Calendar

Apr
17
Wed
2024
Rama Navami
Apr 17 all-day
Rama Navami

The birthday of Lord Rama, the celebrated hero of the famous epic, ‘Ramayana’, is enthusiastically celebrated on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Chaitra, all over India. Lord Vishnu is worshiped in his human incarnation as Rama, the divine ruler of Ayodhya. Lord Rama was born on Navami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. Each year this day is celebrated as birthday of Lord Rama. 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. The mid-point of Madhyahna marks the moment when Shri Rama was born and temples symbolize this moment as birth moment of Lord Rama. The chanting of Shri Rama and celebration reaches its peak during this time.

Due to widespread use of western clock and Gregorian calendar people assume 12 p.m. as Madhyahna moment. This could have been correct if sunrise and sunset occur exactly at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. respectively but at most places sunrise and sunset timings are different from six O’clock. Hence the exact time to celebrate birthday of Lord Rama falls between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for most Indian cities.

The festival of Ramnavami is celebrated with great devotion across the nation and every region has its own regional significance behind the celebration. Ayodhya is the focus of great celebrations. A huge fair is organized for two days. Ratha yatras or ‘chariot processions’ of Rama and his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman, are taken out from many temples. In the south of India the “Sri Ramnavami Utsavam” is celebrated for nine days with great fervor and devotion.

Lord Rama was the prince of the Ikshvaku race. He was virtuous and of manly strength. He was the Lord of the mind and the senses. Brave and valiant, He was yet gentle and modest. He was a sage in counsel, kind and sweet in speech, and most courteous and handsome in appearance. He was the master of all the divine weapons, and a great warrior. Ever devoted to the good and prosperity of His kingdom and His subjects, He was a defender of the weak and the protector of the righteous. Endowed with numerous wondrous powers of the mind, He was well versed in all sciences—in military science as well as the science of the Self. Ayodhya is birthplace of Lord Rama and Rama Navami celebrations in Ayodhya are remarkable. Devotees come to Ayodhya from far-flung places. After taking holy dip into river Sarayu Devotees visit Rama temple to participate in birthday celebrations.

Aug
11
Sun
2024
Tulsidas Jayanti
Aug 11 all-day
Tulsidas Jayanti

Tulsidas (1497-1623 C.E.) was a Hindu saint, reformer, philosopher and the poet. Tulsidas is renowned for his great devotion towards Lord Rama. Tulsidas composed several works but he is best known as the author of the great epic Ramcharitmanas, a retelling of the Sanskrit Ramayana in the vernacular Awadhi language.

According to Hindu lunar calendar, Tulsidas was born on Shravana, Shukla Paksha Saptami (7th day) and this day is observed as birth anniversary of Poet Tulsidas. Tulsidas is also known as Goswami Tulsidas. His birth place is identified at the Rajapur (also known as the Chitrakuta) at the banks of the Yamuna river in UP. The name of his parents is Hulsi and Atmaram Dubey. There is various opinions regarding the birth year of Tulsidas. Many of them say according to the Vikrami Samvat that he took birth in 1554 and other say it was 1532. He lived his life around 126 years. After his birth, he told Rama word instead of crying. That’s why he named as Rambola, he himself had stated in Vinayapatrika. At the fourth night after his birth his father had passed away and Tulsidas had stated in his works Kavitavali and Vinayapatrika about his parents abandonment after his birth. Chuniya (the female maid of his mother Hulsi) took Tulsidas to her town, Haripur and took care of him for next five and a half years till she died. Rambola (Tulsidas) was given the Virakta Diksha (known as Vairagi initiation) and got the new name, Tulsidas. His Upanayana was performed by the Narharidas at Ayodhya when he was just of 7 years old. He came to the sacred city Varanasi when he was just 15–16 years old and got the knowledge of Sanskrit grammar, Hindu literature and philosophy, four Vedas, six Vedangas, Jyotisha from his guru Shesha Sanatana at the Panchaganga Ghat in Varanasi.

He got married to the Ratnavali (the daughter of Dinbandhu Pathak of Mahewa village and Kaushambi district) at the 13th day of the Jyeshta month (May or June) in the year 1583. After some years of the marriage he got a son named Tarak who died in his toddler state. Her wife remarked that devote yourself to the God fully. He then left her wife and went to the holy city of Prayag (where he renounced the stages of Grihastha life and became a Sadhu). According to the some authors, he was unmarried and Sadhu from the birth. He died on the river bank of Gange at the Assi Ghat in the month of Shraavan (July or August) in 1623.

