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Festivals

Everything You Need to Know About Sheetala Saptami

Udaipur is known for its culture and diversity. And festivals are the mirror of the cultures. Big or small, the enthusiasm with which we celebrate every occasion is what makes it special.

The small rituals during the festivals keep us connected with our traditions and create a sense of belongingness. Every household has its own little traditions which they perform with friends or family. In some families, it is celebrated on Ashtami.

Every festival comes with new learnings and beginnings. One such festival is Sheetala Saptami. Like every other festival in the city, Sheetala Saptami also revolves around interesting stories recounting the history behind various festival rituals.

It is celebrated in honour of Sheetala Mata, this Goddess is an incarnation of the feminine power. People worship Sheetala Mata to protect themselves, their family and friends from getting inflicted from diseases like smallpox and chickenpox.

When is it celebrated?

It is observed on the ‘Ashtami’ of the Krishna Paksha during the Hindu month of ‘Chaitra’. It corresponds to the month of mid-March to April. Sheetala Saptami generally comes after 8 days of the Holi Festival. But in some communities, it is celebrated on the first Thursday or Monday that comes after Holi.

Significance

As per Hindu mythology, Goddess Sheetala is an incarnation of Goddess Durga and Maa Parvati. The goddess is seated on a donkey and has been shown as holding neem leaves, broom, soup and a pot. Her grandeur has been mentioned in several religious stories.

The benefit of worshipping goddess Sheetala has been explained in various details. It might not be known to many that the Sheetala Mata story was written by Lord Shiva and also known as Sheetalashtak.

Rituals

The festival starts with getting up early before sunrise and taking a bath. Then pay a visit to Sheetala Devi Temple and offer prayers with ‘Haldi’ and ‘Bajra’. After performing the rituals, listen to the Vrat Katha. And then offer other essential offerings like curd to the goddess. After offering food to the deity, the rest of the food is eaten all day long as prasad. In some parts of the country, people also shave their heads to please the Goddess.

We all will be remembering this festival as the day of eating cold food. As per the traditions, we do not light fire for cooking. Therefore, we prepare the food a day in advance and consume the food the next day. This would be the only festival where cold food is offered to Goddess Sheetala.

On this day simple, non-spicy food is made. It is said that eating normal cold food acts as a relaxant to the digestive system. As Sheetal means cold, so Sheetala Mata vrat incorporates cold food, so that our stomach is not aggravated, and gets food that is easy to digest.

Story of Sheetala Mata

It is believed that a woman lived in a village. The woman was a devotee of Sheetala Mata and also kept her fast. Other people of the village didn’t keep the fast of Sheetala Mata and neither did they have any faith.

A sudden fire occurred in the village, everyone’s huts were burnt except the devotee of Sheetala Mata. When the reason came to know, everyone understood that this happened because of worshipping Sheetala Mata. Since then people started worshipping Sheetala Mata.

We are living in a world where every day a new disease is taking birth and some country is starting a war. In these times we need to have a belief and a sense of unity that will keep us going on.

These festivals are our happy distractions from all these things which are going on in this world. It gives us peace and creates a sense of motivation amongst us.

As we go deep into every festival’s origin there are big learnings hidden in them. This festival marks the safety of our people. We all always pray for our and our family’s safety. And this festival is nothing but praying for safety.

Written by- Vaishali Jain

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Festivals

Baneshwar Fair – The Maha Kumbh Of Tribals

During the last five days of the month of Magh, Baneshwar Dham, where the three sacred rivers, Som, Mahi, and Jhakad meet, attracts a huge number of tribal’s not only from Rajasthan but also neighbors states such as Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It is believed that the fair is about 500 years old; located at a distance of about 123 km from Udaipur, 45 km from Dungarpur and 53 km from Banswara and perched on the top of a hill is the highly revered temple of Lord Shiv. Leaving the main road, one has to go Sabla and then reach Baneshwar. The temple is situated near the delta of the rivers Mahi and Som. It was named Baneshwar after the Vagdi Language word ‘Ben’ for Delta and ‘Ishwar’ for Lord.

