Theology

Major Hindu Festivals | Photo | Hindu Lunar Day of Observance | Civil date(1994) | Descriptions |

Makar Sankranti orPongal | Thai Pongal in Colombo | Makar Sankranti orPongal marks the transition of the Sun into Makar rasi. It marks the gradual increase of the duration of the day.

Pongal is the first day of Uttarayanaand coincides with the beginning of theTamil month of Thai. | 14 Jan | Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festivals of southern India, mainly Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Pongal happens in the middle of January every year and marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan (sun's journey northwards). The Pongal festival lasts for four days. Celebrations include a drawing of Kolam, swinging & the cooking of delicious Pongal.[2]

This day coincides with Makara Sankranti. |

Vasant Panchami | Goddess Saraswati in Kolkata | Fifth day of the waxing moon ofMagh (Hindu Calendar) | 20 Jan | Vasant Panchami (also called Saraswati Puja by Bengalis, Oriyas and Biharis) is celebrated for the blessing of Saraswati, goddess of wisdom and the arts.[3] |

Thaipusam orKavadi | Murugan during Thaipusam | The full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai | Jan / Feb | Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. The word Thaipusam is derived from the Tamil month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star near the location of the moon during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a spear so he could vanquish the evil demonSoorapadman.Kavadi Attam (Tamil:காவடி ஆட்டம்) is a dance performed by the devotees during the ceremonial worship of Murugan, the Tamil God of War.[4] It is often performed during the festival of Thaipusam and emphasises debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan.[5] |

Maha Shivaratri | A statue of Shiva meditating | Thirteenth night of the waning moon ofMagh (Hindu Calendar) | 12 Mar |...