Every year on Makara Sankaranthi , a unique phenomenon takes place at Sabarimala, the popular pilgrim centre on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. A light of extraordinary brightness appears on the horizon in the north-eastern side of an adjacent mountain top called Kantamala. The beacon, called Makara Jyoti , lasts 15 to 20 minutes and marks the climax of the 41 days of the Sabarimala pilgrimage.

This 'light' miracle, in fact, follows yet another unexplained annual event. The ornaments of Lord Ayyappa, presiding deity of Sabarimala, are kept in the custody of the erstwhile Prince of Pandalam in his palace, 90 km from the temple. These are taken to the temple every year in a three-day-long procession. As the procession approaches the temple, an eagle is seen hovering over it, guiding it towards the sanctum sanctorum. Once the ornaments reach the temple, the eagle mysteriously disappears.

(See also: Makara Jyoti, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Maryada Purusha , Rama Navami , Rama nama, Rama nama mantra, Rama nama contains the power of all mantras. Just uttering the syllable 'Ra' can purge us of all sin. The following syllable 'Ma' ensures that expunged sins do not return to plague us.

The Rama nama mantra stands for Supreme Reality. Chanting Rama's name produces a rhythmic sound that soothes and relaxes the mental and physical system. Mental recitations are equally, if not more, effective. 'Ra' is taken from the Astakshari Mantra Om Namo Narayanaya and 'Ma', from Panchakshari Mantra, Namah Shivaya . The word Rama stands for one who is always present in the hearts of yogis and makes them feel happy. Rama nama liberates from ego and desires. If you are depressed, the mantra will lift your spirits.

(See also: Rama Navami, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Over 4,000 years ago God asked Abraham to build the Kabah (house of worship) at Mecca and to call upon all people to make the pilgrimage to the House of God. Thus, it came to be obligatory for every Muslim to go for Haj at least once, provided good health and financial position permitted it.

Over two million believers from all over the world gather every year in Mecca to perform this pious duty. The rites of Haj take about one week to complete, but the devout spend as many days as possible so that they may become spiritually enriched by the sacred atmosphere. All the acts and sites of Haj convey a spiritual message.

(See also: Kabah, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

On Dhanteras , Hindus worship Lord Dhanwantari, the deity of health and healing. Dhan is wealth or Lakshmi - so the goddess of wealth and prosperity is also prayed to.

Every household buys something new. But we tend to forget the real meaning of wealth which is sound health. Lord Dhanwantari also symbolises the spirit of knowledge and nature, including all about herbs and medicinal plants.

(See also: Dhanteras, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

January every year, devotees throng the Sabarimala temple situated in the Sahayadri ranges in Kerala, to participate in the renowned Mandala Puja conducted during Makara Sankaranti.

The deity worshipped here, Lord Ayyappa, is believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu and is also known as Sastha and Harihara Sutha. The basic concept of incarnation is that God descends in order to let man ascend.

(See also: Makara Sankaranti, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The moon of Muharram has been sighted. This is the beginning of the New Year of Muslims according to the tenements of Islam and the Shariat. This New Year reminds us of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of our Beloved Prophet.

According to Islamic history, there was a noted chieftain in the holy city of Mecca, Abde Munaf. Two twins were born to him, but they were Siamese twins with their backs joined by birth. The chieftain approached the wise men of the city for advice, and they said, "Now they are children, but when they grow up they will face problems."

(See also: Muslim New Year, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Lord Krishna's influence on our lives far exceeds that of any other God-incarnate. Krishna is depicted not only as an embodiment of wisdom and selfless action, but also as a humane liberal and practical philosopher with foresight.

Krishna's mysticism and activism have greatly inspired poets, painters, writers, dramatists and dancers. The advice he rendered to a disheartened Arjuna at Kurukshetra - immortalised in the Bhagavad Gita - greatly influenced philosophers and continues to inspire millions of people worldwide.

(See also: Krishna, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The lakhs of Shiva temples all over India include the famous temples at Amarnath in Kashmir, Somnath in Gujarat, Vishwanath in Varanasi and Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain.

The names of these Shiva temples define Shiva's various divine functions, exalting Him as the Supreme Soul. The linga is worshipped as the very image of Shiva. The linga indicates that Shiva has neither male nor female human form like do the other deities; the Lord is an incorporeal point of Light. This is why, the 12 well-known Shiva temples in India are also known as Jyotirlinga Mat h signifying his form of Light.

(See also: Shivaratri, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The philosophy of Prophet Zarathushtra accorded sanctity to nature as much as to rectitude in human existence. The Sun became the celestial emblem of the Fire which was kept burning within the homes and fire-temples on earth as an undying and unremitting tribute to the spirit of the Creator, Ahura Mazda.

Haptan Yasht says: "We revere the Earth and the Sky, we revere the strong Wind created by Mazda, we revere all good land." The unflinching reverence of the living world as also an abiding involvement with the advancement of our own Self were propounded through Zoroastrianism, a religion in consonance with environmental perceptions. Physical purity became a step towards purity of the mind, the soul and the spirit.

(See also: Jamshedi Navroz, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Shankara Jayanthi:

Shankara is our Vedanta Guru. He was God incarnate. He was born at a time when Indian thought and culture were decaying; when they underwent sore distraction; when ethical glory and the widespread influence of the Buddhistic cult was gradually dying; when there was complete chaos and confusion

Shankara Jayanthi falls on the 5th day of the bright half of Vaisakh (May-June). On this day, study his works, pray and meditate.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Shankara Jayanthi: Hindu Traditions - Shankara Jayanthi

One of the participants at the Oneness Festival share his personal experiences of the Oneness Festival that took place February 16-22 2004 in India. This article give you an idea of what happens at the Oneness Festivals that take place twice annualy outside the village of Varadepalyam 90 km North of Madras/Chennai in India.

