Guide to Pujas, Festivals and Homas

Saraswati Puja Date for 2020 in India – Wednesday, January 29, 2020.

Saraswati Puja is considered to be the most auspicious puja in Indian culture. Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and the sign of purity and peace. This puja plays a very important role in India’s culture of respect for learning. Saraswati puja is also popular as Vasant Panchami. Moreover, a typical image of Goddess Saraswati shows her sitting on a lotus flower or riding a swan. She is a tribute to power, confidence, and knowledge.

Saraswati Puja Overview

Dates	Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Deity	Goddess Saraswati
Related Festival	Vasant Panchami, Diwali, Navratri
Relevant Season	Spring
Significance	Goddess of Skills and Knowledge
Dress	Traditional

Significance Of Saraswati Puja in a Child’s Life

Children are encouraged to worship Maa Saraswati because of the educational value she holds. Here is why we should educate about the significance of Saraswati Puja in a child’s life –

1. Knowledge is Wealth: It is only through knowledge that an individual can conquer the world, which is why much emphasize has been given to knowledge and wisdom in the life of a student.
2. Art and Music: The Goddess encourages all sorts of arts and music apart from educational knowledge. A child should seek the blessings of this goddess in order to excel in all spheres of life.
3. Peace: Goddess Saraswati is seen on the peaceful lake of the mind, offering the peace of silent meditation, which is necessary for today’s fast-paced life. 
4. Following Traditions: Doing Saraswati Puja helps a child to stay in touch with the customs and traditions despite gaining knowledge of the world. 
5. Being Spiritual: Apart from engaging in all sorts of arts and music, students learn to become spiritual and respectful. They learn qualities like team-building, leadership, and corporation.

Why do we celebrate Saraswati Puja?

• Saraswati puja is celebrated for knowledge and is auspicious for students.
• Vasant Panchami is also an auspicious day to begin new work, to marry or to shift to a new home. The yellow colour is significant on this day.
• Devotees also worship Saraswati as the water deity who has purifying powers.
• The festival of Saraswati pooja is also an occasion of social celebrations. This puja is very common in eastern India.
• Further, on this day all the educational institutes worship the Goddess with lots of happiness.

What Goddess Saraswati Symbolizes?

The scripture she holds are the Vedas and represent knowledge, while the japa mala, or beads, represents discipline and concentration.

Goddess Saraswati	Symbolism
Her Four Arms	Her front arms depict the Goddess’ activity in the material realm while the back arms depict the activity in the spiritual realm.
Stringed Instrument, or Veena	The veena represents the arts and serves as a reminder to live in harmony with others and the world.
Book or Vedas	Represents the Truth or pure knowledge
Stringed Beads, or Japa Mala	Represents discipline, concentration, and meditation
White Clothing or Sari	Symbolic of purity
Lotus	A white lotus represents purity and knowledge.
Peacock	The peacock represents beauty and dance. Peacocks can also represent vanity and indecision.
Swan	The beautiful swan that is seen with the Goddess represents beauty. The swan is believed to have the ability to separate water from milk with its beak. This symbolizes how we should chose between right and wrong.

Who should perform Saraswati Puja?

• People who want to develop creativity, confidence and improve their skills should perform Saraswati pooja.
• Professionals can also perform this puja to gain success.
• Students perform this puja to increase their skills and talents in various fields.
• Performing Saraswati pooja also improves memory power and communication skills.

What are the benefits of performing Saraswati Puja?

Here is a list of benefits of performing Saraswati Puja:

• One gets the blessings of Goddess Saraswati. This helps in gaining knowledge and wisdom in one’s life.
• This puja also fills one’s life with lots of positivity and removes negativity.
• It also provides strength and empowerment in an individual’s life.
• After performing this puja, a person becomes more talented and skilled.

When should I perform Saraswati Puja?

• The 10th day of ‘Dussehra‘ or ‘Navratri‘ is included in the celebrations of Saraswati Puja.
• Devotees also also perform Saraswati Puja on Vasant Panchami. Vasant Panchmi also has other names like Saraswati Panchami and Shri Panchami.
• Also, many astrologists consider it an Abujha day. 
• Purvahna Kala decides the day on which Vasant Panchami falls. It is the time between the sunrise and midday.

How to do Saraswati Puja at home?

What are the Saraswati Puja Mantras?

Here are the mantras that one should utter while performing Saraswati Pooja:

What are the materials required for Saraswati Puja?

