Hindu Festivals-Part I.. Ganesh Chadurthi

All festivals in Hinduism are predominantly religious in character and significance. Many festivals are seasonal. Some celebrate harvest and birth of God or Heroes. Some are dedicated to important event in Mythology. Many are dedicated to Ganesh, Shiva & Parvati, Vishnu & Lakshmi and Brahma & Saraswati

Details of the important Hindu festivals are given here in different Parts.


In Part I of the series the details of Ganesh Chadurthi are given as below

Ganesh Chadurthi (Vinayagar chadurthi, Pillayar /chadurthi)'

Ganesha Chaturthi (Devanagari: गणेश चतुर्थी, Kannada: ಗನೆಶ ಚತುರ್ಥೀ), also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival. It is the birthday of Ganesha who is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shuklachaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 20 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period).

While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate in western and southern India. Outside India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal and by Hindus in the United States, Canada and Fiji.

Two to three months prior to Ganesh Chaturthi, artistic clay models of Lord Ganesha are made for sale by specially skilled artisans. They are beautifully decorated & depict Lord Ganesh in various poses. The size of these statues may vary from 3/4 of an inch to over 25 feet.

Ganesh Chaturthi starts with the installation of these Ganesh statues in colorfully decorated homes and specially erected temporary structures mandapas (pandals) in every locality. The pandals are erected by the people or a specific society or locality or group by collecting monetary contributions. The mandapas are decorated specially for the festival, either by using decorative items like flower garlands, lights, etc. or are theme based decorations, which depict religious themes or current events.

The priest, usually clad in red silk dhoti and shawl, then symbolically invokes life into the statue by chanting mantras. This ritual is the Pranapratishhtha. After this the ritual called as Shhodashopachara (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas, 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered. The statue is anointed with red unguent, typically made of Kumkum & Sandalwood paste . Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda, the Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and the 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 statue is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, and fanfare 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 his devotees, this is the ritual known as Ganesh Visarjan. At individual homes the Visarjan is also done on 3rd, 5th or 7th day as per the family tradition. All join in this final procession shouting "Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhachya Varshi Laukar ya" (O lord Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idols to the river to immerse it.

The main sweet dish during the festival is the modak (modagam or modakam in South India). A modak is a dumpling made from rice flour/wheat flour with a stuffing of fresh or dry-grated coconut, jaggery, dry fruits and some other condiments. It is either steam-cooked or fried. Another popular sweet dish is the karanji (karjikaiinKannada) which is similar to the modak in composition and taste but has a semicircular shape.

Public celebrations of the festival are hugely popular, with local communities (mandalas) vying with each other to put up the biggest statue & the best pandal. The festival is also the time for cultural activities like singing and theater performances, orchestra and community activities like free medical checkup, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, etc.

Today, the Ganesh Festival is not only a popular festival, it has become a very critical and important economic activity for Maharashtra. Many artists, industries, and businesses survive on this mega-event. Ganesh Festival also provides a stage for budding artists to present their art to the public. The same holds true for Hyderabad and Chennai too. In Maharashtra, not only Hindus but many other religions also participate in the celibration of Ganesha festival like Muslims, Jains, Christian and others. This festival has managed to re-establish the unity among the Indians during British Era.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthi

                                                        WORSHIP OF GANESH

                                                Immersion of Ganesh Idols

SECURITY TIPS FOR USING YOUR CREDIT/DEBITCARD

With the increase in the usage of Credit cards and Debit cards, the number of frauds committed are also on the increase.

Types of Credit Card /Debit card Fraud:

Your card could be lost or stolen and fraudulently used; it could be copied; the details could be stolen and used via the internet, over the phone or by fax and mail order; or you could be a victim of identity fraud, where the criminal will use your personal details to apply for a credit/debit card, or to take over your credit/debit card account.

Here are some tips to protect your cards from the fraudulent persons:

1. RECEIPT OF THE CARD:

• When you receive a new card/Pin Mailer, check that the envelope containing the card /Pin Mailer does not show any signs of being opened or tampered with.

• If the card is received in a sealed condition, sign on the signature panel on the reverse immediately. If it is not in sealed condition, inform the issuing bank.

