Festivals (what, when and why)
Festivals are a way to dedicate even more time in doing Roopadhyan of God and Guru. That is why the ancient sages and seers started the practice of observing so many festivals.
The following festivals are celebrated in most of the ashrams of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj including Bhakti Dham (Mangarh, India), Rangeeli Mahal (Barsana, India), Shyama Shyam Dham (Vrindaban, India), Golok Dham (New Delhi, India).
Some of the festivals name's have links. Please click on those links to read more about it.
Bhakti Divas (New Year) is celebrated on January 1
The first day of the Roman Calendar. On this day evaluate how much progress you have made in your devotion since last year the same day. And pledge to do even more this year.
Lohri is celebrated on Jan 13
It is harvest festival. Shri Maharaj Ji used to light a bonfire and devotees used to sing "Radhey Radhey" and dance and divine bliss.
Makar Sankranti and Jagadguru Divas is celebrated on Jan 14
The day sun starts travelling back to the north. For the reason this day is considered to be auspicious, that is why Bhishm Pitamah chose this day to leave his body. He waited for 6 months on a bed of arrows. This is also the day when Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was honored with the title of Jagadguruttam in 1957.
Basant Panchami is celebrated on 5th day of waxing moon in Magha
Basant Panchmi marks the beginning of the spring season. This festival of spring is celebrated with full vivacity and joy. In Sanskrit the word 'Basant' means 'spring season' and 'panchami' means the fifth day. This festival falls on the fifth day of the spring season (Magha). This festival is also known as Saraswati Puja. Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom is also worshiped in many parts of the country.
Gopi Prem Divas is celebrated on Feb 14
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj has renamed this day as Gopi Prem Divas, means the day all devotees of Madhurya Bhav felicitate their divine beloved Shri Krishna
Prem Mandir Anniversary is celebrated on 12th day of waxing moon in Magha
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj offered his choicest blessings on mankind and the generations to come, in the form of this divine temple Prem Mandir, in the holy land of Vrindaban. For all seekers of unending divine bliss, this divine monument is and will continue to serve as the guiding light and source of inspiration.
Maha Shiva Ratri is celebrated on New moon day in Magha
Shivratri, dedicated to Lord Shiva is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month Magha
Rang Ekadashi is celebrated on 11th day of waxing moon in Phalgun
From this day onwards Shri Krishna starts playing Holi with colored powder.
Mahaprabhu Jayanti is celebrated on 14th day of waxing moon in Phalgun
Celebrated as the day of descension of Shri Radha Rani as Gaurang Mahaprabhu. In this avatar, Shri Maharprabhuji had spread the waves of Krishna Bhakti all over India.
Holi is celebrated on Full moon in Phalgun
Festival of colors. Scriptural reason for this festival is to remind all that God is omnipresent.
Jagadamba Mahaprayan Divas (Ammaji's) is celebrated on 1st day of waning moon in Chaitra
This is the day our divine mother, wife of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, left her divine remains and ascended to Golok.
Ram Navami is celebrated on 9th day of waxing moon in Chaitra
The Supreme Lord Shri Ram descended on earth on this day, in the holy land of Ayodhya, India. For 11,000 years He performed His divine pastimes on this earth, thereby leaving His divine name, divine abode, divine form. Numerous seekers of unlimited-unending-divine bliss have used and still are using these as their aide to attain their ultimate goal.
Akshay Tritya is celebrated on 3rd day of waxing moon in Chaitra
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as "Akha Teej", is traditionally the birthday of Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Sita Jayanti is celebrated on 9th day of waxing moon in Vaishakha
The day divine consort of Shri Ram, Mother Sita appeared on this earth.
Guru Poornima is celebrated on Full Moon in Ashadha
A qualified spiritual master is essential to learn God-realization. The full-moon day (poornima) is the auspicious day when Guru Poornima is celebrated by worshiping our Guru, the spiritual master, who taught us divine love.
Hariyali Teej is celebrated on 13th day of waxing moon in Shravana
There are several traditional reasons to celebrate this auspicious day. This day marks the onset of Monsoon season, which brings relief from the scorching heat of the summer sun. For the devotees of Shri Radha Krishna too this is a very devotionally elated day.
Naag Panchami is celebrated on 5th day of waxing moon in Shravana
The festival of Naga Panchami is celebrated by Hindus to pay respect to Nagas. The five Nagas worshipped on Nag Panchami are Ananta, Vasuki, Takshak, Karkotaka and Pingala. The festival, also celebrated as 'Gudiya', witnesses small children beating up cloth-made dolls as a tradition of the festival.
Raksha Bandhan रक्षाबंधन is celebrated on Full moon in Shravana
Rakhi is basically a sacred thread of protection embellished with the love and affection and is celebrated amongst brothers and sisters
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on 4th day of waxing moon in Bhadrapad
The day of appearance of Lord Ganesh
Shri Krishna Janamashtami श्री कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी is celebrated on 8th day of waning moon in Bhadrapad
Janmashtmi is the day when The Supreme Lord Shri Krishna descended in this material realm in Dwapar Yug and manifested His divine leelas in Vrindavan, which is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.
Shri Radhashtami is celebrated on 8th day of waxing moon in Bhadrapad
The day when Shri Radha Rani descended on earth. Radha Rani is feminine form of the Absolute Supreme Lord Shri Krishna. Along with Lord Shri Krishna, She performed various divine leelas in the land of Braj.