The materials required in Saraswati Pooja are:

Samagri/ Things required	Quantity
Mango Leaves	5
Ghee	1 Kg
Dhoop	100 Grams
Agarbatti	2 Packets
Saffron	as per requirement
Kumkum	100 Grams
Coconut	1
Rosewater	1 Bottle
Betel Leaf	5
Kapur	1 Packet
Gulal – Holi Colours	100 grams of each color
Turmeric powder	100 grams
Idol of Saraswati	1
Sandal	1 Pair
Coins	as per your requirement and facility.
Rice	100 grams
Fruits	Mixed Fruits as per your requirement
Diyas	5 minimum

Other requirements are:

1. Plate
2. Match Box
3. Ganga Jal
4. Lotus and Yellow flowers like Marigold
5. Kamal Gatte
6. Clean red cloth
7. Piper Beetle
8. Cotton Wicks
9. Marigold Flowers Garland
10. Kalash
11. Panchamrit

What to wear on Saraswati Puja?

• It is very important to wear only Yellow clothes on Saraswati Puja because this colour holds great significance for this Puja.
• Women can wear traditional dresses like Saree or Salwar.
• Men can wear traditional dresses like Dhoti.

What is the cost of performing Saraswati Puja?

Saraswati Puja with the prescribed materials ranges from Rs. 2000 to Rs.4000.

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Kali puja is celebrated on October 27, 2019. It is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Moreover, the pooja removes the negative influence of the Saturn planet and negative energies like ego, anger and jealousy. This is also known as Shyama Puja and is popular in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Eastern India.

Kali Puja
Start Date	27 October 2019
Location	Kolkata, West Bengal

Goddess Kali is believed to be the first incarnation of Goddess Durga. Along with Goddess Kali people also worship Goddess Laxmi on this day. Moreover, takes place in the Bengali month of Kartik on the new moon day.

Obviously, the deity’s name comes from the Sanskrit name ‘Kala’ which means black or lord of death. oddess Kali is the destroyer of evils.  

When is Kali Puja 2019?

• This year in 2019, Kali Puja will be celebrated on the 27th of October.
• On this year, Diwali is also on the 27th of October and will be celebrated together with Kali Puja.
• Furthermore, the Amavasya Tithi for the Puja begins at 12:23 pm on 27th October and ends at 9:08 am on 28th October.

Kali Puja Dates

Year	Date	Day
2019	27 October	Sunday
2020	14 November	Saturday
2021	04 November	Thursday
2022	24 October	Monday
2023	12 November	Sunday
2024	31 October	Thursday
2025	20 October	Monday

Who should perform Kali Puja?

Here is who should perform Kali Puja:

• The person who is suffering from any family problems or financial issues should perform this puja.
• It also boosts the confidence of the devotee and provides positivity and stamina to him/her. 
• If a person is suffering from any disease or illness then he/she should perform this puja. 
• Devotees also perform this puja to get rid of all the negative people from life.
• Furthermore, Goddess Kali also protects the devotees from mental and physical issues.
• People suffering from any type of negativities or painful events in life.
• However, any obstacles in married life can be removed by performing Kali puja which helps in building a happy married life.
• Performing this puja also protects the devotee from all the forms of black magic.

What are the benefits of performing this Pooja?

The benefits of performing Kali puja are:

• This puja removes all types of negative energies from the home and workplace.
• Along with that it also protects the devotees and lifts up their stamina.
• Moreover, Goddess Kali is the most powerful and strongest form of Goddess Durga. She also fills happiness in the house of devotees.
• The puja removes all kind of impurities. Also, it removes darkness from the life of devotees.
• Further, it helps to recover from prolonged illness and also from many incurable illnesses.
• The puja also safeguards a person from the evil spirit and black magic.
• Further, removing all the obstacles while running a business and bring success in education and career.
• Moreover, it protects the person from the bad influence of planet Saturn.

In what circumstances should one perform Kali Pooja?

• One should perform Kali Puja on Kartik Amavasya in the month of October or November.
• Most of the time, Kali Puja and Diwali Puja fall on the same day. But sometimes, it may fall one day before the Diwali Puja.
• Nevertheless, many devotees worship Goddess Lakshmi on Amavasya during Diwali.
• Many devotees also perform the Kali puja during Navratri that precedes Diwali.
• People suffering from ill effects of Shani should offer prayers to Goddess Kali on Kali Chaudas which is Dhantrayodashi.
• Nevertheless, one must perform Dus Maha Vidya Mahakali Puja to get rid of negativity.

How to do Kali Puja at home?

What is the Mantra for this Puja?

The Mantra for Kali Puja is:

• Dhyan: During this, the Devotees sit in front of the deity and meditate. Also some mantras are chant during this time.