Tulsidas was acclaimed to be a reincarnation of Maharishi Valmiki, the composer of the original Ramayana in Sanskrit. He is also considered to be the composer of Hanuman Chalisa, a popular devotional hymn in Awadhi dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

Goswami Tulsidas lived his whole life as well as died in the city of Benares society in the India. The famous Tulsi Ghat on the Ganges River in Varanasi is named after him. The famous Sankatmochan Temple dedicated to God Hanuman is believed to be founded by Tulsidas.

Oct
17
Thu
2024
Valmiki Jayanti
Oct 17 all-day
Valmiki Jayanti

Valmiki is also known as Maharishi Valmiki and considered as the Adi Kavi i.e. the first poet of Sanskrit language. As per the traditional Hindu calendar, his birth anniversary, which is also known as Valmiki Jayanti, falls on ‘Purnima’ (full moon Day) during the month of Ashwin whereas in the Gregorian calendar it corresponds to the month of September-October.  He was a great sage and author of the epic Ramayana which consists of 24,000 verses and 7 cantos (Kandas) including the Uttara canto. This day is celebrated with dedication in the northern regions of India and is also referred as ‘Pragat Diwas’. Maharishi Valmiki is believed to be the contemporary of Lord Sri Rama which makes it difficult to define the exact timings of his birth as birth era of Lord Sri Rama is also a topic of much debate among modern historians.

As per Ramayana, Shri Rama met Valmiki during his period of exile and interacted with him. Later, Valmiki gave shelter to Devi Sita in his hermitage when Rama banished her. Kusha and Lava, the twin sons of Shri Rama were born in his hermitage. Valmiki taught Ramayana to both twins.

Maharishi Valmiki in his early life was a highway dacoit named Ratnakar, who used to rob people after killing them. It is believed that sage Narada Muni transformed Ratnakar into great devotee of Lord Rama. On the advice of Narada Muni, Ratnakar performed great penance by reciting great Mantra of Rama Nama. After years of meditation, a divine voice declared his penance successful and bestowed him with new name Valmiki, the one who born out of ant-hills.

India is home to several Valmiki temples but the most prominent one is located in Chennai. It is believed that sage Valmiki rested at the spot and later the temple was constructed. The temple is believed to be 1300 years old and stands on the East Coast Road named as Valmiki Nagar. On this day, people pay their respects towards Maharishi Valmiki by parading portraits of him. The procession is called Shobha Yatra.

Apr
6
Sun
2025
Rama Navami
Apr 6 all-day
Rama Navami

The birthday of Lord Rama, the celebrated hero of the famous epic, ‘Ramayana’, is enthusiastically celebrated on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Chaitra, all over India. Lord Vishnu is worshiped in his human incarnation as Rama, the divine ruler of Ayodhya. Lord Rama was born on Navami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. Each year this day is celebrated as birthday of Lord Rama. 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. The mid-point of Madhyahna marks the moment when Shri Rama was born and temples symbolize this moment as birth moment of Lord Rama. The chanting of Shri Rama and celebration reaches its peak during this time.

Due to widespread use of western clock and Gregorian calendar people assume 12 p.m. as Madhyahna moment. This could have been correct if sunrise and sunset occur exactly at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. respectively but at most places sunrise and sunset timings are different from six O’clock. Hence the exact time to celebrate birthday of Lord Rama falls between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for most Indian cities.

The festival of Ramnavami is celebrated with great devotion across the nation and every region has its own regional significance behind the celebration. Ayodhya is the focus of great celebrations. A huge fair is organized for two days. Ratha yatras or ‘chariot processions’ of Rama and his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman, are taken out from many temples. In the south of India the “Sri Ramnavami Utsavam” is celebrated for nine days with great fervor and devotion.

Lord Rama was the prince of the Ikshvaku race. He was virtuous and of manly strength. He was the Lord of the mind and the senses. Brave and valiant, He was yet gentle and modest. He was a sage in counsel, kind and sweet in speech, and most courteous and handsome in appearance. He was the master of all the divine weapons, and a great warrior. Ever devoted to the good and prosperity of His kingdom and His subjects, He was a defender of the weak and the protector of the righteous. Endowed with numerous wondrous powers of the mind, He was well versed in all sciences—in military science as well as the science of the Self. Ayodhya is birthplace of Lord Rama and Rama Navami celebrations in Ayodhya are remarkable. Devotees come to Ayodhya from far-flung places. After taking holy dip into river Sarayu Devotees visit Rama temple to participate in birthday celebrations.

