Glimpses Of World Religions

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir

Page 36

Hinduism (The religion of the Hindus)
Bhajans and other songs and loudly repeat some lines of divine songs. They also present the play of Garba-Dance of Krishna and Radha. They tie up with a rope the earthen pots full of curds very high and then they make a pyramid of young men and after breaking the pot, they feel highest delight. In Maharashtra this particular day is known as "Dahikala Utsav". On Janmashtami people look with love towards Krishna as a child, they have a darshan of god Krishna, they worship him and repeat holy names of Krishna. This is the holy parva of Bhakti, love and joy.
Ganesh Chaturthi
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The Ganesh festival starts from the fourth day of Bhadrapad Sud. Among the Hindus, before beginning each and every good act, Ganapati, the destroyer of obstacles, is worshipped first. He is worshipped with the words "Shree Ganeshaya Namah" (salute to Lord Ganesh). This God Ganesh who has a big belly is worshipped not only in Maharashtra and India but all over the world. Crores of Hindus who have settled overseas - for them Ganesh is a great God to be worshipped. On the fourth day of Ganapati Chauth the idol of Ganesh is seated with honour in the house, and there are great worships and rejoicings either for thirty six hours, five days or seven days or nine days or upto "Anant Chaudash" i.e. for fourteen days, when devotional songs and other programmes are arranged. Both in the morning and in the evening Aarti is done, Prasad is distributed. In Maharashtra, this festival is celebrated with unique delight and enthusiasm. The idol meant for public view and worship (universal or sārvajanik) is generally very big and in these types of presentation, the forms and designs are of various types. Lok Manya Bal Gangadhar Tilak made this festival a national festival. Thence, it became a holy occasion of public vigilence. On the 14th day, i.e. Anant Chaturdashi day, the farewell to (visarjan