Sadyashchhinna-Shirah Kripanamabhayam Hastairvaram Bibhratim।
Ghorasyam Shirasam Srajam Suruchiramunmukta-Keshavalim॥
Srikkasrik-Pravaham Shmashan-Nilayam Shrutyoh Shavalankritim।
Shyamangi Krita-Mekhalam Shava-Karairdevim Bhaje Kalikam॥

• Avahan: The Avahan Mantra is also chanted during the Puja. Here, it is :

Om Deveshi! Bhakti-Sulabhe! Parivar-Samanvite!
Yavat Tvam Pujayishyami. Tavat Tvam Susthira Bhava॥

Dushpare Ghora Sansara Sagare Patitam Sada।
Trayasva Varade, Devi! Namaste Chit-Paratmike॥

Ye Deva. Yashcha Devyashcha. Chalitayam Chalanti Hi।

Avahayami Tan Sarvan Kalike. Parameshwari॥
Pranan Raksha. Yasho Raksha. Raksha Daran. Sutan, Dhanam।

Sarva Raksha Kari Yasmat Tvam Hi Devi. Jaganmaye॥
Pravishya Tishtha Yagyesmin. Yavat Pujam Karomyaham।

Sarvananda Kare Devi! Sarva Siddhim Prayachchha Me॥
Tishthatra Kalike Matah! Sarva-Kalyana-Hetave।
Pujam Grihana Sumukhi! Namaste Shankara-Priye॥

• Pushpanjali: The Pushpanjali Mantra also makes part of the mantras chanted during the puja. Here it is :

(I)

Nana Ratna Samayuktam. Karta Swar Vibhushitam।
Asanam Deva-Deveshi! Prityartham Prati Grihyatam॥

(II)

Om Shrikali Devyai Namah. Padayoh Padyam Samarpayami।
Om Shrikali Devyai Namah. Shirasi Arghyam Samarpayami।

Omm Shri Kali Devyaee Namah. Gandhakshatam Samarpayami।
Omm Shri Kali Devyaee Namah. Pushpam Samarpayami।

Om Shri Kaali Devyai Namah. Dhupam Ghrapayami।
Om Shri Kaali Devyai Namah. Dipam Darshayami।

Omm Shrikali Devyaee Namah. Naivedyam Samarpayami।
Omm Shrikali Devyaee Namah. Achamaniyam Samarpayami।

Om Shri Kaali Devyai Namah. Tambulam Samarpayami।

(III)

Om Maha-Kalyai Namah। Anena Pujanena Shrikali Devi Priyatam; Namo Namah।

What are the materials required for this Puja?

The materials for the puja are:

Kumkum	Burning Lighter Fluid
Coconut	Urad Dal
Ashtagandha	Kali Bahuli
Supari	Betel Leaves with stem
Panch Dhatu	Colors
Sandalwood	Purnapatre
Kapus ( Cotton Balls)	Akshata

• Furthermore, you need seven types of grains like White Beans, Red Kidney Beans, Green Peas, Chickpeas, Brown Lentil, Gram etc.
• One will also require Hawan Samagri, Shankha, Haldi, Rice Grains, Kalash, Ganga Jal.
• Nevertheless, Niranjan, Kapur, Pure Ghee, Gud, Dhoop are also important.

What is the cost of performing Kali Puja?

• The price to perform this puja ranges from Rs. 3500 to Rs. 6500. However, this includes the cost of the materials required to perform the puja.
• Moreover, one can also consult an expert regarding the technique and procedure to perform the puja.

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Pitru Paksha 2019: Pitru Paksha, a 16 day lunar period in Hindu calendar begins on Friday, September 13 and concludes on Saturday, September 28. Pitru Paksha is a ritual performed for the dead ancestors. Hindus pay homage to their ancestors during this period.

Pitru Paksha is also known as Pitru Pakshya, Pitri Pokkho, Sola Shraddha, Kanagat, Jitiya, Mahalaya Paksha and Apara Paksha. The word ‘Pitras’ means ‘Ancestors’ and ‘Paksha’ means ‘A particular time’. It is considered to be an inauspicious time. No good task is done during this period.

During the ceremony, the death rites that are performed is termed ‘Tarpan’ or ‘Shraddha’. It is believed that performing the Pitru Dosha blesses the entire family. It is performed only by the male members of the family.

Pitru Paksha 2019 Dates

Date	Day	Shraddha
13 September 2019	Friday	Purnima Shraddha
14 September 2019	Saturday	Pratipada Shraddha
15 September 2019	Sunday	Dwitiya Shraddha
16 September 2019	Monday	Tritiya Shraddha
17 September 2019	Tuesday	Chaturthi Shraddha
18 September 2019	Wednesday	Maha Bharani, Panchami Shraddha
19 September 2019	Thursday	Shashti Shraddha
20 September 2019	Friday	Saptami Shraddha
21 September 2019	Saturday	Ashtami Shraddha
22 September 2019	Sunday	Navami Shraddha
23 September 2019	Monday	Dashami Shraddha
24 September 2019	Tuesday	Ekadashi Shraddha
25 September 2019	Wednesday	Dwadashi Shraddha
26 September 2019	Thursday	Trayadoshi Shraddha
27 September 2019	Friday	Magha Shraddha
28 September 2019	Saturday	Sarva Pitra Amavasya

Why do we perform Pitru Paksha?

