Ganga Dussehra 2012, Ganga Dasara Puja in Jyeshta Month

Ganga Dussehra or Ganga Dasara is a ten-day festival dedicated to Goddess Ganga (Ganga River). This festival is celebrated for 10 days and ends on Shukla Dasami in Jyeshta month (May-June). Ganga Dussehra 2012 Ganga Puja dates – Ganga Dasara begins on May 21 and ends on May 31. It is mainly celebrated in holy places like Rishikesh, Haridwar, Prayag, Varanasi, and Garh-Mukteswar. Devotees throng to the ghats along the River Ganga and perform Punya snan and offer pujas and aratis to Goddess Ganga.

Ganga Puja is also celebrated in Vaishakh month as Ganga Saptami or Jahnu Saptami. Jahnu Saptami is known as the day during when Ganga descended to the earth (Ganga Jayanti).

Ganga Dashara 2012 is even more auspicious as Ganga Antya Pushkarams are held in 2012. Ganga Pushkaram is an auspicious event which comes once in 12 years of period.

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Pipal Jatra or Vasantotsava at Kullu in April 2012

Pipal Jatra or Vasantotsava is an important spring festival at Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. Pipal Jatra or Vasantotsava 2012 date in Kullu is from April 28 to April 30, 2012. The highlight of the festival observed at Dhalpur Ground in Kullu is the participation of local deities.

Today, the festival is more popular for its cultural programs. Artists from various states in India and abroad participate in the festival.

Earlier 16 village deities used to assemble at the Dhalpur Ground. The Raja of Kullu used to sit under a Pipal Tree and witness the fair.

The fair is also noted for a temporary market that comes during the period.

akshaya tritiya, akshay tritiya, akshaya tritiya 2012 Akshay Tritiya 2012 – Akshaya Trithiya date in 2012

Akshaya Tritiya or Akshaya Trithiya is one of the most auspicious days for Hindus. Akshaya Tritiya 2011 date is April 24. Akshaya Tritiya 2012, Akshaya Tritiya 2012, Akshaya Tritiya, Akshay Tritiya, Akshaya Thithi, Akshaya Tritiya 2012 Date

Akshaya Trithiya, or Akha Teej, is a highly auspicious day which falls on the third day after Amavasi (no moon) in the Hindu month of Vaishakha. In 2012, the date of Akshaya Trithiya is 24 April 2012. As per Hindu astrology and almanac, each second on the Akshaya Trithiya day is auspicious. It is said that there is no need to look for a ‘muhurat’ on the day. The word Akshaya means ‘that which never diminishes’ and the day is ideal for beginning new ventures as it is believed that all investments on this day appreciates. (In 2010, Akshaya Tritiya was on May 16)

In a traditional Hindu lunar calendar, Akshay Tritiya is observed on the third day of Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Vaishakh Month.

It is believed that the sun and the moon are most radiant and best placed on the day. Therefore it is one of the most popular dates in Hindu calendar for marriages, for beginning new ventures, for investing and for purchasing valuables like gold and diamond.

Parashuram Jayanti is also observed on Akshaya Tritiya day. There are numerous legends associated with Akshaya Tritiya; most popular is that of Sudama or Kuchela visiting Lord Krishna in Dwarka with a handful of beaten rice (poha or aval).

Another legend suggests that the Pandavas received the Akshaya Pathram (bowl) from Lord Krishna (in the Mahabharata) on this day.

It is also believed that Sage Vyasa began the composition of Mahabharata on the day.

Lord Vishnu and his incarnations are worshipped on the day. People also conduct Lakshmi puja on Akshaya Tritiya.

But nowadays, Akshaya Trithiya is associated with gold purchase and many people wait for the day to make investments in gold, Legends associated with Akshay Tritiya, What to do on Akshaya Tritiya, Hindu Gold Rush Day

Mesha Sankranti 2012, Mesha Sankramana (Souramana Ugadi) | Sowramana Ugadi 2012

Mesha Sankranti (Mesha Sankramana punyakalam) is an auspicious during when Sun transits to Mesha Rashi from Meena Rashi. It marks the beginning of new zodiac cycle of Surya Bhagavan. It is also referred to as Souramana Ugadi as it is celebrated as the New Year day in Souramana Panchangams (Solar Calendars) followed as per Hinduism. In 2012, Mesha Sankranti date is April 13 in Tamil Nadu, April 14 in Kerala, West Bengal, Assam & Punjab.

The exact time of Mesha Sankranti 2012 (Mesha Sankramana Punya Kaalam) is – 13 April 2012, Friday, at 8.18 PM.

Souramana Ugadi is celebrated as ‘Varusha Pirappu’, ‘Chithirai Vishu’, ‘Puthandu’ in Tamil Nadu. Kerala people celebrate ‘Malayalam Zodiac New Year’ with the name ‘Vishu’. ‘Pohela Boishakh’ & ‘Naba Barsha’ are the name of Bengali New Year day. ‘Bohag Bihu’ or ‘Rongali Bihu’ is celebrated as Assamese New Year. Baisakhi celebrates the Punjabi New Year.

