Makar Sankranti

Hello guys, I am again come with my third blog. In this blog I will tell you about Makar Sankranti which is most important festival in India.

It marks the first day of sun's transit into the Makara(capricon), marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days. Many go to the sacred rivers or lakes and bathe with thanksgiving to the sun.

Every twelve years ,the Hindus observe the Makar Sankranti with one of the world's largest mass pilgrimage, with estimated 40 to 100 million people attending the event.
Makara or Makar Sankranti is celebrated in many parts of Indian subcontinent with some regional variations. It is known by different names and celebrated with different customs in different parts of the region.

Makar sankranti is regarded as important for spiritual practices and accordingly, people take a holy dip in rivers, especially Ganga,Yamuna ,Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. The bathing is believed to result in merit or absolution of  past sins. Celebrated as Makar Sankranti in some regions, pongal in Tamil Nadu, Maaghi in Punjab, Bhogali Bihu in Assam and Uttarayan in Gujarat, this is one of the most auspicious days of Hindu calender and indicates the first day of sun's transition into Capricorn. Each region has its significance rituals and unique festivals but the common thread across the country is a spread of delicious food that pays homage to the season.

Ashadhi Ekadashi

Hello I am Ishan,  I'm Again with my second blog. I want to tell the readers more about some Indian festivals.
Ashadhi Ekadashi comes once in a year. It is the festival of Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. It comes before the month of Shravan(in July).This is most important festival in Maharashtra.

Shayani Ekadashi ("sleeping eleventh")or Maha Ekadashi ("The great eleventh")or Prathama Ekadashi ("The first eleventh")or Padma Ekadashi  or Devshayani Ekadashi or Devpodhi is the eleventh lunar day (Ekadashi)of the bright fortnight(Shukla pasha) of the Hindu month of  Ashadha.(June -July).Thus it is also known as Toli Ekadashi in Telugu.
This holy day is of special significance to  Vaishnavas, followers of Hindu preserver God Vishnu. On this day images of  Vishnu and Lakshmi are worshipped, the  entire night is spent singing prayers , and devotees keep fast  and takes vows  on this  day,  to be observed  during  the  entire Chaturmas,
the  holy  four month  period  of  rainy  Season. 

These  may  include,  giving up  a  food  item or fasting on  every  Ekadashi day. This  day a huge  Yatra  or religious  procession of  pilgrimags known  as  Pandhar Ashadi Ekadashi Waari  Yatra culminates at Pandharpur, in Solapur  district in south  Maharashtra, situated  on the banks of Chandrabhaga River. Pandharpur is main center of  worship of the  deity  Virtual,  a local form of Vishnu.