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Indian languages, festivals, food, art, religion, and social life.

Shaktism

Overview Shaktism (Sanskrit: Śāktasampradāyaḥ) is a major Hindu denomination in which Shakti, the divine feminine energy, is revered as the Ultimate reality and personified as Adi Parashakti, the Great Goddess. Her nu...

Vaishnavism

Overview Vaishnavism (Sanskrit: वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major traditions within Hinduism, alongside Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Its followers, known as Vaishn...

Karni Mata

Overview Karni Mata (Hindi: करणी माता), also known as Bhagwati Karniji Maharaj, Mehaai, Jagdamba and Kiniyani, is a Hindu goddess associated with power and victory and described in tradition as a warrior sage. Accordi...

Mokshada Ekadashi

Overview Mokshada Ekadashi (Sanskrit: मोक्षदा एकादशी, Mokṣadā Ekādaśī, meaning 'the eleventh day of moksha') is a Hindu holy day observed on the eleventh lunar day (ekadashi) of the waxing fortnight in the month of Ma...

Vaikuntha Ekadashi

Overview Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Sanskrit: वैकुण्ठ एकादशी, literally 'Eleventh day of Vaikuntha') is a Hindu occasion observed in honour of the deity Vishnu. It is regarded by Vaishnavas as a particularly significant ekad...

Chaitra

Overview Chaitra (Sanskrit: चैत्र, romanised: Caitra) is the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar and the Indian national calendar. The name is derived from the position of the Moon near the Chitra nakshatra on the...

Kartik Month

Overview Kārtika, also written as Karttika or Kartik, is the eighth month of the Hindu lunar calendar and the Indian national calendar. The name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Kṛttikā n...

Amavasya

Overview Amavasya (Sanskrit: Amāvásyā) is the lunar phase of the new moon in the Hindu calendar. It marks the night when the moon is not visible, and is observed as a significant day in traditional Hindu timekeeping a...

Naraka Chaturdashi

Overview Naraka Chaturdashi is an annual Hindu festival observed on Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the Krishna Paksha, in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin according to the amanta tradition, or Kartika according ...

Dhanteras

Overview Dhanteras (Hindi: धनतेरस), also known as Dhanatrayodashi (Sanskrit: धनत्रयोदशी), is the first day that marks the festival of Diwali in most of India, and Tihar in Nepal. The festival is observed on the thirte...

Ahoi Ashtami

Overview Ahoi Ashtami is a Hindu festival observed about eight days before Diwali, on the Ashtami tithi (eighth day) of the Krishna Paksha. According to the Purnimant calendar followed in North India, it falls in the ...

Kartik Purnima

Overview Kartik Purnima (Sanskrit: कार्त्तिकपूर्णिमा, Kārttikapūrṇimā), also spelt Kartika Pournami, is a cultural and religious festival observed in Hindu, Sikh, and Jain traditions. It is marked on purnima, the full...

Gudi Padwa

Overview Gudhi Padwa is a spring festival that marks the beginning of the lunisolar new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. It is observed in and around Maharashtra, Goa, and Daman on the first day of Chaitra, the op...

Ugadi

Overview Ugadi (Telugu: ఉగాది), also known as Yugadi (Kannada: ಯುಗಾದಿ) or Samvatsaradi in Sanskrit, marks the first day of the year on the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The name derives from the Sanskrit words yuga (era) ...

Vishu

Overview Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a Hindu festival that marks the Malayali New Year in Kerala and Mahe. It falls on the first day of the month of Medam, the opening month of the solar calendar followed in the Malaba...

Onam

Overview Onam is an annual harvest and Hindu cultural festival celebrated mostly by the people of Kerala. It is traditionally associated with the legend of the benevolent Asura king Mahabali, who is believed to have o...

Basant Panchami

Overview Vasant Panchami, also rendered Basant Panchami, is a Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the goddess Saraswati, on account of which it is also known as Saraswati Puja. The festival marks the preparation fo...

Lohri

Overview Lohri is a midwinter folk and harvest festival that marks the passing of the winter solstice and the end of winter. It is observed as a traditional welcome of longer days and the sun's journey to the Northern...

Pongal

Overview Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils. It is observed over three or four consecutive days, beginning on the last day of the Tamil calendar month of Margazhi. The four days are name...

Makar Sankranti

Overview Makar Sankranti (Sanskrit: मकरसङ्क्रान्ति), also referred to as Uttarayana, Makara or simply Sankranti, is a Hindu observance and mid-winter harvest festival celebrated across India and Nepal. The occasion ma...