Ram Navami is an auspicious Hindu festival which is celebrated every year and marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ram. It falls on the Shukla Paksha Navami which the ninth day of the Chaitra month and is also the conclusion of Chaitra Navratri. He was born to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya. The festival also celebrates the descent of Vishnu as the Rama avatar.

According to the Hindu Calendar, Chaitra Navratri is marked in the month March or April. This year, Ram Navami falls on 30 March. As per Drik Panchang, Lord Rama was born during Madhyahna period which is middle of Hindu day. Madhyahna which prevails for six Ghatis (approximately 2 hours and 24 minutes) is the most auspicious time to perform Rama Navami Puja rituals. According to Drik Panchang, it will last from 11:11 am to 1:40 pm this year. The Rama Navami Madhyahna Moment will be at 12:26 pm. 

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One of the holiest Hindu festivals, Maha Shivratri, commemorates Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati’s marriage and many other cosmic events related to him. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva married Maa Shakti, his divine consort, for a second time on this night. It is in celebration of their divine union that the day is celebrated as ‘The Night of Lord Shiva’. While Lord Shiva signifies Purusha – which is mindfulness, Maa Parvati signifies Prakriti – which is nature. The union of this consciousness and energy promotes creation.

Another legend says that during the creation of the universe, Lord Shiva was incarnated as Lord Rudra during the midnight of Maha Shivaratri with the grace of Lord Brahma. It is also believed that on this night, Lord Shiva performed his cosmic dance of creation, preservation and destruction when he heard the news of his consort Maa Sati’s immolation. This heavenly dance is known as Rudra Tandav among his devotees.

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This year, there is some confusion about when Lohri should be celebrated. Many people are unsure whether it falls on January 13 or 14. According to Drik Panchang, the Lohri festival will take place on  January 14, 2023. 

The traditional winter folk festival from Punjab is attended by farmers all around the country as it is the annual harvest festival. As part of the harvest ritual, foods such as til (black sesame seeds), gur (jaggery), gajak, popcorn, and peanuts are offered to the fire. 

The festival of Lohri is said to commemorate Dulha Bhatti’s bravery and his resistance against the tyranny of the Mughal rulers. During Lohri festivities, bonfires are lit, sweets are exchanged, and traditional Punjabi folk songs and dances are performed in honour of Dulha Bhatti.

The shortest day and longest night of the year, Lohri is also known as the ‘Winter Solstice.’ 

Signifying the end of winter and the arrival of spring, Lohri is derived from the words ‘Tilohri,’ meaning sesame or ’til’, and ‘rorhi,’ which is also called jaggery or ‘gur’. 

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Durga Ashtami, also known as Maha Ashtami or simply Ashtami, is the third day of the four-day festival, which is celebrated in many Indian states and around the world mainly by the Bengali community.

Durga Ashtami is considered to be the most important day of the festival which begins with ‘mahasnan’ in the morning. This is followed by the installation of nine small pots that are then used to invoke the nine Shaktis of Goddess Durga.

Another special feature of Ashtami is the ‘Kumari Puja’, for which prepubescent girls are treated as Goddess Durga herself, and worshipped.

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