We perform Pitru Paksha Puja because:

• It ensures that the ancestors go to heaven.
• It is believed that the live members of the family won’t be in peace if the ancestors are not resting in peace. The family will keep facing some of the other problems.
• Not performing the puja can make the women of the family not have children.
• It ensures that the ancestors rest in peace by clearing their sins.

What is the history of Pitru Paksha ritual?

According to mythology, the reason for performing Pitru Paksha relates to King Karna, the son of the Sun God from Mahabharata. King Karna was always deeply involved in charity and could never say no to anybody. After his death in the Mahabharat war, when he went to heaven, he was offered food made of gold. 

He asked the Gods why such a great was offered food this way even after doing so much charity. He was told that this was because he only offered gold as a charity and not food. King Karna neither offered food and water to his ancestors nor the poor people. Realizing his mistake, King Karna wanted to correct it. The Gods thus decided to let Karna return to Earth for 15 days to feed the poor. This helped him to get rid of the problem. This period is called Pitru Paksha.

Who can perform Pitru Paksha ritual?

The son of the dead ancestor performs the Pitru Paksha. If the person has no son, any other male member can perform the Puja. In cases where a person has more than one son, the eldest son performs the Puja.

Where do we perform Pitru Karma?

• One can perform the Puja in a lake beside their house.
• They can also perform this Puja at the banks of a river.
• One can also visit Gaya or Varanasi to perform the Puja.

Materials required to perform Pitru Paksha 2019

The materials required to perform Pitru Paksha are:

• White rice, A bucket of water, Piece of Kush grass (with roots attached), and Black till for performing the Tarpan.
• Ghee, 5 pairs of Puri/Suhari and Sweet rice, Black Till, Camphor, 1 Diya, Wood, Mango leaves, Lota with water and prepared food to take outside for performing the Havan.
• Prepared meals, or 3 or 5 pairs of Suhari/Puri and sweet rice for performing the Bhojan.

How to perform Pitru Paksha in 2019?

The ceremony of Pitru Paksha consists of three parts. These are:

• Tarpan
• Havana
• Bhojan

Method of offering Tarpan:

• Mix the black till and white rice into the bucket of water. After that plant the Kush grass on the southern side of you. Then tie the Kush grass into a knot.
• Join your hands together and allow the water to scoop down your palms.
• Face the east and offer the ‘Jal’ with hands to the sun and recite 3 times, “Om Sri Suriyaayaai Namah.”
• Face the south and offer Tarpan with hands to the deceased ancestor. Do it 3 times for each ancestor in the following way: (Call the name of deceased) and recite “Pitra Swaadhaa”.
• Offer Tarpan 3 times. Say “Sarva Pitra Swaadhaa”

Method of performing Havan:

• Face south with the Havan Kund in front of. Say “Om Namo Narayana Namah” seven times. Spend a few moments reflecting on the forefathers who are honoured with Pitra Havan.
• Set the fire and make ghee offerings to the forefathers. Recite the same mantras as the Tarpan.
• Mix the ghee, black till, puri and sweet rice together.
• Make the offerings like the Tarpan using this mixture.
• Take the prepared food for forefathers outside.

Method of performing Bhojan:

• At least three people should accompany you.
• Take the food and a lighting piece of stick or camphor to the back of your house.
• Place the fire down and the food and water down in a neat way.
• Pause for a while to seek the protection of these souls and then turn around and leave.
• You should not look at the food you have offered.

What are the rules for performing the Pitru Paksha ritual?

The rules for performing the Pitru Paksha are:

• The male performing the Puja should bathe before performing the Puja.
• The male performing the Puja should wear a Dhoti.
• He should wear a ‘Kush Grass’ ring.
• He should be bare-chested.
• The person performing the Puja should not have anything negative in his mind.
• Do not do anything ‘new’ during this time. Like engagement, wedding, buying property etc.
• Avoid eating non-vegetarian food, onion, garlic, jeera, mustard oil etc.
• Do not harm any living beings during this period.

What is the cost of performing Pitru Paksha?

The cost of performing Pitru Paksha starts from as low as Rs 25 and can go up to Rs 5000.

The pandit performs the puja for a group of people together at the lower budget and the size of the group decreases with the increase in the budget. The budget ranges from Rs 2500-5000 if a Pandit dedicates himself to perform your Puja. This includes the cost of ingredients and donations.

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