Hindu Calendar

The Hindu calendar is resplenden with joyous festivals and celebrations that present an enhanced opportunity to enrich and revitalize our faith and dedication to God.  Celebration dates of Hindu festivals are calculated according to the lunar calendar, and every auspicious occasion has a social, devotional and Divine significance.
 
Traditionally, Hindu celebrations are a time to reflect on the true meaning and purpose of life.  The community comes together to sing the glories of God's names and to hear an inspiring message.  Sharing prasad meals prepared by community members allows everyone to give thanks to God for the divine blessings in their lives in the company of family and friends.  Children, youth, adults, and seniors all actively participate in the festivities.
 
Major events at a Hindu Temple include programs of Indian classical and folk dances and songs expressing love and devotion to God and keeping alive vibrant traditional culture.  Children enthusiastically  practice for weeks to present dances and re-enact historical scriptural events on stage in plays.
 
Hindu religious celebrations are a time to express gratititude for the precious gift of human life.  We live in an age of great conflict.  The theme of Hindu celebrations is to realize that in every situation it is wise to be devoted to God.  Love and devotion to God develop good qualities in the mind and purify the heart.  During every Hindu religious festival, the message of love and peace is conveyed.  Just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, so, too, the light of Divine love overpowers the darkness of negativity.
 
Maha Shivratri, Holi, Ram Naumi, Guru Poornima, Krishn Janmashtmi, Radha Ashtmi, Sharad Poornima and Divali are some of the most important annual celebrations in the Hindu tradition.  Each festival has its unique meaning, but all serve as a source of spiritual inspiration to further one's personal relationship with God.

MAHA SHIVRATRI
The festival of Maha Shivratri (literally means the 'Grand Night dedicated for the worship of Lord Shiva') is looked upon with greatest reverence and respect by the devotees of Lord Shiv. This festival is celebrated every year on the 13/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon fortnight, just before the new moon) of the month of Phalgun. According to the Roman calendar, this would fall during the months of February or March.……… This day, and more so the night, is dedicated by the devotees of Lord Shiv for his worship and meditation. All the Shiv Temples or Deities of Lord Shiv are fully decorated and devotees long to see the Lord and offer their respects at the feet of their beloved God on this special day.
 
HOLI
Holi, otherwise called "The festival of colors" - is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of Hindu festivals. It's an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colors!  Children, youth, men and women visit each other's homes and colored powders called 'gulal' are thrown into the air and smeared on each other's faces and bodies. 'Pichkaris' and water balloons are filled with colors and spurted onto people - while young people pay their respects to elders by sprinkling some colors on their feet, some powder is also lovingly and delicately applied to the Deities of Radha and Krishn.  From a social point of view, throwing "color" on others symbolizes opening the heart and eliminating any grievances and negative thinking against others.  Meeting with friends, family and the community on Holi with a fresh mind and an attitude of forgiveness and aceptance enhances harmony in society.  Spiritually, Holi is a time to deepen one's devotion and feel drenched in the "color" of God's love.
 
RAM NAUMI
Hindu scriptures explain that God descends on Earth from time to time to grace the souls and to reveal the direct path to Divine realization.  The appearance day of Lord Ram, called Ram Naumi, is celebrated in April.  On this auspicious day, readings from the scripture Ramayan, which reveals the Divine history and descension of Lord Ram, are sung in temples.  Devotees listen to a discourse explaining the relevance of Lord Ram's teachings in today's world and perform arti, the traditional waving of the light.  Following the worship service, everyone partakes of prasad, a meal of blessed food.
 
GURU POORNIMA
The full-moon day (poornima) in July is the auspicious day when the Spiritual Master or Guru is especially recognized and honored for the role he plays in the devotional progress of a soul.  On this day, a disciple will try to visit the ashram of his Guru and participate in special arti and lectures that express gratitude, dedication and faith toward his spiritual guide.
 
KRISHN JANMASHTMI
Krishn Janmashtmi celebrates the appearance of Lord Krishn on this earth, an event which transpired 5,000 years ago at midnight on the eighth day (Ashtami) in the month of Sravana or Savana.   It is generally celebrated in the month of August-September.  Bhajans are an important custom of the midnight celebration during the festival. Dances and plays are also performed by devotees depicting the various events of Lord Krishn's life.  Both professional artists as well as devotees stage plays that are widely attended by devotees at temples and at other locations. The celebration reaches its peak at midnight, when Lord Krishn appeared as a newborn baby.  At this time, arti takes place along with the blowing of the conch (shankh) signalling the auspicious moment.  The devotees rock a beautifully decorated Deity of baby Krishn, which is placed in a decorated swinging cradle.  Because many of the leelas or Divine pastimes of Lord Krishn describe His fondness for butter and curd, sweets like kheer, perhas, etc. are offered and distributed to the devotees after the arti.

RADHA ASHTMI
Sri Radhashtami is a joyous occasion celebrating the appearance of Shree Radha, the absolute supreme power of Divine love, which takes place on the eighth day in the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September) - approximately two weeks after Krishn Janmashtmi.  Shree Radha descended in Barsana village in the early morning.  This joyous celebration begins with chanting of the leelas and virtues of Shree Radha. After a discourse which reveals the greatness of Shree Radha's Divine personality, more pads (devotional songs) are sung in honor of Shree Radha, often accompanied by a leela (devotional play) or jhanki (glimpse of Her Divine form) on the stage. The devotees rock a beautifully decorated Deity of baby Radha, which is placed in a decorated swinging cradle. The program concludes with arti. A devotionally prepared prasad meal follows
 
SHARAD POORNIMA
 Sharad Poornima is that Divine night when Radha Krishn revealed the supreme Bliss of maharas leela to uncountable Divine Gopis in Vrindaban 5,000 years ago. It is the full moon night which falls in October. On this day, the devotees also celebrate the birthday of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, who appeared on the same night in 1922, in Mangarh, India. In India, the festivities begin with a procession (yatra) with Shree Maharajji seated on an elegantly decorated chariot (rath).  At JKP Barsana Dham a procession of hundreds of devotees moves through the ashram grounds with the Deity of Shree Radha seated on an adorned chariot.
 
DIVALI 
Divali also called Deepavali and Diwali, is the festival of lights. The spiritual significance of this celebration is to enlighten one's heart with the light of Radha Krishn love and remove the darkness of ignorance. The word ‘deepavali’ literally means ‘rows of candles.’ Divali is celebrated about 20 days after Dashehra which falls in October-November. This festival commemorates Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after completing His 14-year exile.

To celebrate the occasion, people light oil lamps in and around their house and set off firecrackers. Homes are painted and cleaned, new clothes are purchased and sweets are distributed to family and friends. The Temple is heavily decorated with lights, lamps and candles, creating a beautiful array of twinkling, glimmering and sparking lights.  The evening's festivities beging with the chanting of Divali pads or devotional songs. A discourse is given that reveals the spiritual significance of Divali.   After this, the arti is done. Outside, a fireworks display is arranged, followed by raas garba (lively devotional dancing).

Kripalu Maharaj