• Write down the number of your card, CVV Number /PIN Number and phone number of Customer care printed on the reverse of the card in a Diary or a document which can be accessed by you only. This will enable you to inform the issuing bank immediately in the event of theft or loss of your card.

• Since the CVV number printed at the back of the credit card is to be furnished for transactions through Internet, it is advisable to mask the CVV number to avoid misuse of the card in case of loss of the card.

• Keep all the documents of your cards that are in use in a safe place.

• If your card has expired, cut it into four pieces with a pair of regular scissors, making sure that you cut through the middle of the magnetic strip and the card numbers. Then dispose of the pieces. If you want to close the account you have to surrender the card.

• Destroy all the charge receipts of your cards and any stationery that you may not use. Tear them to pieces before throwing them into the dustbin.

2) USING THE CARD IN SHOPS /ESTABLISHMENTS:

• Take with you only the card that you are going to use.

• After making any transaction, always make sure to get back the card.

• Do not use your card in shops/establishments where you do not feel secure for some reason because of the place itself, the sales persons or just the of the day.

3) USING THE CARD IN ATMS:

While operating the ATM

• Insert the card in the Access Lock Slot (or swipe through the slot as the case may be) to gain entry into the ATM cabin.

Before gaining entry into the ATM cabin ensure that no one is inside the cabin

• Always enter the ATM cabin alone and operate; do not allow any other person to enter with /without your notice.

• Avoid seeking help from others; ATM operations are very simple and menu driven; you can do it yourself

• Insert the card in the Card Reader Slot of the ATM with the arrow marked in the card pointing towards the Card Reader Slot.

• Collect the card on its ejection as delay in collecting it may result in capturing of the card by the ATM.

• Follow the menu based instructions appearing on the screen for further operations

• Enter the PIN obtained from the Bank after ensuring that no one around can watch the PIN being keyed in.

• Use ‘Change the PIN’ option as the first operation to maintain secrecy

• Change the pin periodically through the ‘pin change’ option

• In the case of getting a printout from the ATM, destroy the same completely if not required for further reference and put in the dustbin; others may build information about your account if not properly destroyed

Cash withdrawal:

• In case of cash withdrawal

o collect the entire cash in the tray and count for its correctness

o collect the transaction slip and card from the respective slots

• Use ‘fast cash’ option to reduce your waiting time at the ATM.

Deposit of cash/Cheques:

In case of deposit of cash/cheques

• Use separate envelope for each deposit and seal the same

• Enclose filled in pay-in-slip with each deposit

• Deposit cash in the ATM, if the account is maintained in the same ATM branch.

• Deposit only crossed cheques

• Deposit local clearing cheques for collection in the ATM only if the account is maintained in the same ATM branch.

• Collect the receipt issued by the machine for future verification.

Don’ts

• Do not forget your PIN
• Do not write your PIN anywhere including the face of the card
• Do not disclose your PIN or give the card to anybody
• Do not keep pin and card together under any circumstances
• Do not fold notes or pay in slip/cheques while depositing
• Do not use pin or stapler while depositing cash/cheque
• Do not place more than 30 notes in an envelope
• Do not deposit coins
• Do not enter into the cabin if the ATM is being used

4) USING THE CARD THROUGH INTERNET:

• If you want to buy /or pay for any service like Telephone bill/booking railway/air tickets etc., first of all make sure that the selected site has a Secured Sockets Layer (SSL) connection.

• Usually, when you log into this kind of shopping website, you receive a notification of the SSL Certificate. If you do not receive it, the symbol of a small lock will appear at the bottom right corner of the screen. When you click lock, the certificate information will appear.

5) USING YOUR CARD OVER THE PHONE:

• Never give you card number over phone to unknown persons or telemarketers.

• If you need to make a purchase over the phone, make sure that the company from whom you want to make your purchase is widely known.

• Under no circumstances give your card number, CVV No or PIN for over-the-telephone transactions.

• Do not provide any personal information by phone or fax, such as your home or working address, account numbers,credit/debit card numbers, account balances or income related information, until you make sure that the company requesting the information is empowered to do so and that the call is really coming from the company. If the request is for entering the information via the internet, make sure the Web site complies with the required security standards.

