchy beats are sung by about 10 singers on board, keeping the boatmen’s spirits high. These beats have devotional and mythological themes. This boat race also called as snake boat race. More…  

Independence Day: Aug 15th 

Independence Day in India is celebrated every year on the 15th of August. On 15th August 1947, India achieved her independence from British rule and became a paramount nation. On this day India’s tricolor flag was first hoisted by Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, at the Red Fort of Delhi. The Independence Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the nation. On this day Indians proudly hoist their National Flag, sing patriotic songs like “Vande Mataram”, “Jana Gana Mana” etc. The Prime Minister hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort accompanied with the gun shots, Parades by armed forces, amazing live performances and music, He delivers his symbolic “Address to the free nation”. More.. 

Festival of the Month

Ramzan
 
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.

If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at info@hoparoundindia.com Newsletter August-2012 Copyright @ All rights reserved with www.hoparoundindia.com

1 comment: