FESTIVALS AND PILIGRIMAGE

FESTIVALS OF HINDUS

Hindus observe sacred occasions by festive observances. All festivals in Hinduism are predominantly religious in character and significance. Many festivals are seasonal. Some celebrate harvest and birth of God or heroes. Some are dedicated to important events in Hindu mythology. Many are dedicated to Shiva and ParvatiVishnu and Lakshmi and Brahma and Saraswati.
HINDU FESTIVALS CALENDAR OF 2012 IS SHOWN BELOW.
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HINDU PILGRIMAGE


In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place orshrine of importance to a naat faith. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called apilgrim.
Unlike some other religions, Hindus are not required to undertake pilgrimages during their lifetime. However, most Hindus who can afford to go on such journeys travel to numerous iconic sites including those below:
Char Dham (Famous Four Pilgrimage sites): The four holy sites PuriRameswaramDwarka, and Badrinath (or alternatively the Himalayantowns of BadrinathKedarnathGangotri, and Yamunotri) compose the Char Dham (four abodes) pilgrimage circuit.
Kumbh Mela: The Kumbh Mela (the "pitcher festival") is one of the holiest of Hindu pilgrimages that is held every four years; the location is rotated among AllahabadHaridwarNashik, and Ujjain.
Old Holy cities as per Puranic Texts: Varanasi formerly known as Kashi, Allahabad formerly known as Prayag, Haridwar-Rishikesh,Mathura-Vrindavan, and Ayodhya.
Major Temple cities: Puri, which hosts a major Vaishnava Jagannath temple and Rath Yatra celebration; Katra, home to the Vaishno Devitemple; Three comparatively recent temples of fame and huge pilgrimage are Shirdi, home to Sai Baba of ShirdiTirumala - Tirupati, home to theTirumala Venkateswara Temple; and Sabarimala,where Swami Ayyappan is worshipped.
Shakti Peethas: Another important set of pilgrimages are the Shakti Peethas, where the Mother Goddess is worshipped, the two principal ones being Kalighat and Kamakhya.
Many Hindu families have their own family patron deity or the Kuladaivat. This deity is common to a lineage or a clan of several families who are connected to each other through a common ancestor. The Khandoba of Jejuri is an example of a Kuladaivat of some Maharashtrian families; he is a common Kuladaivat to several castes ranging from Brahmins to Dalits. The practice of worshiping local or territorial deities as Kuladaivats began in the period of the Yadava dynasty. Other family deities of the people of Maharashtra are Bhavani of TuljapurMahalaxmi ofKolhapurRenuka of Mahur, and Balaji of Tirupati.
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