Diwali – Festival of Lights

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

Diwali Greeting/eCard by eNimantran.com

Diwali eCard

Diwali is one of the most important festival celebrated by Hindu people. It is also known as Deepavali (row of diyas) or ‘Festival Of Lights’ . It falls in Hindu month Ashwin/Kartik.

Diwali is celebrated for 5 days. Everyday people light row of clay oil lamps. Also they enjoy fireworks. It is festive environment everywhere. There will be big rangolis in front of every house. Big part of it where people invite or send eNimantran to their friends and families and celebrate with special sweets and food items. Some of the delicacies are Shankar-pali, Chivada, Ladoo, Chakali, Karanji, Anarasa.

 

Diwali eNimantran, Diwali Invitation, Diwali evite
Diwali eNimantran

First day of Diwali is Dhan-Teres or Dhan-trayodashi. It is celebrated on the 13th day (trayodashi) of Ashwin month. Usually people buy gold/silver (Dhana) on this day. It is also considered to be the Birth day for ‘Dhanavntari’ -God of Ayurvedic medicine.

Second day of Diwali is Narak-Chaturdashi. As the name suggests, it is celebrated on the 14th dayof Ashwin month. On this day Krishna killed the daemon Narakasur. On this day people wake up before sunrise. They take bath with ‘Utane’-  a special fragrant mixture of herbs and oil. Then wear new clothes. Go to temple. Women draw big colorful rangolis in front of house.

Third day is Laxmi-poojan. This is most important day of Diwali.  On this day after sunset, Laxmi poojan is done. Laxmi is the goddess of wealth. People will put jewellary/gold/ money in front of Laxmi idol during pooja.

Fourth day is Bali-Pratipada. It falls on the first day(Pratipada) of Kartik month. It marks beginning of new year for business people. It commemorates the victory if Vishnu over King Bali.

Fifth day is Bhau-beej/Bhai-dooj/Yam-dvitiya. It is the last day of Diwali. This day shows the love between brother and sister. Sister does aarti for brother and brother gives gift as a token of love and affection. Brother invites sister ( and her family if she is married) or sister invites brother.

Nimantran for bhau-beej/Bhai-Dooj

Wish you all a very Happy Diwali…

 

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Maha Shivaratri

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

Maha Shivratri/ MahaShivaratri/ Maha Sivaratri (Great Night of Shiva or Night of Shiva) is a Hindu festival. It is celebrated on the 13th night/14th day of Krishna Paksha of month Maagha. It is the night dedicated to worship Lord Shiva.

Shiva is the Lord of Dance, Meditation, Yoga. He is one of three main deities Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh. Mahesh is another name for Shiva.

The devotees do fast for a whole day and all night vigil. Usually on this day devotees take only milk and fruits. The Bilva-patra (patra means leaves) and flowers are offered to Shiva. All Shiva temples are decorated. And devotees chant “OM NAMAH SHIVAY’ mantra.

Many people invite friends/family at home for pooja/ bhajan.

Maha Shivratri

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Gudhi Padwa/ Gudi Padwa

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

Gudi Padwa is a New Year’s day for some regions in India. It is celebrated on the first day of first month Hindu month Chaitra according to lunar calender. It is also one of most auspicious days in the year to start new venture.

In Maharashtra, this day is celebrated as called Gudhi Padwa. In Karnataka and Andra Pradesh, it is celebrated as Ugadi/Yugadi. Kashmiri Hindu’s celebrated it as Navreh. For Sindhi people it is celebrated as Cheti Chand (Birthday of patron saint Jhulelal).

It is believed that Lord Rama returned to Aayodhya on this day after 14 years of ‘Vanvaas’. To welcome Rama, people decorated pathways with big and bright rangolis and everybody hoisted gudhi. In Maharashtra, people wake up early morning. The doorways are decorated with bright rangolis. The gudhi is hoisted outside of window/ terrace/ balcony. The gudhi is nothing but very long Bamboo stick. It is decorated with new and bright colored saree/cloth, Neem leaves, ganthi( garland of sugar crystals), mango leaves. To hold all these together, a pot of copper / silver is placed upside down over it. As a prasad, a mixture of Neem leaves, Chana dal and jaggery is made.

Happy Gudhi Padwa

Gudhi Padwa

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Ram Navami

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

Ram Navami is a festival to celebrate birth for Lord Rama. Lord Rama was a son of Aayodhya Emperor Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya. Rama was one of ten Avatars of Lord Vishnu.

Ram Navami is celebrated in the Hindu Month Chaitra on the 9th day(Navami) in Shukla paksha. It is celebrated at noon time because Rama was born at noon according to legend. People perform pooja as well as get together to chant Rama-nam mantra.

|| Jay Shri Ram ||

 

Ram Navami

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Ugadi/ Yugadi

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

Ugadi is New Year’s day for people in Karnataka and Andra Pradesh states of India. It is celebrated on the first day of Hindu Month Chaitra according to Lunar calender.
‘Yug’ means era/age and ‘adi’ means beginning. So the word Yugadi/Ugadi means Beginning of new era/new year.

