08-27-2004, 05:47 PM
(fwd)
<b>SANSKRIT DAY</b>
Sravan Poornima
Sravan Poornima occurs on 29-08-04 this year. The month SRAVAN occurs when the full moon day occurs with the star Sravan. It occurs between August 15 to September 15 every year. The Govt. of India observes this day as SANSKRIT DAY. Sravan Poornima is a special occasion in the Indian culture. The North Indians celebrate âRaksha Bandhanâ on this day and the people of Kerala state celebrate âONAMâ festival, which is the âfestival of harvestâ.
<b>Vidyarambha</b>
There is a reason why this day has been chosen to observe as Sanskrit Day. The year is divided into Uttarayana and Dakshinayana according to the movement of the Sun. Uttarayana occurs from 15th January to 14th July and Dakshinayana occurs between 15th of July and 14th January every year. During the Dakshinayana people would not move out of their home/home town, due to the rainy season. This was the practice in the ancient India. To spend the months usefully they started their learning and teaching process on Sravana Poornima day. Even today it is a tradition that a child is given Aksharabhyasam (teaching of alphabets) first time during this season (Vijayadasami, the last day of Navarathra). Before the beginning of a fresh course Pandits and scholars perform a kind of ritual called Upakarma. This day is called Vidyarambha (beginning of learning Vedas). In general, they start learning the Vedas, Philosophy, Vyakaran (Grammar), Kavyas and Sanskrit. It lasts till Makar Sankranthi. Therefore this is an appropriate day to observe as Sanskrit Day.
<b>ONAM</b>
Onam is the festival of harvest celebrated in Kerala, the southern state of India. It is also a festival of colours and flowers. It is also said that King Mahabali (grand son of Prahlad) visiting his subjects during this day. This was the day of Vamanavathar. On this day, Lord Mahavishnu took birth as the youngest son Kasyapa and Aditi and conquered Mahabali. So people of Kerala decorate their houses and streets with different colors of flowers called âAtthapooâ. Girls and ladies will sing and dance in groups wearing new clothes to welcome their king âMahabaliâ. The new couples will be invited for lunch and dinner. This celebration starts on the star âHasthamâ and will be celebrated for 10days till the star âOnamâ (29-08-04)
<b>Raksha Bandhan:</b>
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in the whole north India. It is the celebration of âbrother hoodâ. In olden days when the warriors go to the war field their sisters used to perform a special prayer and tie a colorful thread on their brotherâs right wrist for their protection. Then on this day of Sravan Poornima also there used to be a kind of worship and used to tie a kind of colorful thread called âRakhiâ. Since a thread is tied as a Raksha it is called the festival of âRaksha Bandanâ. There was an incident during the regime of Badsha Hyumayun, son of Babar that the queen of Mewar Karmavathi sent a Raki to Badsha Hyumayun and made him her brother. This incident avoided the war between Mewar and Delhi Sultanate.
<b>SANSKRIT DAY</b>
Sravan Poornima
Sravan Poornima occurs on 29-08-04 this year. The month SRAVAN occurs when the full moon day occurs with the star Sravan. It occurs between August 15 to September 15 every year. The Govt. of India observes this day as SANSKRIT DAY. Sravan Poornima is a special occasion in the Indian culture. The North Indians celebrate âRaksha Bandhanâ on this day and the people of Kerala state celebrate âONAMâ festival, which is the âfestival of harvestâ.
<b>Vidyarambha</b>
There is a reason why this day has been chosen to observe as Sanskrit Day. The year is divided into Uttarayana and Dakshinayana according to the movement of the Sun. Uttarayana occurs from 15th January to 14th July and Dakshinayana occurs between 15th of July and 14th January every year. During the Dakshinayana people would not move out of their home/home town, due to the rainy season. This was the practice in the ancient India. To spend the months usefully they started their learning and teaching process on Sravana Poornima day. Even today it is a tradition that a child is given Aksharabhyasam (teaching of alphabets) first time during this season (Vijayadasami, the last day of Navarathra). Before the beginning of a fresh course Pandits and scholars perform a kind of ritual called Upakarma. This day is called Vidyarambha (beginning of learning Vedas). In general, they start learning the Vedas, Philosophy, Vyakaran (Grammar), Kavyas and Sanskrit. It lasts till Makar Sankranthi. Therefore this is an appropriate day to observe as Sanskrit Day.
<b>ONAM</b>
Onam is the festival of harvest celebrated in Kerala, the southern state of India. It is also a festival of colours and flowers. It is also said that King Mahabali (grand son of Prahlad) visiting his subjects during this day. This was the day of Vamanavathar. On this day, Lord Mahavishnu took birth as the youngest son Kasyapa and Aditi and conquered Mahabali. So people of Kerala decorate their houses and streets with different colors of flowers called âAtthapooâ. Girls and ladies will sing and dance in groups wearing new clothes to welcome their king âMahabaliâ. The new couples will be invited for lunch and dinner. This celebration starts on the star âHasthamâ and will be celebrated for 10days till the star âOnamâ (29-08-04)
<b>Raksha Bandhan:</b>
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in the whole north India. It is the celebration of âbrother hoodâ. In olden days when the warriors go to the war field their sisters used to perform a special prayer and tie a colorful thread on their brotherâs right wrist for their protection. Then on this day of Sravan Poornima also there used to be a kind of worship and used to tie a kind of colorful thread called âRakhiâ. Since a thread is tied as a Raksha it is called the festival of âRaksha Bandanâ. There was an incident during the regime of Badsha Hyumayun, son of Babar that the queen of Mewar Karmavathi sent a Raki to Badsha Hyumayun and made him her brother. This incident avoided the war between Mewar and Delhi Sultanate.