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Significance of the Month of August in Hindu Calendar

The month of Bhadrapada (August - September) commences with two glorious celebrations:

Raksha Bandan - Aug 28^th and Thiruvonam - Aug 27^th

The Significance of Raksha Bandan!

Rakhi - The thread of love! (Raksha means Protection. Bandhan means bond) The chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister is one of the deepest and noblest of human emotions. 'Raksha Bandan' or 'Rakhi' is a special occasion to celebrate this emotional bonding by tying a holy thread around the wrist. This thread, which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the ‘Rakhi’. It means 'a bond of protection'. Raksha Bandhan is known by various names: Vish Tarak - the destroyer of venom, Punya Pradayak - the bestower of boons, and Pap Nashak - the destroyer of sins.

Sisters tie colourful 'Rakhi' on the wrists of their brothers and ask their brothers to protect them from harm. It represents one of the most sentimental festivals of India. It is based on the emotional ties that bind a brother and sister in a very close bond - the most sacred relationship of life, without any ulterior motive or demand of any kind. It is a day of festivity and pure joy. The ritual is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan, on which sisters tie the sacred Rakhi string on their brothers' right wrists, and pray, for their long life. Rakhis are ideally made of silk with gold and silver threads, beautifully crafted embroidered sequins, and studded with semi precious stones. This ritual not only strengthens the bond of love between brothers and sisters, but also transcends the confines of the family. When a Rakhi is tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbors, it underscores the need for a harmonious social life, where every individual co-exist peacefully as brothers and sisters. It won’t be wrong to say the fashionable friendship band in vogue today is an extension of the Rakhi custom.

According to the custom for all festivals and pujas, the lady of the house dresses up early in the morning in fine clothes and bathes the gods and the goddesses. The Puja thaal - with water, roli, rice, flowers, coconut, and Rakhi is placed before the gods. After worshipping the gods the sister applies the tilak on the forehead of her brother, and then little rice is stuck onto the tilak. The Rakhi then is tied on the wrists of the brother and the brother acknowledges this relationship by accepting it with grace and love. Sisters also put some "mithai" in his mouth and bless him. With this Rakhi, she grants deep affection and blessings on her brother so as to guard him against all harm, and prays to the Almighty to bless her brother. These feelings are the ones that symbolise Raksha Bandhan.

In Northern India, Rakhi Purnima is also called Kajri Purnima or Kajri Navami, when wheat or barley is sown, and goddess Bhagwati is worshipped. In Western states, the festival is called Nariyal Purnima or the Coconut Full Moon. In Southern India, Shravan Purnima is an important religious occasion and is called Avani Avittam. This falls on the full moon day of the month of Shravan (August-September). The men observing the festival wear a new holy thread and offer libations of water to the ancient Rishis on this day. This festival is also known as Upakarmam.

According to one mythological allusion, Rakhi was intended to be the worship of the sea-god Varuna. Hence, offerings of coconut to Varuna, ceremonial bathing and fairs at waterfronts accompany this festival. There are also myths that describe the ritual as observed by Indrani and Yamuna for their respective brothers Indra and Yama.Once, Lord Indra stood almost vanquished in a long-drawn battle against the demons. Full of remorse, he sought the advice of Guru Brihaspati, who suggested for his sortie the auspicious day of Shravan Purnima (fullmoon day of the month of Shravan). On that day, Indra's wife and Brihaspati tied a sacred thread on the wrist of Indra, who then attacked the demon with renewed force and routed him. Thus the Raksha Bhandhan symbolizes all aspects of protection of the good from evil forces.

Rituals like Rakhi, there is no doubt, help ease out various societal strains, induce fellow-feeling, open up channels of expression, and give us an opportunity to rework on our role as human beings and, most importantly, bring joy in our mundane lives.

Significance of Thiruvonam/Onam!

Onam is one of the most important festivals of Kerala. It is a bright and colorful festival that celebrates the bounties of nature and a year of good harvest. The festival stretches on for ten days - days filled with feasting, boat racing, singing and dancing. Onam is a celebration of 10 days. It comes in the month of "Chingam" according to Malayalam calendar.

Onam or Thiruonam originated as a joyous annual reminiscence of the golden rule of King Mahabali, a mythical king, who ruled Kerala a very long time ago. It recalls the sacrifice of the great king, his true devotion to God, his human pride and his ultimate redemption. Onam welcomes the spirit of a great king, and assures him that his people are happy and wish him well.

The people in Kerala celebrate the Onam festival by cleaning their houses and decorating them. They put flower mats called ‘pookolam’ in front of their homes, to welcome the King. Earthen mounds representing Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in the dung-plastered courtyards. On Onam, everybody in the family wear new clothes. Keralites all over the world celebrate these ten days will pomp and gaiety. They visit almost all temples which they can, they perform dances like Thiruvathira kali Thumbi Tullal etc. to name a few. The dances are followed by a grand lunch called 'Sadhya'. There is a saying in Malayalam that "kanam vittu onam unnanam" which means "We should have the Thiruonam lunch even if we have to sell all our property". Delicious sweetmeats and favorite vegetarian dishes are cooked and served on banana leaves. One favorite dessert that is served on the day is ‘payasam’, a sweet porridge. Spectacular parades of caparisoned elephants, fireworks and the famous Kathakali dance are traditionally associated with Onam. It is also the season of many cultural and sport events and carnivals.

One of the main attractions of Onam, is the 'Vallamkali' or boat races of Karuvatta, Payippad, Aranmula and Kottayam. Hundreds of oarsmen row traditional boats to the rhythm of drums and cymbals. These long graceful Snake Boats called 'Chundans' are named after their exceedingly long hulls and high sterns that resemble the raised hood of a cobra. Then there are 'Odis', the small and swift raiding crafts adorned with gold tasseled silk umbrellas, the 'Churulans' with their elaborately curled prows and sterns, and the 'Veppus', a kind of cook-boat. This traditional village rivalry on watercrafts reminds one of ancient naval warfare. Thousands throng the banks to cheer and watch the breathtaking show of muscle power, rowing skills and rapid rhythm. These boats - all pitted against their own kind - rip through the backwaters of Kerala in a tussle of speed.

Although this festival has its origin in Hindu mythology, Onam is for all people of all class and creed. Hindus, Muslims and Christians, the wealthy and the poor, all celebrate onam with equal fervor. The secular character of Onam is peculiar to this land where unity had always coexisted with diversity, especially during festivals, when people come together to celebrate life's unlimited joys.

Source: http://hinduism.about.com

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