Sri. Mahalakshmi is the goddess of health, wealth, and prosperity. According to ancient Hindu scriptures, there is a legend that explains the significance of Mahalakshmi Vrata. As the legend goes, when Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandava princes, enquires Lord Krishna about a ritual  that can get back the wealth they lost in his gambles with the Kauravas, Krishna recommends Mahalakshmi Vrata or Puja, which can replenish the worshipper with health, wealth, prosperity, family and kingdom through the divine grace of the Goddess Lakshmi.

Goddess Lakshmi is the consort of the Lord Vishnu. She is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman with four arms, standing or sitting on a lotus flower. There are usually two elephants behind her, anointing her with water.

How to celebrate

Items required for puja

The following items should be purchased prior to the puja day.

One the day of the puja; clean the stoop and draw Rangoli, if possible, tie a string of mango leaves by the front door. Take a bath, wear clean clothes and follow the steps of the puja:

• Picture or Idol of God/Goddess in the Pooja room
• A dupatta or sari to offer to the deity
• Plain water in Kalash (pitcher)
• Fresh and washed mango leaves
• Fresh grass
• Sandalwood
• One coconut
• Kumkum
• Turmeric
• Red sacred thread
• Rice
• Betel leaves and betel nuts
• Flowers and Fruits

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The union of Parvati with Shiva after a temporary but arduous separation is remembered in the Gowri Festival. It occurs on the Shukla Paksha Tritiya (the third day after the new moon) in the month of Bhadrapada. The western calendar places this between mid-August and mid-September and is the day before the Ganesha Chaturthi.  This Tritiya is known as Teej in the North. It is believed that the Goddess comes home as a married woman to her parents’ house on this day.  The day after the Gowri festival, Ganesha, her firstborn, comes to accompany his mother back to her home Kailasa, which is the abode of Shiva.  

Once King Daksha performed a magnificent sacrifice (Yaga or Yajna). At this time, out of arrogance, he insulted Parvati and even Shiva himself. After that, Parvati did not want anything to do with Daksha. She decided to take a new birth or incarnation as the daughter of Himavan, the King of Himavat (the Himalayan Mountains), and his Queen Mainavati (or Minavati). Parvati came to be known as Shailaputri, Girija, or Haimavati, meaning Daughter of the Mountain.  Even as a child, the divine girl started praying to the Almighty Shiva to become his consort.  Her love and devotion reached such intensity as to worry her father, Himavan, who consulted sage Narada. The sage advised Himavan that he must get his daughter Gowri married to Vishnu, which the father promised.

When Gowri learned that her father had vowed to give her away in marriage to Vishnu, her mind was perturbed.  She was determined to regain her peace and her life’s purpose of uniting with Shiva. She went away to the deep forest where, in solemn determination, she performed severe penance for years, praying for her union with Shiva.    

King Himavan was distressed about his missing daughter and searched for her far and wide. When he found her at long last, the father was delighted and agreed to the wedding of Gowri and Shiva. Shiva and Gowri live forever in Kailasha, but on the day of the Gowri festival, she visits her parents King Himavan and Queen Mainavati. Such is the significance of the Gowri festival. 

How to celebrate 

Items required for puja 

Purchase the following before the puja day. 

On the puja day, clean the stoop and draw Rangoli. Tie a string of mango leaves across the front entrance door of the house. Take a bath, put on clean clothes and follow the steps of the puja: 

• Clay icons of Gowri and Ganesha 
• A dupatta or sari to offer to the Deity 
• Plain water in a kalasha (a pitcher) 
• Fresh and washed mango leaves 
• Sandalwood 
• One coconut 
• Kumkum 
• Turmeric 
• Yellow sacred thread 
• Rice 
• Betel leaves and betel nuts 
• Flowers and Fruits 
• Milk, yogurt, sugar, ghee and honey, bilva leaf, if available 
• Five types of grains to give as a gift 

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On this day, brothers renew their promise to protect their sisters from all harm, and the sisters pray for the protection of their brothers from evil.  The rakhee, a wristlet made of colored silk, woolen or satin ribbon, is tied around the wrist of the brother for this ceremony.  The rakhee can be as simple as a plain thread or ribbon or could be elaborate like a piece of jewelry made of silver, gold, diamonds, and precious gems. The brothers reciprocate with money and gifts as a symbol of their commitment.

Numerous mythological stories are associated with this festival. One of them is the story of Indra and Sachi from the Bhavishya Purana. In the battle between Gods and demons, Lord Indra, who was fighting for the Gods was having a tough time against the powerful demon King Bali.  As the war continued for a long time, Lord Indra was fatigued. So, Indira’s wife Sachi went to Lord Vishnu and pleaded for his help and protection of her husband.  Lord Vishnu gave her a holy amulet made of a cotton thread to tie around the wrist of Lord Indra.  Lord Indra ultimately defeated the demons and recovered the Amaravati.