Baneshwar Fair – The Maha Kumbh Of Tribals
Image Courtesy: Rahul Soni

The beliefs and rituals of the Bhil tribes

Performing rituals for Moksha

The tribals consider Baneshwar, the ‘trisangam’ of the river as the most sacred place for immersing the ashes of their dead as are Kashi, Prayag, Haridwar, Pushkar etc. They believe in doing ‘tarpan’ of the ashes that results in their ‘moksha’. Right from the morning on Purnima, thousands of tribal coming from different directions gather at the ‘sangam’. The ashes of men are wrapped in white cloth while those of women in red color one and then kept in earthen pots. With the help of their ‘guru’ the tribes perform elaborated rituals on the bank of the rivers. Then with their family, they enter the water and begin wailing. They stand in water and pay the last homage to the dead ones who left them during the previous year. After a cleaning bath, they put on fresh clothes and worship gods and goddesses then it is the turn of those pilgrims who do not bring any ashes to have a holy bath, recite mantras and perform rituals.

The legend of the Shivling at Baneshwar Dham

It is time now for the visitors to go to temples. After climbing up a long flight of steps, they reach the Baneshwar Shiv temple. According to a legend related to this temple, once a cow used to go near the Shivlingam and offer her milk to it. It had no milk when it returned home in the evening. Naturally, it made its master very curious to know the reason for all this. One day he followed the cow and seeing it near the Shivlingam got him infuriated. The frightened cow began to run away and in the process, the 20 cm high Lingam was hit by its hind leg and broke into five pieces. Since this then, this ‘Khandit Lingam’ is being worshipped.

Puja is performed twice during the day. Darshan starts at 4:30 am when the ‘Lingam’ is washed with water and ‘kesar’ is offered. In the evening there is bhasma-aarti with five flames. Darshan is open up to 11:00 pm. Devotes can offer flower, fruits, ghee, coconut etc. On this holy spot was built a beautiful temple by Aashkaranji, the Maharawal of Dungarpur in 1453. A Bhil Meena was appointed as the priest of the temple. A big fair began to be held here. And without any consideration of caste and creed, everyone was allowed to worship here. Pilgrims visit the Radha – Krishna’s Hari Mandir, and also the Brahma Mandir, Panchmukhi Mandir, Gayatri Mandir, Shabri Mandir, Raja Bali Temple, Bhagwan Nishkalank Mandir, Ram Jharikha Asharam, Valmiki Mandir, Hanuman Mandir etc.

The happenings at the fair

On the occasion of the big far, the Peethadheeshwar of Sabla who is a descendant of the saint Mavji comes to Baneshwar in a procession in a palanquin with pomp and show covering a distance of about 5 km. Thousands of devotees join the yatra. Also, brought from Maninda Math at Sabla to Baneshwar Dham is the 16 cm silver idol of Mavji on horseback in a palanquin.

Baneshwar Fair – The Maha Kumbh Of Tribals
Image Courtesy: Rahul Soni

First of all, the Mahant takes a dip in the water at Baneshwar Dham. This makes the water holy, it is believed. Then it is time for pilgrims to have a bath. Devotees get a chance to have the ‘darshan’ of the Mahant in Krishna Mandir for five days. The new devotees are initiated and they wear ‘Kanthi’ on the neck. Rasleela is performed for devotees. With great enthusiasm are sung and heard bhajans about the legends associated with Mavji and his teachings. So also, about Mavji and Mehudi who are believed to be Lord Krishna and Meera Bai. A big number of saints and Mahatmas of different sects also put up their camps in the fair for the benefit of their devotees.

