Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab or Prakash Utsav, is one of the most important festivals for Sikhs around the world. It marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. The celebration is held every year on the full moon day of the Kartik month according to the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2024, this significant day will be observed on November 15. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469 in Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. He was the first of the ten Sikh Gurus and a philosopher, poet, and spiritual leader. Guru Nanak’s teachings emphasized the values of equality, compassion, and devotion to one universal God. He rejected social divisions based on caste, creed, and religion and inspired people to live lives of honesty, humility, and service. Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm across the world. Sikhs, along with people of other faiths who follow Guru Nanak’s teachings, engage in various religious and social activities like Prayers and Kirtans, Nagar Kirtan and Paath, Decoration and lightening of Gurudwaras and Langar Sewa to mark the occasion. This Guru Nanak Jayanti is special as it marks the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Ji. This milestone serves as a reminder of the timeless relevance of his teachings and their importance in today's world.
14 November,2024 01:19 PM IST
Crores of people in India celebrate Chhath Puja. In fact, this is known to be one of the oldest festivals of India. This 4-day festival of India pays respect to the Sun God and his sister Chhati Maiyya. This ancient tradition reminds us of our connection with nature and the importance of gratitude. But why is this festival celebrated and how? Take a look as India celebrates Chhath Puja 2024.
06 November,2024 05:54 PM IST
The festival of lights Diwali 2024 is here. This is known to be one of the most auspicious times of the year and conducting Laxmi Puja on Diwali is considered to be highly blissful. In this video, Varun Panditji explains how to do Diwali Laxmi Puja Vidhi in a simple way. Take a look.
29 October,2024 05:59 PM IST
Diwali 2024, the festival of lights, sweets, celebrations and feast is here. Each year during Diwali, there is a big debate around practising the tradition of burning firecrackers during Diwali. Do firecrackers really symbolise Diwali? Well, historically, as per sources, Diwali had nothing to do with firecrackers! Let’s travel back in time and discover the journey of firecrackers in Diwali.
29 October,2024 01:31 PM IST
Diwali 2024 is here and the city of Mumbai is lit up with decor items, puja essentials, flowers, sweets, dresses and so much more. As you gear up for the festival and get ahead with Diwali shopping in Mumbai, Kandil Galli in Mahim is a place you must not miss. Known as the biggest lantern market in Mumbai, this street gets lit with hundreds of lanterns in all shapes and sizes 2 weeks before Diwali. While the market primarily offers lanterns, you can also find diyas, torans and other Diwali decor items. This Mumbai street turns into a paradise with a string of lanterns emitting a view you surely don’t want to miss. Take a look.
24 October,2024 06:00 PM IST
As Diwali approaches, the Kumar community in Nimati Bhitor Kokila Kumar Gaon, Assam, is struggling to keep their 200-year-old pottery tradition alive. This art, which used to be a main source of income, is now at risk of disappearing. The Kumar people are known for making clay utensils along the Brahmaputra River, but modern competition and a lack of resources are making it hard for them to survive. About 120 families live in the village, most of whom are below the poverty line, facing significant economic challenges. They also struggle to get the special clay needed for pottery and receive little support from the government. Without immediate help, the rich cultural heritage of the Kumar community could be lost forever, leaving them in a shadow of uncertainty
24 October,2024 01:53 PM IST
Dussehra 2024 is here and this marks the time when the Ramleela fervour reaches its peak. While most of us have seen the Ramleela as an audience on the stage, this video takes you behind the scenes. The Ramleela artists come together from different walks of life with only gola, to spread the name of their beloved Shri Ram. In this episode of Culture Beat, Mid-day’s Katyayani Kapoor went back stage of Ramleela at Mumbai’s Malad organised by the Shree Ram Lila Prachar Samiti, Malad - to capture the beauty of the making of a Ramleela. Take a look at this exclusive footage.
11 October,2024 07:45 PM IST
Dussehra 2024 is here and this happens to be one of the biggest festivals celebrating the win of good over evil. While Ravan is largely considered an evil force ruling the ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka, it might come as a surprise to many about his worship in India. The mystery and the history about Ravan continues to intrigue while several misconceptions loom on him side by side. In this episode of Culture Beat, Mythologist Devdutt Pattnaik talks about the worshipping of Ravan in India, its origins, and the life lessons that we can learn from Ramayan this Vijayadashmi 2024.
11 October,2024 05:00 PM IST
In an inspiring move, 90-year-old Namita Chatterjee shocked all by walking the ramp at Bombay Durgabari Samiti Pandal. The pandal happens to be one of the oldest in the city of Mumbai and is famous for its magnificent Durga idol, bhog and cultural programmes. One of the cultural programs organised this year was a fashion show that saw many fashion enthusiasts taking part in the show but one stood out. 90-year-old Namita Chatterjee was seen walking the ramp exuding grace and inspiring others on the way. Take a look.
11 October,2024 04:29 PM IST
Organised by the Bengali community in Mumbai, Durga Puja pandals offer an extraordinary devotional experience for worshipping Maa Durga. A special bhog is offered to the goddess and distributed as prasad to all the devotees each year. More than 30,000 people take bhog in this pandal each year and cooking at such a large scale is not easy! The scale of cooking is huge and the responsibility is even bigger - but year by year - tirelessly in all devotion - the bhog is cooked and served with love and consumed by thousands in the spirit of Joi Maa Durga! In this episode of Culture Beat, Mid-day’s Katyayani Kapoor explores what goes into making the bhog at Powai Sarvajanin Durgotsav 2024. Take a look.
10 October,2024 08:00 PM ISTADVERTISEMENT
