Diwali Chopdi Puja traditions and rituals

On the all-important day of Lakshmi Puja during the festival of Diwali, besides the puja done at home and offices of the Goddess of wealth, there is an important puja performed by those in the business world. These businessmen include those who operate shops or restaurants or factories or any other type of business. Even stock brokers and chartered accountants perform this puja. This puja is done of the accounts books of the financial year and is called Chopdi Pujan or Chopda Puja. At one time it was the businessmen of the Gujarati community who did this puja on a large scale, but today businessmen of many other communities too perform this puja.

2012 Diwali festival dates and Lakshmi puja times

The festival of Diwali is the most popular festival in India, celebrated across most communities. It incorporates a joyous fervour and happiness that is enjoyed by families and friends. In fact, in the contemporary world of time-clocked schedules, Diwali provides for one of those rare occasions  when families get together to shop, eat and spend maximum time with one another. More so because it is not just a one or two day festival but is spread over five days in a year.

While Goddess Lakshmi is considered to be the most important deity during the Diwali festival, actually people worship a trinity of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. Lord Ganesha is worshipped to gain wisdom, Goddess Lakshmi to become rich and Goddess Saraswati to become learned. You are thereby removing folly, poverty and ignorance.

Visiting Vigneshwara Ganapati Temple at Ozhar

Most devotees setting out on the Ashtavinayak Yatra visit the Vigneshwara Ganapati Temple at Ozhar as a fifth halt, though it is generally said that it should be the seventh one (see route map here). Ozhar is located on the Pune-Nashik highway & is considered to be a very charming town.

It is located about 8kms from Narayangaon, on the banks of the river Kuk­di. Buses ply to Ozhar from Narayangaon and Junnar and it is accessible by road via the bridge over the Kukdi river. The road route is: Chakan – Rajgurunagar – Manchar – Narayangoan – Junnar.

2012 Mood Indigo Livewire All India rock band competition dates

Mood Indigo is one of the best organised and most popular festivals not just in Mumbai but in the country. Hosted by IIT-Bombay, it attracts hordes of entries for its various competitive events from educational institutions all over India, not to mention hundreds of happy spectators. One such event is Livewire, the rock band competition. This year, though, this specific event will not be confined just to a Mumbai venue. Eliminations will be held in 4 cities: Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai & Bengaluru.

Visiting Janjira Fort Murud and nearby tourist attractions

One of the most famous forts in Maharashtra, the Janjira Fort (janjira comes from an Arabic work meaning island) at Murud is, incredibly, bang in the middle of a sea! Just imagine huge waves lashing repeatedly at the walls of the fort, day after day after day and, yet, standing indestructible over eons.

Another incredible fact about this fort is that, despite repeated raids by various kings & foreign invaders, it was never conquered. The 40 feet high walls had been put up as a defence against sea pirates and, over time, strong masonry was added to the original wooden structure. Even Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Sambhaji were unsuccessful in their attempts to capture the fort, both by tunnelling and by trying to scale the granite walls. The fort was primarily in the hands of the Siddis’ dynasty of nawabs who were allies of the Mughal Emperors.

2012 Shivaji Park Bengal Club Durga Pandal

Shivaji Park's Bengal Club celebrated its 77th annual Durga Puja this year. The pandal, designed by art director Abhishek Redkar, was centered on Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home. Nobel laureate Tagore was born in Thakur Bari, a red brick house which today is a museum located on the campus of the Rabindra Bharati University at Jorasanko, Kolkata. See photos of the 2013 pandal, a replica of Bishnupur Temples here.

Why is Goddess Durga worshipped as Goddess Kali

Some images of Goddess Durga in Her form as Kali depict Her as having 10 heads. This symbolises Her powers as being effective in all 10 directions. 

Goddess Kali’s numerous weapons signify that the Goddess is omnipotent and the demon the Goddess killed, namely Mahishasura, represents the triumph over ignorance.