On this day ‘Ugadi Pacchadi’ is made. It is made from fresh Neem flowers(taste bitter), green mango(tastes tangy), tamarind(tastes sour), jaggery(tastes sweet). Each of these ingredients represent fact of life. that means life is full of experiences that are sweet, bitter,sour and tangy(surprise). So be ready to face them and enjoy life.

Happy Ugadi

Ugadhi

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Ganesh Chaturthi

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

Ganesh Chaturthi is very popular festival. People come together to pray Lord Ganesha. He is commonly known as ‘Vighnaharta’ aka ‘Remover of Obstacles’.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi

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Holi- Festival of colors

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

Holi is festival of colors. It is also known as Basant-Utsav (Spring Festival).Holi is celebrated as one of harvest festivals as well as Spring festival. It is celebrated on the full moon day of Hindu month Phalgun.  It usually comes in March/early April.
It is celebrated by doing bonfire and throwing colored powder or colored water at each other.  In some parts of India, on Holi Purnima day, only bonfire is done & they play with colors on the 5th day called Rang-Panchami(Rang means colors and Panchmi is 5th day after full moon). It is one the most joyous and widely celebrated festival.

Some people gather together to do Holika Dahan on holi and then play with colors. Happy Holi!!!

Holi Invitation

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Raksha Bandhan / Rakhi Purnima

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

Raksha (protect) Bandhan (bond) is an Indian festival. This festival strengthens the love between brother and sister. Rakhi symbolises the bond among brother and sister. It is an occasion for whole family get together.

It is celebrated on full moon day of hindu month, Shravan (usually it comes in August).

Sister applies kumkum tilak on brother’s forehead and performs Aarti. Then ties Rakhi (holy thread ) on brother’s wrist and offers sweets. Brother in turn gives gift/ money to sister.

See eNimantran’s huge collection of invitations for Raksha Bandhan.

Here is a sample for Raksha Bandhan invitation

 

 
Raksha Bandhan Invitation

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Housewarming / Vastushanti/ Griha Pravesh

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

VastuShanti

VastuShanti is performed by Hindu people when they buy new house. VastuShanti is based on ancient science Vaastu Shastra(science). Vaas means to live/ stay/ dwell. Vaastu means dwelling of humans and gods together.

Vastu Shanti is a pooja vidhi done for worship of Gods and deity of directions as well as Panchbhoot (five basic elements of nature). The Panchbhoot are – Aakash(Sky), Vaayu(Wind), Paani(Water), Agni(Fire) and Pruthavi(Earth). The Vastu Shanti is performed to correct some of the Vastu dosha(defects) that may exist in the land or house or building.

Vastu Shanti is chanting of special mantras that includes Hom Havan. It is an elaborate pooja vidhi that may take about half of day.

This Vastu Shanti event is celebrated with inviting relatives and friends for Pooja and food. Invite your friends and family using our Vastu Shanti Invitations
Vastu Shanti Invitations

Gruh Pravesh/ Griha Pravesh

Gruh Pravesh means first entry into your new house. It is done before moving into your new house hold. It is considered as auspicious beginning of life in the new house. As per tradition, it is celebrated with Pooja and Hom-Havan

This Gruh Pravesh event is celebrated with inviting relatives and friends for Pooja and food. Invite now using Gruh Pravesh Invitations

Housewarming

A housewarming party is thrown usually after moving to new house, or sometimes after renovation of the house. The hosts show their new home to friends and family, followed by a feast. The guests bring gifts for host to decorate their new home.

In India, this ceremony is called Griha Pavesh/Gruh Pravesh.

Invite your friends and family using Housewarming Invitations

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Sankranti / Onam/Pongal / Lohri

Posted on April 23, 2015 by eNimantran

This is the only Indian festival which is celebrated every year on 14th January,  The sun moves from Dakshinayana (Tropic of Cancer) to Uttarayana(Tropic of Capricorn). Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Sanskrit and sankrant/sankraman means moving of Sun. That’s why it is called Makar Sankranti. It marks end of winter and beginning of longer. warmer days.

Makar Sankranti is also known as Gupi, Lohri, Pongal, Thaipusam etc. Even if called with different names, it is celebrated with great enthusiam. It is also major harvest festival.

Til (Sesame Seeds) has special importance on this festival.
In Maharashtra, people make special sweets made of til-jaggery ladoo/chikki(brittle). People visit friends and family and say “Til-Gul ghya, god-god bola” means (Take sweet and talk sweet as always). This is the only day when black color is regarded as auspicious. So women wear black sarees. The married women do haldi-kumkum ceremony in the evening and they give “Daan”(gift) of useful items/utensils.

 

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