6) SAFE KEEPING OF THE CARD:

The black magnetic stripe on the back of the CARD contains important information about the account / card and needs special handling.

• Keep the card away from heat and direct sun light.

• DO NOT keep the card in vehicles parked in sunlight.

• DO NOT bend the card.

• DO NOT place two cards with magnetic stripes together.

• DO NOT keep the card in an area where there is a continuous magnetic field.

• DO NOT leave it on top of TV set or near any electronic appliance.

• Avoid scratching the magnetic stripes.

  

Twelve Jyotirlinga Shrines in India

A Jyotirlinga or Jyotirling or Jyotirlingam (Hindi: ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग) is a shrine where Lord Shiva, an aspect of God in Hinduism is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam or "Lingam (pillar) of light." There are twelve traditional Jyotirlinga shrines in India.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_12_Jyotirlingas-Map.jpg

The following slogam explains the twelve points in India where the Jyotir Lingams are situated

Saurashtre Somanaatham Cha Sree Saile Mallikarjunam
Ujjayinyaam Mahaakaalam Omkaare Mamaleswaram
Himalaye to Kedaram Daakinyaam Bhimashankaram
Vaaranaasyaam cha Viswesam Trayambakam Gowtameethate
Paralyaam Vaidyanaatham cha Naagesam Daarukaavane
Setubandhe Ramesham Grushnesam cha Shivaalaye || 

Source:http://www.vedarahasya.net/jyotir.htm

The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines or the 12 shrines enshrining Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlingam, have been held in reverence since time immemorial in the Indian system of beliefs. The southernmost of these is located at Rameswaram, while the northernmost is located in the snowy heights of the Himalayas at Kedarnath. These temples are closely linked with legends from the puranas and are rich in history and tradition.

1.Somnath is the foremost of the 12 Jyotirlinga Shrines of Shiva, held in reverence throughout India and is rich in legend, traditions and history. It is located at Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra in Gujarat.

2. Ujjain - Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga shrine The ancient and historic city of Ujjain or Avanti in Madhya Pradesh  is home to the Jyotirlinga shrine ofMahakaleshwar.

3. Omkareshwar: an island in the course of the river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh  is home to theOmkareshwar Jyotirlinga shrine and the Amareshwar temple.

4. Kedarnath - the Northernmost of the Jyotirlingas. Kedarnath, nestled in the snow clad Himalayas is an ancient shrine rich in legend and tradition. It is accessible only on foot, six months in a year.

5.Sree Sailam - Sree Sailam near Kurnool enshrines Mallikarjuna in an ancient temple rich in architectural and sculptural wealth. Aadi Sankaracharya composed his Sivanandalahiri here.

6.Bhimashankar - Jyotirlinga Shrine is associated with the legend of Shiva destroying the demon Tripurasura. Bhimashankar is located in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, accessed from Pune.

7.Varanasi - The most celebrated pilgrimage site in India TheVishwanath temple in Benares in Uttar Pradesh  is the goal of the thousands of pilgrims that visit this ancient city. The Vishwanath shrine is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.

8.Tryambakeshwar -  The origin of the river Godavari is intimately linked with thisJyotirlinga shrine near Nasik in Maharashtra.Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Shrineis a temple located in the vicinity of the tourist town of Ellora, which has several rock cut monuments from the 1st millennium CE.

9.Vaidyanath temple at DeogarhThe ancient pilgrimage town ofDeogarh in the Santal Parganas area of Bihar is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva.

10.Nageshwar near Dwarka in Gujarat  is one of the 12Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.

11.Rameswaram: This vast temple in the island of Rameswaram, in Southern Tamilnadu enshrines Ramalingeswarar, and is revered as the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of India.

12.Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Shrineis a temple located in the vicinity of the tourist town of Ellora, which has several rock cut monuments from the 1st millennium CE.

Source:http://www.templenet.com/jyotir.html

Other links:http://www.jyotirlingatemples.com/

http://www.nivalink.com/pilgrimage/jyotirlinga.html