Jul
31
Thu
2025
Tulsidas Jayanti
Jul 31 all-day
Tulsidas Jayanti

Tulsidas (1497-1623 C.E.) was a Hindu saint, reformer, philosopher and the poet. Tulsidas is renowned for his great devotion towards Lord Rama. Tulsidas composed several works but he is best known as the author of the great epic Ramcharitmanas, a retelling of the Sanskrit Ramayana in the vernacular Awadhi language.

According to Hindu lunar calendar, Tulsidas was born on Shravana, Shukla Paksha Saptami (7th day) and this day is observed as birth anniversary of Poet Tulsidas. Tulsidas is also known as Goswami Tulsidas. His birth place is identified at the Rajapur (also known as the Chitrakuta) at the banks of the Yamuna river in UP. The name of his parents is Hulsi and Atmaram Dubey. There is various opinions regarding the birth year of Tulsidas. Many of them say according to the Vikrami Samvat that he took birth in 1554 and other say it was 1532. He lived his life around 126 years. After his birth, he told Rama word instead of crying. That’s why he named as Rambola, he himself had stated in Vinayapatrika. At the fourth night after his birth his father had passed away and Tulsidas had stated in his works Kavitavali and Vinayapatrika about his parents abandonment after his birth. Chuniya (the female maid of his mother Hulsi) took Tulsidas to her town, Haripur and took care of him for next five and a half years till she died. Rambola (Tulsidas) was given the Virakta Diksha (known as Vairagi initiation) and got the new name, Tulsidas. His Upanayana was performed by the Narharidas at Ayodhya when he was just of 7 years old. He came to the sacred city Varanasi when he was just 15–16 years old and got the knowledge of Sanskrit grammar, Hindu literature and philosophy, four Vedas, six Vedangas, Jyotisha from his guru Shesha Sanatana at the Panchaganga Ghat in Varanasi.

He got married to the Ratnavali (the daughter of Dinbandhu Pathak of Mahewa village and Kaushambi district) at the 13th day of the Jyeshta month (May or June) in the year 1583. After some years of the marriage he got a son named Tarak who died in his toddler state. Her wife remarked that devote yourself to the God fully. He then left her wife and went to the holy city of Prayag (where he renounced the stages of Grihastha life and became a Sadhu). According to the some authors, he was unmarried and Sadhu from the birth. He died on the river bank of Gange at the Assi Ghat in the month of Shraavan (July or August) in 1623.

Tulsidas was acclaimed to be a reincarnation of Maharishi Valmiki, the composer of the original Ramayana in Sanskrit. He is also considered to be the composer of Hanuman Chalisa, a popular devotional hymn in Awadhi dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

Goswami Tulsidas lived his whole life as well as died in the city of Benares society in the India. The famous Tulsi Ghat on the Ganges River in Varanasi is named after him. The famous Sankatmochan Temple dedicated to God Hanuman is believed to be founded by Tulsidas.

Oct
7
Tue
2025
Valmiki Jayanti
Oct 7 all-day
Valmiki Jayanti

Valmiki is also known as Maharishi Valmiki and considered as the Adi Kavi i.e. the first poet of Sanskrit language. As per the traditional Hindu calendar, his birth anniversary, which is also known as Valmiki Jayanti, falls on ‘Purnima’ (full moon Day) during the month of Ashwin whereas in the Gregorian calendar it corresponds to the month of September-October.  He was a great sage and author of the epic Ramayana which consists of 24,000 verses and 7 cantos (Kandas) including the Uttara canto. This day is celebrated with dedication in the northern regions of India and is also referred as ‘Pragat Diwas’. Maharishi Valmiki is believed to be the contemporary of Lord Sri Rama which makes it difficult to define the exact timings of his birth as birth era of Lord Sri Rama is also a topic of much debate among modern historians.

As per Ramayana, Shri Rama met Valmiki during his period of exile and interacted with him. Later, Valmiki gave shelter to Devi Sita in his hermitage when Rama banished her. Kusha and Lava, the twin sons of Shri Rama were born in his hermitage. Valmiki taught Ramayana to both twins.

Maharishi Valmiki in his early life was a highway dacoit named Ratnakar, who used to rob people after killing them. It is believed that sage Narada Muni transformed Ratnakar into great devotee of Lord Rama. On the advice of Narada Muni, Ratnakar performed great penance by reciting great Mantra of Rama Nama. After years of meditation, a divine voice declared his penance successful and bestowed him with new name Valmiki, the one who born out of ant-hills.

India is home to several Valmiki temples but the most prominent one is located in Chennai. It is believed that sage Valmiki rested at the spot and later the temple was constructed. The temple is believed to be 1300 years old and stands on the East Coast Road named as Valmiki Nagar. On this day, people pay their respects towards Maharishi Valmiki by parading portraits of him. The procession is called Shobha Yatra.