Read more here: » What happened at the Oneness Festival Feb 16-22 2004?

Dashai (दशैं) is a Nepalese festival celebrated in Autumn. It corresponds to the Indian festival Dussehra. Other related archivesDussehra, Nepalese

Read more here: » Dashai: Encyclopedia - Dashai

Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana is a music festival of Indian classical music. Other related archivesIndian classical music, music festival

Read more here: » Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana: Encyclopedia - Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana

The Zoroastrian calendar (sometimes referred to as the Persian calendar) has a year that is 365 days long, composed of 12 months of 30 days each, plus an additional period of 5 days at the end of the year. There are three versions of this calendar with different starting dates for the year. The Qadimi ("Ancient") calendar is used in Iran. The Shahanshahi (Shenshai) ('Imperial") calendar is used by the Parsees in India, and is exactly one month (30 days) behind the 'Qadmi calendar. The newer Fasli ("s ...

Read more here: » Zoroastrian calendar: Encyclopedia - Zoroastrian calendar

IRIS can refer to: An organization: Institute for Research in Information and Scholarship, now defunct hypertext project at Brown University Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, also known as the IRIS Consortium IRIS (management festival), the annual Management Festival of Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIMI) IRIS Center at the University of Maryland, originally the "Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector", researches foreign policy, economic development ...

Read more here: » IRIS: Encyclopedia - IRIS

Ugadi (literally - the start of an era) is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka use the term Ugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa. Ugadi - The Lunar Almanac of the Deccan. The festival marks the new year day for people who follow the southern Indian lunar calendar, pervasively adhered to in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtr ...

Including:

• Ugadi - The Lunar Almanac of the Deccan
• Ugadi - Observance in Andhra and Karnataka
• Ugadi - Observance in Maharashtra
• Ugadi - Trivia

Read more here: » Ugadi: Encyclopedia - Ugadi

Vishu (വിഷൂ) is a festival held in the state of Kerala (and adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu) in India around the first day in the Malayalam month of Medam (March – April). This occasion signifies the Sun's transit to the zodiac Mesha Mesha Raasi as per Indian astrological calculations. This day is celebrated in almost all places in India by the Hindus albeit by different names. In Bihar this day is called Bihu, in ...

Read more here: » Vishu: Encyclopedia - Vishu

The Malayalam calendar is a sidereal solar calendar used in the South Indian state of Kerala. It has twelve months: Chingam. "Onam", the most important festival of Kerala, is celebrated during this month. This comes during August or September of Gregorian Calendar. Kanni Thulam Vrischikam. The famous "Sabarimala" temple in Kerala is opened for devotees on the first day of this month for a period of two months. This period is called "Mandalakkaalam" DhanuIncluding:

• Malayalam calendar - External link

Read more here: » Malayalam calendar: Encyclopedia - Malayalam calendar

This article is about (members of) the Parsi Zoroastrian community in and from India. The term "Parsi" may also be used... in an anthropological context to refer to a person who comes from Pars (the middle-Persian word for Fars) in Iran. in Persian language nomenclature, where "Parsi" is the Persian language term for the Persian language itself, or the Persian language term for a speaker of the Persian language. "Parsee" is the Br ...

Including:

• Parsi - Ethnic origins of the Parsis of India
• Parsi - Definition of Parsi
• Parsi - History of Parsis in India
• Parsi - Prominent Parsis in Science and Industry
• Parsi - Prominent Parsis in the Arts
• Parsi - Prominent Parsis in Law Government and the Indian Nationalist Movement
• Parsi - Prominent Parsi families in India
• Parsi - Prominent Parsi families in other parts of the world

Read more here: » Parsi: Encyclopedia - Parsi

Narasimha avatar, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, is unique in many ways. In the other avatars Vishnu was born at a particular time, grew up in this world and helped his devotees at some other time. But as Narasimha, both his appearance on earth and his coming to the aid of his devotee were simultaneous and instantaneous.

Maitreya, Parasara's disciple and author of Vishnu Purana asks why the Lord always seems to be partial, why he helps the Devas and kills asuras. In reply, Parasara narrates to him the story of Narasimha, who comes to the rescue of the little boy Prahlad, the son of asura king Hiranyakashipu.

(See also: Narasimha avatar, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Established as College of Engineering in 1961, IIT Delhi was given the current name and declared an Institution of National Importance under the "Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 1963" It was then accorded the status of a deemed university with powers to decide its own academic policies, to conduct its examinations, and to award its degrees. The picturesque Institute campus extends over an area of 320 acres (1.3 km²). With clean and wide roads, the campus presents a spectacle of harmony in architectural and natural beau ...

See also:

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Overview, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Academic structure, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Other facilites, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Some major festivals at IIT Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Alumni

Read more here: » Indian Institute of Technology Delhi: Encyclopedia II - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Overview

The Students Activity Centre provides a number of facilities for students' extracurricular and physical development. The central two-storied block with a swimming pool and a gymnasium hall has amenities such as squash courts, hobbies workshop, seminar rooms, music rooms and other multipurpose rooms for reading and indoor games. The amphitheatre constructed in modern style is an added amenity to the Centre. The campus also provides such amenities as staff club, hospital, shopping centre, bank, post office, community centre, stadium and playin ...

See also:

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Overview, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Academic structure, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Other facilites, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Some major festivals at IIT Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Alumni

Read more here: » Indian Institute of Technology Delhi: Encyclopedia II - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi - Other facilites