This 26th of January we are going to celebrate 65th Republic Day.

India got independence on the 15th August, 1947. She was still governed by the constitution framed by the British. There had been a constitutional Assembly, even before her independence, which was given the task of framing a new constitution for free India. The said Assembly completed and submitted it on 26th November, 1949 to Government. It became functional on 26th January, 1950. This is how India was declared a Sovereign Democratic Republic from the day onwards. To mark and remember that day all Indians celebrate 26th January as Republic Day, every year. The Republic Day is a red letter day in the history of free India. It stepped into an era of self rule. India got the opportunity to design its future and destiny with her own hands. No other country could interfere either in the domestic or foreign matters as a right.

   As the Republic Day has a lot of historic value, it is observed all over the country with great joy. Especially in New Delhi, the capital of India, it is celebrated with much grandeur and splendor. There is a march of procession beginning from Rastrapati Bhavan to India Gate, in the morning. Along with the people of India, there has been a number of V.I.P.s and Indian & foreign delegates invited to witness the function. At India Gate, the President of India, takes salute of the three wings of army i.e. land, navy and air force. Various awards such as Civilian and Gallantry are distributed among famous personalities by the President. Through different tableaus, there has been an attempt to represent India in miniature. The day is a memorable one for all Indians.

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In different corners of the World different festivals are observed round the year. It brings about social unity and communal harmony and at the same time, it gives pleasure and amusement. Festivals are important part of society. Different festivals are celebrated by different regions and different religious groups. Each and every festival has its’ own significance. Like National festivals (such as Independence Day, the Republic day, Gandhi Jayanti, Children’s day, Teachers’ day etc.), Indians of different groups observe festivals of their own (such as: The Christians of India celebrate their Christmas, the Good Friday.Shikhs observe the birthday of Guru Nanak. Farmers of India observe the occasion of new harvest. The Muslims observe their festivals like Id-ul-Fittar, Id-ul-zuha, Ramzan, Moharrum etc.).

Among the festivals observed by Hindus, Durga puja, Dushera, Ramlila, Diwali, Holi, Rath Yatra, Saraswati puja, Ganesh puja, Shiv Ratri, Ram Navami, Janmastami are very famous.

The festival of Duga puja is celebrated mostly in Bengal and Odisha.Durga puja is celebrated as Dushera in the Northern and Western provinces of India in another style (like Garva). It is celebrated with great jubilation throughout the country. Schools, colleges, offices and other organizations remain closed during that period.

The mythological Backgrounds

First Story: The legend goes that Sri Ram Chandra supposed to be an incarnation of Lord Bishnu went to Sri Lanka to rescue his wife Sita, imprisoned by Ravan, the most powerful warrior in the World. Despite his best efforts Ram failed to defeat Ravan. Ram was advised to appease Mother Durga and win her blessings to kill Ravan. Ram offered puja to Goddess Durga solemnly and with all sanctity with one hundred eight blue lotuses. Mother Durga was pleased with his puja and granted him, his wish that he would now be able to killing. On the day of Dushera, Ram killed Ravan and rescued Sita from her imprisonment.

The Hindus believe that the Divine Mother, who could bless Ram, may also bless them and take away their evils and misfortunes. So they worship her at the same time of the year and in the same manner as Ram did in the past.

The festival is observed for four days. It starts on the seventh day of bright fortnight of Aswin and continues up to tenth day which is called Dushera. Beautiful images of the deity are built with straw, clay and color. Those are adorned with fine clothes, ornaments and flowers and placed on the decorated altars. Then the ceremonial worship starts. The last puja is held on Dushera day and the images are carried in a great procession for their immersion in the river. This is called immersion ceremony and the whole festival ends here.

The Second Story: The story says that demon king Mahisasura was greenfly a wish by Brahmadev and became immortal. He and other demons terrorized people for no fault of theirs. He was invincible and not to be killed by any man, god or woman of ordinary birth. God and goddesses were at a loss to decide what to do. All of them went to Bishnu, the Almighty God and prayed to Him to find out a way of his death. According to His advice, all of them prayed together. Their prayer worked wonders. Out of the space was born Mother Durga with enormous vigor and uncommon beauty. On Her request the gods and goddesses gave their weapons to Her. She now became too powerful to be vanquished. On the tenth day of full moon of Awina, She killed the demon king and saved the earth as well as gods and goddesses from hi persecution. Since then people have been worshiping Mother Durga with a view to pleasing Her and winning Her blessings for fulfillment of their desires.