Anant Chaudas is celebrated on 14th day of waxing moon in Bhadrapa
This day, Bhadrapad Shukl Chaturdashi or Anant Chaturdashi, is an auspicious day, when people take away their mind from worldly actions and devote themselves to God, listen to legends of God Vishnu, recite hymns from the Vedas
Vijayadashmi, Dussehra is celebrated on 10th day of waxing moon in Ashwin
The Festival of Dussehra concludes the festival of Navaratri, and the holy day also commemorates the triumph of good over evil. Dasha-hara in Sanskrit means the "conquered over the 10-headed". In the divine story Ramayana, Dussehra marks victory of the Lord Ram, son of King Dasharatha, over Ravana.
Sharad Poornima
and Jagadguruttam Jayanti Mahotsav is celebrated on Full moon in Ashwin
It is a full moon day in the month of Ashwin.It is also referred as Raas Lila Divas or Ras Lila day. It is the day when the deserving souls were graced by Lord Krishna in the Maharaas Leela. On the Sharat Poornima night of October, 1922, a divine personality, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj appeared in Mangarh village (near Allahabad, India) in a highly respectable brahmin family.
Karva Chauth is celebrated on 4th day of waning moon in Kartik
Karva Chauth is a fast observed by married Hindu women for long life of their husbands. Devotees of Shri Radha Krishna vow selfless devotion to the Divine Couple on this day.
Dhanteras धनतेरस is celebrated on 13th day of waning moon in Kartik
Dhanteras is celebrated 2 days before Deepavali. This is the day Dhanvantri vaidya appeared with the Amrit Kalash (pot of ambrosia). That is why, this day is also known as Dhanvantri Jayanti.
On this day in 2005 Jagadguruttam Swami Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj dedicated the Bhakti Mandir. This temple is situated in the birth place of our beloved Gurudev.
Narka Chaturdashi is celebrated on 14th day of waning moon in Kartik
This is the day when Shri Krishna killed demon Nakasura and freed 16,100 girls from his captivity. All of them sought shelter under His lotus feet. The all gracious Shri Krishna revealed 16,100 forms. He individually married all of those girls at the same time.
Deepawali and Jagdamba Jayanti Divas is celebrated on New moon in Kartik
Deepawali or Diwali, is a festival of lights. This is the day Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya after killing Ravana. This is also the descension day of our beloved Amma, wife of Shri Maharaj Ji.
Govardhan Pooja is celebrated on 1st day of waxing moon in Kartik
The term 'Govardhan' has 2 meanings. Go means cows, and vardhan means nourishment. In second meaning other Go stands for senses and vardhan means to increase the inclination of the senses towards Sri Krishna. Both these jobs are done by Sri Giriraja. He blesses the devotees by increasing their devotion. Thus, by residing in the foothills of Sri Giriraja, all the senses and their respective duties of a soul attain divinity and are inclined to serve the Lotus Feet of Krishna. Also there is a story in the pastimes of Lord Krishna when Lord had lifted the Govardhan Hill on his little finger to save the villagers from the heavy rainfall which was a consequence of the Indra's wrath on them. But Lord Krishna emerged as a savior to the villagers. On this day, Govardhan Hill is worshiped by the Hindus.
Bhai Dooj is celebrated on 2nd day of waxing moon in Kartik
Bhai Dooj is an auspicious Hindu occasion celebrated after Diwali. Bhai dooj is also known as Bhaiya dooj tikka festival and is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. It is a festival marked to celebrate the love and affection and the special bond between a brother and sister. According to scriptures, arfter killing Narkasur, Lord Krishna visited his sister who gave him a warm welcome. This Bhai Dooj katha (Story) marks the celebration of the Bhai Dooj festival.
Gopashtami is celebrated on 8th day of waxing moon in Kartik
On this day, as Lord Krishna entered the 5 years of (pauganda) age he was initiated as a cowherder. Devotees paint the horns of the cows with turmeric and put sindur (vermillion) on their foreheads. They also put hand marks on cow bodies.
Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi is celebrated on 11th day of waxing moon in Kartik
The importance of Dev Prabodhini Ekadasi narrated to Sage Narada by Brahma. The divine conversation is found in the Skanda Purana.
Tulsi Vivah is celebrated on 12th day of waxing moon in Kartik
This the day Shri Krishna married Tulsi. The famous Tulsi Vivah festival is performed on this auspicious day- the symbolic wedding of Tulsi to Lord Vishnu.
Jagadguruttam Mahaprayan Divas is celebrated on 13th day of waxing moon in Kartik
After ceaseless effort of 91 years in 2013, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj brought an end to his visible pastimes on this earth.
Kartik Poornima is celebrated on Full moon in Kartik
Also known as Tripurari Poornima, Kartik Poornima. Tripurari is a name of Lord Shiv as he killed a demon called Tipurasura on this day. Kartik poornima is also the birthday of Matsyavatar, God Vishnu's fish-incarnation. It is also the birthday of Vrinda, the personification of the Tulsi plant. The festival is also known as Dev-deepawali
Gita Jayanti is celebrated on 11th day of waxing moon in Margashish
The day when Shri Krishna gave the divine knowledge of Gita to Arjun in the battle field of Mahabharat.
Meri Radhe Divas (Christmas) is celebrated on December 25
This is the most important of all the festivals amongst the Christians and is celebrated nationwide as a festival of exchanging gifts and spreading happiness.