Festivals of India in the month of May

Buddha Poornima

 

 

Buddha Poornima, which falls on the full moon night in the month of Vaisakha (either in April or May), commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism. Pilgrims come from all over the world to Bodh Gaya to attend the Buddha Poornima celebrations.

The day is marked with prayer meets, sermons on the life of Gautam Buddha, religious discourses, continuous recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions, and worship of the statue of Buddha. The Mahabodhi Temple wears a festive look and is decorated with colorful flags and flowers. The Chinese scholar, Fa-Hien has recorded celebration of this festival.

 

Buddha Purnima Procession with full galore with musical instruments
and chants going round Kalimpong city

It is an important to give a summarized description on the Buddhist festivals in India, especially in the main places of worship. The principal annual ceremony for the entire Buddhist is the Vaisaka Purnima known in Sri Lanka as Wesak festival and in India as Buddha Jayanti. Vaisaka Purnima day is fixed by the full-moon day of the month Vaisaka, which falls in May. Like all other Buddhist festivals it falls according to the Lunar year. It was of this day of the year, according to the year.

He attained Supreme Enlighten or Buddha hood, beneath the Bodhi-tree at Boddha Gaya. Forty-five years later at the age of eighty, he finally passed away in Parinivana on the same day of the year at Kushinagar. Vaisaka Purnima is celebrated especially in Boddha Gaya, Lumbini and in Kushinara as they are the holy places that were connected with the blessed ones birth, enlighten and the Parinirvana. Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Japan and quite a number of western Buddhists participate 'Vaisaka' Purnima Day religious activities in a festive mood. Sarnath the capital of Buddhism too celebrates Vaisaka Purnima day in a grand way.

The great Buddhist festival 'Vaisaka' , although is an occasion for rejoicing doesn't encourage hectic gaiety and abandon. The happiness that the Buddhists feel when they are celebrating it is a tranquil, peaceful joy. The festival has its gay side as well. In most of the Buddhist countries the villages, roads, streets, temples and houses are brightly illuminated with color Lanterns, electric lights and colorful decorations.

This year, Buddha Poornima fall on May 25.

Destination India

West Bengal (PART-X)

Birbhum(2)

Shantiniketan (ii)

Brahma Mandir

 

A Brahma Mandir Was Established At Shantiniketan On 21 December 1891 (7 Poush 1298 According To The Bengali Calendar). A Small Fair Was Organized In 1894 In Connection With The Establishment Anniversary Of The Brahma Mandir, In The Ground Opposite The Mandir. What Started As A Small Homely Poush Mela Now Attracts Attention Of Not Only The People Of Birbhum District But Tourists From All Around.

Amar Kutir

Tourists interested in purchasing handicrafts and artefacts can visit Amar Kutir, which is located close to Santiniketan. Amar Kutir was a society or a cooperative movement by Rabindranath Tagore, to aid and develop the art and craft of the village folk.

Lather goods in Amar Kutir

 

This society’s building was an ashram once where political prisoners of the British period were kept. The society is now known to produce handicrafts and goods like bamboo and batik crafts, Kantha stitched saris, leather goods, dokra jewellery and many more items.

 

Shilpa Gram

 

Shilpa Gram is close to the Ballavpur deer sanctuary. It is designed very nicely and showcases tranditional handicrafts of eastern region (including Bihar, Assam, Orissa, Manipur, Andaman, Jharkhand etc). Each state is represented by a traditional house which has collection of paintings, articrafts etc. The place is maintained neatly and has good collection of cultural elements.  

Prakriti Bhavan

Located in the Ballavpur area of Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal. It is India's one and only Nature Art museum with an impressive indoor display of natural sculptures in driftwood, dry wood and a sprawling open air garden of natural rock sculptures. Set in the most picturesque part of Santiniketan it is an aesthetic manifestation of the legacy of Tagore's Santiniketan in linking man with nature through Art, music and poetry.

Sriniketan

 

In 1992, Sriniketan, a centre for rural reconstruction was established in Santiniketan. Sriniketan also has a department devoted to the studies of the socio-economic problems of India. This centre focuses on education related to agriculture, handicrafts, cottage industries, welfare of villages and adult education.

Visitors can also look at the tribal handicrafts, goods made in traditional ways like pottery, batik on cloth, leather and silk and materials required for weaving.                 

Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary

While at Shantiniketan, you must visit the Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in Birbhum District of West Bengal, the Sanctuary is home to a variety of deer and water birds apart from jackals and foxes. Look out for small herds of black buck and spotted deer as you tour the sanctuary.

Image Courtesy:  https://www.google.co.in/search?biw=1440&bih=750&tbm

    

Talk about India, from India with you

Good morning/Good afternoon/Good evening my friends out there! This is 11:30pm. 22nd May, 2013, Tuesday in India. After a long hot weather, we have rain here! Weather is quite good now. How are you friends? I will share some tips to beat the heat, may be works for you. Keep watching my blogs.

Friends, yesterday was the Mourning Day of Rajiv Gandhi. He was the sixth Prime Minister of India. He is the grandson of Jawhar Lal Neheru, the first Prime Minister of India and a central figure in Indian politics for much of the 20th century; and Son of Firoz Gandhi and Indira Gandhi . Indira Gandhi was the third Prime Minister of India. Rajiv Gandhi took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40. Rajiv Gandhi remained Congress President until the elections in 1991. While campaigning, he was assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

 

Shri Rajiv Gandhi

The death anniversary of Shri Rajiv Gandhi is also observed as Anti Terrorism Day all over the country on 21 May. Terrorism, the most heinous crime by the mankind against the mankind has become the biggest fear for Indians today. And of course every citizen of the country is responsible for driving out this phantom of fear. Fighting against this crime has become the moral duty of every Indian. At the same time whole nation mourns two minutes of silence to mark solidarity with the world in its fight against terrorism and to memorize Rajiv Gandhi.

Anti Terrorism Day is observed every year on May 21 to promote peace and harmony in the nation. Different committees across the country organize various seminars on drive to create awareness about the danger caused by this unmerciful act of terrorism. The main aim of observing Anti Terrorism Day is to wean away the Indian youth from such dreadful forces threatening human lives.

 

Even anti-terrorism or anti-violence pledge is also taken in all the government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions. There is also need of more serious thoughts on the observance of Anti Terrorism Day and in order to successfully accomplish the aim of Anti Terrorism Day.

That’s all for today! Take care of your family and children and of course yourself! Have a good day/ afternoon/evening/night! Namaskar.