The festival comes off in the month of Aswina when the earth is clad with the loveliest autumnal beauty. The image of Durga is not worshiped alone. With Her are worshiped Lord Shiva,Her husband, two sons Ganesh and Kartikeya and her two daughters, Laxmi and Saraswati. The idol of Durga stands majestically on a pedestal. She stands in a great posture, with one of Her foot firmly planted on the chest of demon Mahisasura.

The celebration continues from sixth day to the tenth day of maxim moon. On the tenth day comes the Bijaya-Dasami when the idols are immersed in the river.

Really what X-mas is for the Christians and Idd for the Mohammedans, Dushera is for Hindus.
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The famous Durga Puja will begin on October 10th this year. While Mamata Banerjee tries to put Kolkata on the Global mainstream on this occasion, Cuttack District administration and Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) encourage to install environment-friendly solar lighting systems on puja pendals to promote green energy in the city.About 30 pendals have been chosen for the purpose.The Rajya Sabha member, Shashi Bhusan Behera, will contribute from the MPLAD funds for the installation of solar lighting system to some extent. More and more puja committees are joining hands for decorating Goddess Durga with gold and silver ornaments. This year, Phiringi Bazar puja committee will be the new one to decorate the idol with not less than 2 quintals of silver ornament.  There will be total 156 puja pendals this year in the city with 16 using silver and gold ornaments for decorating the idols.

All the Cuttack Durga Puja committees have been asked by the city Police administration to install close circuit television ( CCTV ) cameras on each pendal.

Girish SN , District Collector, has asked all Puja committees of Cuttack to make the mandaps “ disabled-friendly”. The 150-odd puja mandaps are identified to have separate entrances for the physically challenged and old devotees to offer pujas.

The mandaps will not use plastics and polythene for decoration. 
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!! Jai Ganesh !!

Bakratunda mahakaya suryokoti

samaprava.

Nirbighnam kurume deva ....

Sarva karyesu sarbada.

Adyam subham bhabatu .

Last year , I have written some sentences on “ Car Festival Of Lord Jagannath “ on the Forum page . A very few numbers of visitors  view it .

On the occasion of this year’s  “ Car Festival “ , I rewrite it again .

This year (2013) , the  famous car festival of Puri , will take place on 10th , July ,Wednesday and will end on 18th . On the day of Car festival, which is the 2nd day of Full moon , the three  Deities , Lord Jagannath , His elder brother Lord Balbhadra and sister  Goddess Subhadra will be placed ceremonially on three separate cars and drawn by devotees to the Gundicha temple , another temple , which is about 2 km. from the original one. On the ninth day of same fortnight the cars will have return journey , known as the “ Bahuda Yatra “.

This is a great festival of Hindus and the main festival of Odisha . This is though originated from Puri ( Odisha ) , is being celebrated all over the world .

According to the old scriptures , Queen Gundicha of Indradyumna , the king of Puri , started the festival to mark the inauguration of the grand temple ( Badadeula ), her husband had built to enshrine the three Deities .

People from all over the country gather on the holy event to witness and participate the journey of the Deities . Special arrangements of transports and sanitations are made by the Government for the pilgrims .All the hotels , lodgings and resorts are booked beforehand. The near and dears of local people gather at their homes to enjoy the festival. The “ Badadanda “ is crowded with the devotees . Roofs of buildings on both sides of Badadanda are crowded with people who are very anxious to have a clear look at Lord Jagannath .All are overwhelmed with so much of joy that they irresistibly dance and sing devotional songs in a state of holy ecstasy . Atleast  for those moments , they forget their worldly cares and anxieties and like to have a pious breathe .

Eminent orators,who are well conversant with Jagannath philosophy , are invited to speak glorifying the greatness of Lord Jagannath .Their activities are telecast on different channels along with the procession of Cars .

The Cars have different names like Nandighosha , Taladhwoja and Darpadalana .The three deities are brought by “ Sevakas “  to the cars in a ceremonial way known as  “ Pahandi “ . They bring the images with beating “ Ghantas “, blowing conchs and singing “ Kirtans “ . The present king of Puri performs an act  called  “ Chhera Panhara “ . He sweeps all the three Cars with a broom made of gold .After the ceremony , the Cars are pulled ahead with thick ropes tied to them. From 1975 ,Darpadalana is pulled by women devotees .  It is believed that people attain salvation by pulling the Cars and looking at the Lord on His car .By the evening all the three cars reach the Gundicha temple , where the Deities stay for nine days .      
Follow The Link  :  http://www.astrosage.com/2013/festival/jagannatharathyatra2013.asp