In Manipur, the Gaan Ngai festival of the Zeliangrong community will be celebrated in 4th Jan 2023.

* The Gaan Ngai festival is one of the major festivals of Manipur which is celebrated every year after harvesting.

 

* The festival also marks the end of the year when the farmers have stored their foodgrain in their ganeries.

* During the festival, the Zeliarong community shows their gratitude by offering to the almighty a good harvest and praying for a better and prosperous life in the coming year.

* It is a custom to produce new fire by rubbing dry wood and split bamboo pieces and distributing them to every household on the day of the festival to mark the beginning of the new year.

 

* The Zeliarong community in Manipur comprises Rongmei, Liangmei, and Zeme tribes..

Source : AIR

Imoinu Iratpa or Emoinu Iratpa is a festival celebrated majorly by the Meitei community in Manipur. It is dedicated to the Goddess ‘Imoinu Ahongbi’.

The day is observed on the 12th day of the Meitei lunar month, Waakching. This means the festival falls either in December or January according to the Gregorian calendar.

This year (2023) the festival is falling on January 3. Here is all you need to know about this festival of lights :

 

‘Imoinu’ or ‘Emoinu’ is the goddess to whom this festival is dedicated. In Meitei mythology, she is associated with household, hearth, kitchen, wealth, peace, and prosperity. She is also associated as one of the incarnations of the goddess Leimarel Sidabi.

 

The festival is believed to bring the worshippers of goddess Imoinu great wealth and prosperity. Along with it, people pray for peace and positivity in their life.

People offer rice, vegetables, and fruits to the goddess during Imoinu Irapta. The Meitei community also offers rice, vegetables, and fish, mostly Aallago Attu, to their respective hearths placed in their kitchens..

Source : News18

The Festival of Lamps, also known as the "Karthigai Deepam Festival," is one of Tamil Nadu's most important festivals.

The Tamil month of Karthigai, which takes place between the months of November and December, is significant in the South Indian states' religious and spiritual traditions.

The Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple at Thiruvannamalai hosts a 10-day festival called Maha Deepam or Annamalai Deepam.

In this temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped under the name "Arunachaleswarar." This temple also holds the privilege of representing one of the five cosmic elements.

Lord Shiva is believed to be present at Thiruvannamalai in the form of a mountain, signifying the element of fire in the cosmos.The other four temples representing the cosmic elements are located at: Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram(sky), Jambukeswarar Temple in Thiruvanaikaval(water), Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram(Earth), and Srikalahasti Temple in Andhra Pradesh (Wind).

The 10-day celebrations commence on the day of Uttradam with the flag hoisting and Lord Arunachaleswarar is carried in procession atop the silver vahanas.

The Panchamurthis (Panchamurthigal) - Lord Ganapathi, Lord Murugan, Lord Sandheswarar, Lord Arunachaleswarar, and Goddess Parvathi are also carried upon chariots during the procession. 

Each day, these processions are done on a variety of vahanas, including the Lord Indira's chariot, the Indira Vimanam, the Simha vahanam, the chariot of the lion, the Kamadhenu Vahanam, the Rishaba Vahanam, and the Kailasa Vahanam.

On the tenth day, the famous "Bharani Deepam" with its five "Agni Deepams" is lit in the temple of Arunachaleswarar's Sannithi. On the festival's last day, lakhs of devotees gather in the Annamalai Hills to worship the Maha Deepam.

 

 

* Karthigai Deepam 1st day Festival :  Silver Vahanam (Silver Vehicle)

 

* Karthigai Deepam 2nd day Festival :  Silver Indra Vimana

 

* Karthigai Deepam 3rd day Festival :  Simha Vahanam, Anna Vahanam (Lion and Elephant Vehicle)

 

* Karthigai Deepam 4th day Festival :  Silver Kamadhenu, Karpagavirucham

 

* Karthigai Deepam 5th day Festival : RishabaVahanam

 

* Karthigai Deepam 6th day Festival : Silver Radham (silver chariot)

 

* Karthigai Deepam 7th day Festival : Wooden Ratham (wooden chariot)

 

* Karthigai Deepam 8th day Festival :  Pichandavar Urchavam, Horse Vahanam

 

* Karthigai Deepam 9th day Festival :  Purusha Mirugam Vahanam

 

* Karthigai Deepam 10th day Festival : Evening 6.00 PM Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam

The much-awaited 23rd edition of the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland will start from December 1, 2022, at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.

The Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar will grace the event. The festival showcases Nagaland’s deep-rooted traditions and its rich cultural heritage.


Like every year, the Hornbill Festival Dates 2022 will be between December 1 and 10, 2022. The locals participate in the event to showcase and preserve their distinct cultures and tribes.

 

The festival will be held at Kisma near Kohima. 

 

Hornbill Festival 2022 Schedule : Hornbill Festival is one of the most popular festivals in India and is celebrated with great pomp and grandeur. It is held every year in December in the state of Nagaland. 

If you're looking for a festive and fun-filled event to attend, the Hornbill Festival is definitely one to check out! Scroll down to learn more about the detailed schedule of the event. 

 

9 a.m. In the morning, the people start to gather at the venue to witness the glory of this amazing Hornbill festival. 

12 p.m. Everyone indulges in mouthwatering foods and cuisines around midday. The participants pause for a moment to refuel with the delectable cuisine.

2 p.m. This time of the day is observed as the time when people move to different stalls and activity areas for talent hunt rounds. 