The exhibition at Baneshwar

Visitors to the huge fair not only avail this opportunity to perform rites and have ‘darshan’ of temples and saints but also enjoy themselves. They take advantage of the exhibitions about government beneficial schemes of the govt, awareness programs of the health depts. etc. Many of them take part in various games and sports organized by Tribal Area Development agency culture programs, magic shows, and aerobatic shows and swings etc are some other attractions. Shopaholics get a big chance to shop from a big range of articles including plastic items, cosmetic items, bangles, shoes, clothes, artificial jewelry, trinkets, sickle, scythes, axe-heads etc. Also, on sale are weapons such as spears and swords. As archery has a long tradition, there is a big demand for bows and arrows made of bamboo.

Baneshwar Fair – The Maha Kumbh Of Tribals
Image Courtesy: Rahul Soni

Mavji and the history

Baneshwar Dahm has become a sacred place as the great saint Mavji Maharaj did ‘tapsya’ in this region for a long time. He was born at Sabla village in Dungarpur district. He was the son of Keshar Bai and Dalamji. Since his early childhood, people began to revere him due to his saintly nature and miracles. He lefts home at the age of 12 and performed ‘tapasya’ for twelve years in the cave of Sunaiya hills near Sabla. Then he reappeared at Baneshwar and gave ‘darshan’ on Magh Shukla Ekadashi. In his memory is held the Baneshwar fair. Due to his divine deeds, he established himself as a great saint and came to be revered as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. As the scriptures say the ‘rasleela’ of Lord Krishna and the ‘gopis’ at Vrindravan got interrupted. At the request of the ‘gopis’, the Lord promised that ‘ras’ would recommence when he would appear in the form Mavji at Baneshwar.

Mavji wrote several ‘granths’ that include Gyan Rathmala, Guru Shisya Samwad, Prem Tatra, Prem Gita, Shri Bhagwat Mahapurana, Sehaj Gura, Samras Amrit Sagar and Sudanand. All of them are replete with Govind Geets, Krishna Leela and ‘rasleelas’. He also wrote five chopda’s in 776 pages which describe the past, the present and the future. They are written in Devanagri script and the language is a mix of Hindi, Vagadi, and Gujarati. Some of these forecasts have already come true viz Hindus and Muslims would eat together, there would be inter-caste marriage and the low will become high and the high low. Mavji did a lot for social equality at a time when there was much discriminative. He allowed people of all communities to enter temples and do puja and perform ‘rasleela’. He favored widow marriage and he himself married a widow of Patidar Samaj.

In the fair is showcased the tribal culture of the region in its various aspects. One can watch or participate in dances like Gair and Ghumar that are peculiar to the region and games like Gida Dot, that is like hockey and archery. Indian and foreign tourists take the advantage of witnessing the rich folk culture and also love to participate in some activities.

Baneshwar Fair – The Maha Kumbh Of Tribals
Image Courtesy: Rahul Soni
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Photos and Videos

[Pictures] Farewell to the Goddess with Invitation for the Next Year

Vijaya Dashmi is the tenth day from Navratri Sthapna. It is symbolized as the victory of good over evil, as Dusshera, when Ram won over Ravan and freed Seeta from Lanka. This day is also celebrated for Goddess Durga, who is worshipped during these nine days, is given a grand farewell by the devotees. Every year all the devotees of Goddess Durga become a part of grand procession, and with great enthusiasm, endeavor and devotion, the idols of the Goddess are immersed in water bodies.

Visarjan | Durga Pooja | UdaipurBlog.com

It is believed that during Navratri, Goddess Durga and her kids visit us, at her home, or Maayka from her in-law home place (Sasural), and goes back from our world to her Sasural on the 10th day. Hence on the 10th day, the procession is similar to any farewell celebrations which happen after all marriages. After the deity is immersed, people wish each other with the greetings of Vijaya Dashmi, and return to their homes.

