A Wisdom Archive on Havan and Arati

Prasada is that which gives peace. Prasada is the sacred food offering of the Lord. During Kirtana, worship, Puja, Havan and Arati, the devotee offers sweet rice, fruits, jaggery, milk, coconut, plantain and such other articles to the Lord, according to his ability. After offering them to the Lord, they are shared between the members of the house or the Bhaktas in a temple.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Prasada: Hindu Symbols - Sacred food offering of the Lord - Prasada

Detailed description of how a Homa is performed.
During a homa, various rituals are performed successively in order to activate various energies and to also develop the right emotion to perform the homa. Some of these rituals are common and must be observed before every homa. After these rituals are performed, the main homa would begin wherein the rituals differ depending on which deity you invoke. The common rituals for all homas are described.

Read more here: » Homas: The different steps in a Homa and their significance

MOTHER SARASWATHI
The presiding Deity over Creation and Dissolution Mother Saraswathi, is divine knowledge personified, the embodiment of knowledge of the Absolute. The sound of Her celestial veena awakens the notes of the sublime utterances of the Upanishads which reveal the Truth, and the sacred monosyllable, Om. She bestows the knowledge of the supreme, mystic sound and then gives full knowledge of the Self as represented by Her pure, dazzling snow-white apparel. Therefore, to propitiate Saraswathi, the giver of knowledge, is the third stage.
 
From " Hindu Fasts & Festivals " by Sri Swami Sivananda.
 

Read more here: » Saraswathi: The Hindu Godess Mother Saraswathi

Krishna Janmashtami
THIS IS THE birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth Divine Incarnation. It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). This is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals. Lord Krishna was born at midnight. A twenty-four hour fast is observed on this day, which is broken at midnight.
 
From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.
 

Read more here: » Krishna Janmashtami: Hindu festivals - Krishna Janmashtami

There are great truths behind the ancient mythology of Hinduism. You cannot ignore a thing simply because it has a garb of mythology. Do not argue. Shut up your mouth. Keep your intellect at a respectable distance when you study mythology. Intellect is a hindrance. It will delude you. Give up arrogance and vanity. Cultivate love for imagery. Sit like a child and open your heart freely. You will comprehend the great truths revealed by mythology. You will penetrate into the hearts of the Rishis and sages who wrote the mythology. You will really enjoy mythology now..
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Hindu Mythology: Hinduism Mythology and Symbols

Read more here: » Hindu Symbols: Symbols in Hinduism