India Is heaven to travel

Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. The festivals finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.

It is said that Holi existed several centuries before Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped.

Calculating the Day of Holi
There are two ways of reckoning a lunar month- 'purnimanta' and 'amanta'. In the former, the first day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. Though the amanta reckoning is more common now, the purnimanta was very much in vogue in the earlier days.

According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-ritu (with spring starting from next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season.Delhi being the capital and the heart of India, celebrates Holi with extreme enthusiasm

Being a metro city, an amalgamation of cultures and traditions can be witnessed here. Virtually all aspects of Holi as seen in various states are noticeable in the numerous pockets of Delhi.

People move out in tolis and apply colour on each other till they become unrecognizable. Play with colors peaks up in the residential colonies as people usually do not go out with families beyond their neighborhood. Even public conveyances do no ply with usual frequency.

Feasts, music, dancing and blasting parties are held all over the city to mark the festival of colours. People hug and greet each other by applying abeer as tilak. Any feeling of hardship or animosity is forgotten on the day. Is is said that even the enemies become friend on Holi.

On the eve of Holi, bonfires or Holika are lit in the important centres of the city where people celebrate the victory of good over evil. Wood for burning Holika is collected weeks before the festival.

Being a political hub of the country, Delhi sees huge enthusiasm even among the politicians. Holi is also celebrated at the Presidents and Prime Minister residences where people gather to play Holi. Cultural events and lots of fun mark the day.

Ganpati Festival In India

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesh and is known as the day most sacred to Lord Ganesh. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapad (August - September). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world.

Lord Ganesh is the prime God of all Hindus. He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva. He is considered the most auspicious God to worship at the commencement of any occasion. He is considered to be the remover of all obstacles and hindrances that may arise in any work undertaken. Therefore, it is a well-known custom to pay obeisance to him before one undertakes any task. That is the reason one finds Lord Ganesh’s image adorning most wedding invitations.

Lord Ganesh is considered to be a most benevolent God and one of the most popular. He has the head of an elephant, an animal of great stamina and intelligence.  Thus, he is the Lord of great strength and intellect. He is also considered the master of all academic subjects as well as all the arts and crafts. He is usually depicted with four hands: one holds a modak, another a lotus flower, a third an axe and the fourth, a trishul. 

Legend :

Once upon a time, the Goddess Parvati (consort of Lord Shiva), while bathing, created Ganesh as a pure white being out of the mud of her Body and placed him at the entrance of the house. She told him not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesh at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesh's head as he thought Ganesh was an outsider.

When Parvati came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief Shiva ordered his servants to cut off and bring to him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body of Ganesh.

Lord Shiva made his son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings, marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship of Ganesh should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad.

Without the Grace of Sri Ganesh and his help nothing whatsoever can be achieved. No action can be undertaken without his support, Grace or blessing.

The 'Shlok' or Prayer for Lord Ganesh

Vakratund mahakaay suryakoti samaprabha |
Nirvighnam kurume deva sarvakaryeshu sarvadaa ||

When translated into English, it reads as:
“O mighty God with a trunk, your brilliance is like that of a thousand suns; free my path of all obstacles in all auspicious works that I undertake.”