This year, I became a part of the Vijaya Dashmi celebration at Bengali Kalibadi Society, Hiran Magri Sec. 4. I could see crowd gathering and everyone preparing for the farewell to the Goddess.Women were beautifully dressed in traditional white Sarees with red borders.  The ceremony was started by a ritual called Darpan Visarjan, followed by Sindur Khela, a ceremony only for women where they worship Goddess Durga, and then play with Sindoor. After that, the idols were loaded onto a truck, and the entire procession followed shouting slogans, with Dhols, Nagaadas, and huge amount of fireworks. Slowly and slowly the procession reached Swaroop Sagar, where keeping in mind the eco-friendly tradition,  the non-biodegradable/plastic items were stripped off the idols, and with full devotion the deity was immersed into water, with an invitation to shower the blessings on us and come again in the next year.

Check out the pictures of the event, captured by (in alphabetical order) Aniket John, Gaurav Bhattacharya, Mujtaba RG, Prasun Bannerjee, and Sanjay Das.

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Visarjan | Durga Pooja | UdaipurBlog.com

Visarjan | Durga Pooja | UdaipurBlog.com

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Photos

Dusshera: Victory over the Evil symbolized at Gandhi Ground

The victory of good over evil was again symbolized at Gandhi Ground yesterday, where a huge crowd gathered in the evening to celebrate the moment. There were processions and events from the afternoon, which concluded with the entry of Ram, played by Mr. Vijay Kasturi, Lakshman played by Amit Khathuria, and Hanuman played by Kishor Lalwani entered the ground.

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The structures were standing tall at about 60 feet. There was a lot of effort done on the preparations. After the Tilak of Ram, the scene came into action with fireworks, and Hanuman set the Golden Lanka on Fire. Following this moment, Ram set the structures of Ravan, Meghnad, and Kumbhkaran on fire, with his fiery arrow. The awesome fireworks wowed the entire crowd present at the moment. The Chief guests present at the ceremony were Mrs. Rajni Dangi, Mr. Gulabchand Kataria, Dr. Girija Vyas, Mr. Raghuveer Meena, Mrs. Kiran Maheshwari, etc.

Ravan was burnt, but we all still have many evils around us, such as crime, illiteracy, poverty, etc, most prominent among them being corruption. With the burning Ravan, which symbolizes the evil, we just hope that the “trending” Ravans among us burn away from our society.

Check out the pictures below shot by Mujtaba RG

 

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Photos

[Pictures] Nine days of Navratri Finally Concluded with Zeal

Navratri means nine days of full fun, frolic, devotion, as well as enthusiasm. This year during Navratri, one had many options for enjoying the same with friends, family, or even alone. First of all, the rocking environment of Garba, or Dandiya shall not be forgotten. Huge populations have poured in huge amount of money for arranging passes and getting inside for enjoying the Garba. Here are few photographs of the Our Real Estate Dandiya Raas 2011 event by Mujtaba RG

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Other than the Garba, there was also the Durga Puja Celebration held by Bengali communities over different places in Udaipur. Devotees of Goddess Durga celebrated the Durga-ashtami on the 8th day of Navratri, majority of devotees observed fasts. The Bengalis worshipped the Goddess Durga at the Sandhi Puja with 108 lotus flowers and 108 lamps at late night, which is the Sandhi, or the joining period of the going 8th day, and the coming 9th day. The photos below show few of the rituals such as Sandhi Puja, Dhunuchi dance, etc. The Dhunuchi is a clay pot filled with burning incense; devotees of the Goddess Durga dance with these – hop across to the nearest Durga Puja pandal this evening, it’s breathtaking, and too much of fun as well. Photos are shot by Gaurav Bhattacharya, Mujtaba RG, and Prasun Bannerjee 😀

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Decoration and arrangement at Sutharwada

 

 

Cultural events being held at the pooja communities
Scene from Arti in the evening from Bindu Bhawan, Ashok Nagar
Devotees performing the Dhunuchi Dance