Sailee Bakhle

One of the famous festivals celebrated in India, Dussehra is celebrated on the 10th day of the Hindu autumn lunar month of Ashwin, which is between September and October. Dussehra is an important festival in India for Hindus. All the corners of the country get sparked with enthusiasm for the festive season. Dussehra is known as Dasha-hara, Dassera, Durgotsav and famously known as Vijayadashmi in different states of the country. Dussehra festival in India is also known as "Dashmi", denoted by the word 'Ten'. This day is followed by nine-day festival, Navratri. During Navratri, nine forms of Devi (Goddess) are worshiped all around the country, with slightly different rituals. Dussehra marks the beginning of the harvest season in India and the 'mother earth' is invoked to reactivate the vigour and fertility in the soil. All this is done by performing rituals and religious activities on this day. The festival of Dussehra draws its origination from two sources, ...

Gudi Padwa is the Marathi term that replicates the concept of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada or the first days of the Chaitra month(March-April) which also marks the New Year as per the lunisolar Hindu calendar. Gudi Padwa is believed to bring in prosperity and good luck into home. It is also considered an auspicious day to commence new projects and buy new things.  Gudi Padwa's most prominent symbol is elaborately decorated bamboo stick displayed proudly outside the window or main gate of a house, this is 'Gudi' and is created using a bright color cloth like red, orange, green, yellow adorned with zari work. This cloth is tied to a bamboo tip and is further decorated using neem leaves, mango leaves, a garland of red flowers and sugar crystals. A copper or silver pot is then placed atop of it. The 'Padwa' means 'first' and it has been derived from Sanskrit literature. Celebrated as the first day of the Hindu calendar, Gudi Padwa together, is a wonderful...