Another is the tale of King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi from the Bhagavata and the Vishnu Purana. After Lord Vishnu won the 3 worlds from the Demon King Bali, he is asked by Bali to stay with him in the palace. The Lord accepts and moves to live in King Bali’s palace. However, Goddess Lakshmi wants to return to their home in Vaikuntha. So, she ties a sacred thread on the wrist of Bali and makes him her brother. When Bali asks her on what she wants in return, she asks him to free her husband of his word and allow him to return to Vaikuntha. Bali releases Lord Vishnu and the couple return to their celestial home.

How to celebrate

Items to Purchase

• Rakhi
• Flowers, fruits
• Sweets
• Kumkum

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Sri Krishna Jayanti, Janmashtami, and Gokulashtami (which may fall on two different days) mark Bhagavan Krishna’s birth.  This festival is in the month of Sravana, which occurs during August or early September.  

Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu and is known as the Lord of Dharma.  There are many stories about the Supreme Being’s incarnation as Krishna on this earth. Once, Mother Earth became overly weighed down with the misdeeds of sinners, and her burden became unbearable. She approached Brahma, the creator, and appealed to him that she was suffering from extreme Adharma –the evil deeds of demons. She requested his intervention.  Brahma, in turn, prayed to Vishnu, who accepted Brahma’s prayers and assured him that he would take birth on the earth and rid her of evildoers. 

Krishna was born in Mathura (in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) to Devaki and Vasudeva.   

At that time, King Ugrasena was the ruler of the kingdom of Mathura.  He had a son, Kamsa.  Ugrasena’s sister Devaka had a daughter Devaki.  Kamsa and Devaki grow up as brother and sister, very affectionate of each other.  Kamsa, became a tyrant, dethroned and threw his father in the palace dungeon.   At the recommendation of his ministers, he agreed to get Devaki married to Vasudeva, the son of King Shura of the Yadava clan.  After the wedding, Kamsa was preparing to take Devaki to Vasudeva’s palace in a royal chariot when a divine voice from the sky declared as follows.  “Hey fool!  You are taking this woman to her husband’s place.  The eighth child born to her will kill you”. 

Kamsa was deeply shaken and immediately moved to kill Devaki.  Vasudeva pleaded with Kamsa to spare his wife’s life and promised to bring all their children as soon as they were born to Kamsa so that the prophecy would not come true.  Kamsa reluctantly agreed but locked Devaki and her husband Vasudeva in the dungeon.  Over time, Kamsa killed seven of their children.  As their eighth child was about to be born, the parents were distressed.   

On the night of Krishna’s birth, precisely at midnight, heavy rains and strong winds came crashing down on the whole of Mathura.  The holy river Yamuna was raging like an ocean.  As the Divine baby was born, the dungeon was filled with bright light, which awakened Vasudeva.  He saw Devaki was in a deep sleep, and besides her lay a baby.  A divine voice spoke to him as follows. “Vasudeva, this is your newborn son. Take him to Gokula, where your friend Nanda, the chief of the cowherds, lives.  Leave your baby there.  He will be safe”.  The divine voice continued, “Yashoda, wife of Nanda, has given birth to a baby girl. Bring her back with you”. 

Vasudeva wondered how he could do all this since the dungeon doors were locked and guards stood at every doorway. Anyway, he put the baby Krishna in a basket and carried the basket on his head towards the door. Miraculously, the door got unlocked, and the guards were fast asleep.  When he stepped out, the divine multi-headed snake Adisesha appeared and accompanied him, serving as a dry carpet on the ground and an umbrella overhead.  They reached the river. When Vasudeva stepped in, the waters parted, allowing them to cross easily to the other side. Soon they arrived at Nanda’s palce at Gokula. 

Following the divine command, Vasudeva placed baby Krishna next to mother Yashoda. He brought Yashoda’s baby girl back to his dungeon and put her next to his wife, Devaki.  The baby started crying and woke everyone up.  Kamsa hurried to the jail to kill the baby.  Devaki pleaded with him not to do that since the baby was a girl. But Kamsa threw the baby up and drew his sword, but she flew right into the sky. This child was Divine Devi Durga.  She declared to him that the eighth child was born already and was safe elsewhere on this earth.  

Sri Krishna proclaimed whenever there was the dominance of evil, he would reincarnate in various forms to destroy it, show the path of righteousness, and teach.  We celebrate Krishna’s birth as the victory of good over evil. This festival also brings people together to show the principles of righteousness. 

How to celebrate 

Items required for Puja 

Purchase these items before the puja day. 

On the puja day, clean the stoop and draw Rangoli. Tie a string of mango leaves across the front entrance door of the house.  Take a bath, put on clean clothes and follow the steps of the Puja: 

• Picture or other icons of Krishna in the Pooja room 
• Swing for Krishna 
• A dupatta or sari to offer to the Deity 
• Plain water in Kalasha (a pitcher) 
• Milk, sugar, curds (yogurt), honey, and ghee 
• Fresh, washed mango leaves 
• Fresh tulsi 
• Sandalwood 
• One coconut 
• Kumkum 
• Turmeric 
• Red sacred thread 
• Rice 
• Betel leaves and betel nuts 
• Flowers and Fruits 

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