5 p.m. This is the most awaited time when people indulge in rice beer and delectable evening snacks. Following this, the amazing Hornbill National Concert takes place..

Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy Monday(21st Nov 2022) inaugurated the ‘Manipur Sangai Festival 2022’ at the Sangai Ethnic Park, Moirang Khunou in Bishnupur district.

* The 10-day-long festival will be held in 13 venues across six districts in the northeastern state till November 30, 2022.

 

* Speaking at the event, the Union minister expressed his gratitude for being able to participate in the festival. “I am lucky to meet groups of 33 different communities in one place, who have come to represent their communities in the festival,” he said.

 

* G Kishan Reddy invited people across the country to visit the state and witness the beauty of the festival. He also appreciated the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues, MLAs, and other officials for organising the festival. The tourism minister further stated that he would convey to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the festival is being celebrated in a grand manner.

 

* The Union minister hailed the natural beauty of Manipur. He further said the Union Government had been taking up initiatives for the development of the Northeast.

 

* Manipur Chief Minister "N Biren Singh" said the festival is celebrated as the ‘Festival of Oneness’ to encourage a sense of belongingness, and pride in ownership of the land among the people..

Source : Indian Express

Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Surya Dev and Shashthi Devi. Chhath Puja is celebrated after Diwali for four days. It is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh in India and some parts of Nepal. Chhath Puja is also known as Surya Shashthi, Chhath Mahaparv, Chhath Parv, Dala Puja, Pratihar, and Dala Chhath.

 

Chhath Puja 2022 Date : Chhath Puja 2022 celebrations have begun on 28th October 2022 and will continue till 31st October 2022. The Shashthi tithi begins at 5:49 am on 30th October 2022. The tithi ends at 3:27 am on 31st October.

 

Chhath Puja 2022 Significance : Chhath Puja holds special significance because during Chhath Parv we worship the source of energy, Surya Dev. The rituals of Chhath Puja are followed for four days which include the following activities.

 

Kaddu Bhaat or Nahai Khai - The first day of Chhat Puja is known as Kaddu Bhaat or Nahai Khai. During this day, the Paravaitin (the main worshipper who observes fast) cooks the Satvik Kaddu Bhaat which is served as ‘Bhog’ to the sun god in the afternoon.

Kharana - The second day of Chhath Puja is known as Kharana in which the Paravaitin cooks roti and rice kheer and serves it as ‘Bhog’ to the Moon-god or Chandradevta.

Arghya - During the third day of Chhath Puja, a full-day fast without water is observed. The main ritual of the day is to offer Arghya to the setting sun.

Dusri Arghya or Usha Arghya - On the final day of Chhath Chhath Puja, the 36 hours long fast is broken after giving Arghya to the sun. The Arghya is offered to the rising sun.

Haryana is all set to become home to the world's largest museum of Harappan culture. Rakhigarhi is a village in Hisar district of "Haryana", situated some 150 km from Delhi. The village is also a famous archaeological site from the Indus Valley civilisation period.

 

On Sunday(11th Sep 2022), Chief Minister of the state Manohar Lal Khattar reviewed the ongoing construction work. He also instructed the officials of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to finish the excavation work as soon as possible. As per officials, the museum will display some 5000-year-old Indus Valley artifacts.

 

For those who don’t know, the village of Rakhigarhi was part of the Indus Valley Civilisation from 2600-1900 BC. Not only this, the place was one of the largest settlements of the ancient civilisation located in the Ghaggar-Hakra River plain. However, the site remains largely unexcavated and only about five percent of the village has been excavated till date..

Source : Times of India

* Nuakhai is an annual harvest festival in Odisha. Nuakhai is celebrated to welcome the approaching new season and welcome the season’s new rice. Nuakhai is celebrated a day after Ganesh Chaturthi, and it is one of the most awaited festivals in Odisha.

* This year(2022) the festival is being celebrated today on 1 September, 2022. The Goddess of Western Odisha, Maa Samaleswari will be offered with new crop or ‘Nabanna’ between 10:56 AM to 11:10 AM.

* Nuakhai is made of two words, Nua which means new, and Khai which means food. The festival altogether means celebrating the season’s new rice harvested by hardworking farmers. The people in the western part of Odisha celebrate Nuakhai with zeal and excitement.

 

* Nuakhai marks the harvest of new rice paddy and people across the socio-economic strata celebrate this festival.

* People of western Odisha have agriculture as their main occupation, therefore Nuakhai is a very important festival for them. The celebration of Nuakhai begins with cleaning and decorating the households. People wear new and traditional clothes which are made of Sambalpuri fabrics.

* Once the Nabanna is given to the goddess, people enjoy the Nabanna, distribute Nua or rice grains to family and friends, and offer their greetings to mother earth for providing food. The celebration is followed by ‘Nuakhai Juhar’ where young members of the family touch the feet of elders seeking their blessings..

Source : Times of India

India has nominated the dance form Garba to be inscribed on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list. UNESCO( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Director Eric Falt said that after the inclusion of 'Durga Puja' on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage representative last year, India has now nominated 'Garba' for 2022.

 

He said, the next meeting of UNESCO is in November & hopefully there will be yet another beautiful Indian festival Garba inscribed on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list.

India was elected by UNESCO to serve on the distinguished Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in July. India garnered a whopping 110 votes from 155 State Parties that finalised its selection..

Source : AIR