Ambaji Padyatri Seva - Bhadarvi Punam Seva

"Jai Ambe", "Jai Mata Ji". This the main slogan that you heard now a days in the road that lead to Ambaji in the month of Badrapad according to Indian Calendar (Comes between August and September). Every year about 40 to 50 lakh (4 to 5 million) devotee's walk to a temple Ambaji (about 180 Kms from Ahmedabad near to Rajesthan bordar). Most people walk this journey in 5 days but a people in masses takes about 15 days reach the temple on purnima (Full Moon).

Gujarat State Transport also provide special help to devotee's by putting extra 1500 buses for their transportation. Gorvenment takes extra precautions by keeping a medical camps at various places during this days and distribute free drugs. But government cannot help out single handed to this many number people. As this situation people come out from various villages to help the devotee by providing free food, free medical.

Lots of big companies also close their working for these days and put all their office staff to help out the devotees. Lots of small group of people provide help like providing water, shelter for night stay with all other basic needs.

We are also doing small amount of help by providing a small packet of "Chana" which is a very healthy food and people can eat that while walking or while resting for a while. Chana give them a good strength and also a good time pass while a long walk to temple Ambaji. We are providing this service since last 10 years and our fund and people to help out in this service increases day by day which is a blassing from a Mata Amba and we will continue this service as long as we can.

Usually temple are closed after 8:00 PM IST and during afternoon, its closed from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. (Timing changes according to the season so please confirm the timing from the temple site). But during this days temple is closed only for an hour of time during a day and kept open for the darshan of the Maa Ambe for devotees walking to Ambaji.

People once visit this place during this season wish to come next year no matter what the condition to the blessing from the Maa Amba. Its saying that if you come here with a wish full faith in Maa Ambe then your wish will get fulfilled thats for sure.

Tomatina - Tomato Fight Festival of Spain

La Tomatina (Tomatina) is a food fight festival held on last Wednesday of August every year in the town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain. Tens of thousands of participants come from all over the world to fight in a brutal battle where more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.

The week-long festival features music, parades, dancing, and fireworks. On the night before the tomato fight, participants of the festival compete in a paella cooking contest. It is tradition for the women to wear all white and the men to wear no shirts. This festival started in a casual way in 1945[1], but wasn't officially recognized until 1952.

Approximately 20,000–50,000 tourists come to the tomato fight, multiplying by several times Buñol's normal population of slightly over 9,000. There is limited accommodation for people who come to La Tomatina, and thus many participants stay in Valencia and travel by bus or train to Buñol, about 38 km outside the city. In preparation for the dirty mess that will ensue, shopkeepers use huge plastic covers on their storefronts in order to protect them.

History of the Festival

The festival is in honor of the town's patron saints, St. Louis Bertrand (San Luis Bertràn) and the Mare de Déu dels Desemparats (Mother of God of the Defenseless), a title of the Virgin Mary.

The tomato fight has been a strong tradition in Buñol since 1944 or 1945[1]. No one is completely certain how this event originated. Possible theories on how the Tomatina began include a local food fight among friends, a juvenile class war, a volley of tomatoes from bystanders at a carnival parade, a practical joke on a bad musician, and the anarchic aftermath of an accidental lorry spillage. One of the most popular theories is that disgruntled townspeople attacked city councilmen with tomatoes during a town celebration. Whatever happened to begin the tradition, it was enjoyed so much that it was repeated the next year, and the year after that, and so on. The holiday was banned during the Spanish State period under Francisco Franco for having no religious significance, but returned in the 1970s after his demise

Source : Wikipedia

GaneshChaturthi - Vighna Harta Ganesh Birthday

Lord Ganesh is considered to be the God who bless us with and wealth upon human beings. Lord Ganesh considered as Vighna Harta ( Take away hurdles from life) and because of that Lord Ganesh rememberd first while undertakings all new work whether at place of work or at home. He is known as the God of good luck and prosperity. Therefore, before any auspicious occasion, Hindus performs the puja of Lord Ganesha, to achieve success in it. Ganesh Chaturthi, the day marking the birth of the Lord, is celebrated in a grand manner mainly in Maharashtra and all other parts of India. It falls in the Hindu lunar month of Bhadra and lasts over a period of ten days. One of the most loving festivals of India.

Small idols of vighnaharta ganesh are brought with great reverence and installed in the homes on decorated pedestal. Different kinds of sweets and dishes are prepared during these festivities. In coastal Karnataka people bring sugar canes and tender coconuts as offerings to Lord Ganesha. Some families immerse the idol of Ganesha after one and a half days. Others keep and worship the deity for five days or seven days or the full period of ten days and immerse the idol on the Ananth Chaturdashi day.

The Festival started by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism, the festival was revived by Lokmanya Tilak (a freedom fighter) to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the British who had banned public assemblies. The festival gave the Indians a feeling of unity and revived their patriotic spirit and faith. This public festival formed the background for political leaders who delivered speeches to inspire people against the Western rule. The festival is so popular that the preparations begin months in advance.

Ganesha statues installed in street corners and in homes, and elaborate arrangements are made for lighting, decoration, mirrors and the most common of flowers. Poojas (prayer services) are performed daily. The artists who make the idols of Ganesh compete with each other to make bigger and more magnificent and elegant idols. The relevantly larger ones are anything from 10 meters to 30 meters in height. These statues are then carried on decorated floats to be immersed in the sea after one, three, five, seven and ten days. Thousands of processions converge on the beaches to immerse the holy idols in the sea. This procession and immersion is accompanied by drum- beats, devotional songs and dancing.

It is still forbidden to look at the moon on that day as the moon had laughed at Ganesha when he fell from his vehicle, the rat. With the immersion of the idol amidst the chanting of "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai!" (Hail Lord Ganesh). The festival ends with pleas to Ganesha to return the next year with chants of "Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya" (Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year.


Prayer (Arti)of Lord Ganesh.

Jai Ganesha Devaa

Jai ganesha jai ganesha jai ganesha devaa
Maataa jaakii paarvatii, pitaa mahaadevaa
Eka danta dayaavanta, caara bhujaa dhaarii
Maathe sinduura sohai, muuse kii savaari
Jai ganeshaa...

Andhana ko aankha deta
Korhina ko kaayaa
Baanjhana ko putra deta
Nirdhana ko maayaa
Jai ganeshaa...

Paana carhe, phuula carhe
Aura carhe mevaa
Ladduana ko bhoga lage
Santa karen sevaa
Jai ganesha...

Image Source : www.lalbaugcharaja.com