Poila Baisakh 2012 date – Pohela Baisakha | Bengali New Year 2012 | Nabo Barsho 2012 | When is Bengali New Year in 2012 | Bengali New Year - ecards, greetings, wishes, quotes

Poila Baisakh is the Hindu New Year in West Bengal and Bangladesh is celebrated in the month of Vaishakh or Baisakh (April – May). Poila Baisakh 2012 date is April 14. The Bengali New Year is popularly referred as Naba Barsa in Bengal and Pohela or Poila Baisakh in Bangladesh and is the first day in the Bengali Calendar.

On Poila Baisakh, Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, and Lord Ganesh are worshipped. Traders perform the halkhata ceremony that marks the advent of the Bengali New Year. All shops are decorated with flowers and one will notice stringed fresh lemons and chillies hanging in front of shops. This is used to ward off the evil eye.

Shopkeepers, businessmen and traders close the old accounts and open a new one. People visit their favorite shop during the day to wish them luck for the year ahead. Traders welcome customers on this day with sweets.

In Bengali houses, Naba Barsa is noted for the special elaborate alpanas (rangolis or kolams). A kalash is placed in the center of the alpana design and it symbolizes prosperity. Houses are elaborately decorated with flowers as there is no shortage of flowers during this season. Another important event is the Prabhat Pheries or early morning processions.

Women make it a point to buy a new sari or saree for Poila Baisakh, especially a white sari with red border. Traders popularly call the sale of new clothes during Naba Barsha as ‘Chaitra Sales.’
No Hindu festival is complete without the mouthwatering cuisines. And Bengalis prepare both Vegetarian and non-Vegetarian dishes for Poila Baisakh.

Tamil New Year 2012 – Varsha Pirappu – Puthandu 2012 | Happy Tamil New Year 2012 Greetings | Tamil New Year ( Nandhana year ) 2012

Tamil New Year, Varsha Pirappu or Puthandu, is observed on the first day of Tamil month Chithirai, the first month as per traditional Tamil Calendar. In 2012, the date of Varsha Pirappu or Tamil New Year is April 13. Chitirai 1 is an auspicious day for Tamil speaking people in India (Tamil Nadu) and across the world, especially in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa.

Note -
Tamil New Year 2012 in United States is on April 13;
In Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia it is on April 14
In Sri Lanka it is on April 13

It must be noted here that in 2008, the Government of Tamil Nadu had officially made Pongal, the Tamil New Year. (Update - this decision was reverted by the present government) This decision was reversed by the Government that came to power in 2011. Irrespective of the legislations Varsha Pirappu or Puthandu is marked on Chithirai 1 in most Tamil Calendars.

A major highlight of the Tamil New Year is the viewing of ‘Kanni’ – meaning auspicious things. Legend has it that viewing auspicious things on this day will bring good fortune throughout the year.

After viewing the Kanni, it is time for a ritualistic bath. After the bath, it is time to draw the ‘Kolam’ or Rangoli (Tamil New Year Kolams). The ‘kolam’ is believed to bring good fortune to the famil members. Then, the doorways are decorated with mango leaves.

After this the family assembles for prayers. The prayers begin with the lighting of the traditional lamp (kuthu vilakku).

The lamp is placed next to a brass bowl with a short neck, which contains water and is decorated with mango leaves – called the niraikudum.

Then, it is time to head to the nearby temples to seek the blessings of the Gods. In some temples, people gather to listen to the Tamil Panchangam, which contains the predictions of the coming year.

Abhijit Nakshatra May 2012 Date and Time | Abhijit Nakshatra 2012, Abhijith Nakshatram 2012 dates & Timings

Abhijit Nakshatra is one among the birth stars and the time period of it is considered highly auspicious. Abhijit Nakshatra May 2012 date and time is from 11:51 AM on May 11 to 8:17 PM on May 11, 2012. As per Hindu astrology, this birth star is not counted among the 27 regular Nakshatras (birthstars).

Some astrologers count the Nakshatra as the 28th birth star. It is considered a highly auspicious and meritorious period.

This is a special Nakshatra which starts from the last quarter of Uttarashada (Uttradam) Nakshatra and it extends up to 1/15th part of Shravan (Thiruvovam) Nakshatra. Abhijit Nakshatra is given importance by many Hindu communities.

Birth taking place during the period is considered highly auspicious.

Rameshwaram Temple Darshan Timings | Rameswaram Temple Puja Timings

Rameshwaram Temple in Tamil Nadu is open daily for darshan from 5 AM in the morning to 1:00 PM in the afternoon and from 3:00 PM in the afternoon to 9:00 PM in the night. There will be change in timings once or twice a year during important festivals. The temple will be open for longer hours. Rameshwaram Temple Daily Puja Timings is given below:

Details of Puja Timings in Rameshwaram Temple:
5:00 AM – Early morning Deeparadhana known as Palliyarai Deeparathana
5.10 AM – Early morning second Deeparadhana known as Spadigalinga Deeparathana
5.45 AM – Thiruvananthal Deeparathana
7:00 AM – Vila Puja
10:00 AM – Kalasanthi Puja
12:00 PM – Noon Puja - Uchikala Puja
6.00 PM – Sayaratcha Puja
8.30 PM – Arthajama Puja
8.45 PM – Palliyarai Puja

The numerous Teerthas and subsidiary temples are also open from 5 AM in the morning to 1:00 PM in the afternoon and from 3:00 PM in the afternoon to 9:00 PM in the night.