MAHA SIVARATRI

Mahashivaratri Festival or the ‘The Night of Shiva’ is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity. Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the month of February - March in English Calendar. Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees observe day and night fast and perform ritual worship of Shiva Lingam to appease Lord Shiva.There are various interesting legends related to the festival of Maha Shivaratri. According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Some believe that it was on the auspicious night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Another popular Shivratri legend stated in Linga Purana states that it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Hence the day is considered to be extremely auspicious by Shiva devotees and they celebrate it as Mahashivaratri - the grand night of Shiva.
                                                 Usually on Maha Sivaratri Devoteess wokeup early in the morning take ritual bath and after wearing fresh new clothes visit shiva temple to give ritual bath to shiva with milk, honey, water, etc.Every three hours priests perform ritual to Shivalingam abhishek.Nightlong vigil or jaagran is also observed in Shiva temples where large number of devotees spend the night singing hymns and devotional songs in praise of Lord Shiva. It is only on the following morning that devotee break their fast by partaking prasad offered to the deity.

MAYURAM- THE SACRED BIRD FOR HINDUS

Peacock is our national bird. The real story behind peacock's fertilisation is -Cloacal kiss.yes it is!!!!it doesn't contain any reproductive systems. The cloaca is the single opening birds use to excrete, mate and lay eggs).
The legend states that the Mayura was created from the feathers of Garuda, In images of the mayura as a mythical bird, it is depicted as killing a snake, which according to a number of Hindu scriptures, is a symbol of cycle of time.
For all these reasons peacock is treated as sacred bird and even lord krishna used to wear it daily.

BHOGI

The day precending makara sankranthi is known as BHOGI .SANKRANTHI is the sanskrit word in hindu astrology which refers to the transmigration of sun from one rashi to another rashi.There are 12 sankrathis. Sankranthi festival usually comes on transition of sun from Dhanu rashi to Makara rashi.ON bhogi people distract old and derelict things and concentrate on new things.At dawn people light a bonfire with logs of woods,waste or damaged wooden furnitures.The disposal of derelict things is where all old habits, the vices, attachment to relations and materials things are sacrificed in the sacrificial fire of the knowledge of Rudra, known as the "Rudra Gita Gyan Yagya. It represents realization, transformation and purification of the soul by imbibing and inculcating divine virtues.

In many families children(less than 3 years old) are showered with 'regi pallu' called as indian jujubi fruits.It is believed that doing this would protect the children from evil eye.Brothers pay special tribute to their married sisters by giving gifts as affirmation of their filial love. Landlords give gifts of food, clothes and money to their workforce.

DIWALI

Diwali is also called as 'Deepostav' and 'festival of lights'.The festival starts with 'Dhantheras' on which most Indian business people starts their financial year.The second day of the festival is 'Narakachaturdasi'.Amavasya,the third of diwali is prominent for LAKSHMI puja,goddess of wealth.The fourth day of diwali is called as 'Karthikasudhapadyami' and the fivth day is called as 'Yama dvitiya' on this day sisters invite their borthers to their homes.
Hindus have several significant  features for diwali:
1.Return of RAMA after 14years of vanavas.to welcome him people lighted oil lamps in 20rows
2.Killing of Narakasura by SATYABHAMA.
3.Return of PANDAVAS after 12years of vanavas.







GODDESS LAKSHMI PUJA: Diwali marks the end of the harvest season in most of India. Farmers give thanks for the bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marked the closing of accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and is the last major celebration before winter. Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.

As per spirutual references,on this day 'Lakshmi panchayathan' enters the universe.vishnu,Indra,kubera,Gajendra, and Lakshmi are elemets of panchayathan.The tasks of this elements are:

lakshmi:provides energy to all these elements
vishnu:happiness
kubera:wealth
gajendra:carries the wealth
indra:satisfaction due to wealth

Diwali is not only celebrated by Hindus; it is also a Sikh festival. Hindus celebrate Diwali because of the Ram Sita story; however, Sikhs celebrate Diwali as it marks the Chhorh Divis. This was when the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, released 52 Hindi kings out of prison.

Indian PAINTINGS

INDIAN painting has a very long tradition and history.In earlier days rock painting is the only source before 5500 B.C.paintings of Ajantha caves are the most significant from the survivals.
Indian paintings can be broadly classified into two types:murals and miniatures.

MURALS:Murals are large works executed on the walls of solid structure.well,we can find such type of paintings in Ajantha caves.we can also find murals near Amaravathi in guntur district at Boudhasthupa which was at under construction.

MINIATURES:coming to miniatures,these are executed on very small scale such as books,paper and clothes. The art of miniature painting reached its glory during the Mughal period. The tradition of miniature paintings was carried forward by the painters of different Rajastani schools of painting like the Bundi, Kishangarh, and Jaipur.

MUGHAL: Mughal painting is a particular style of Indian painting, generally confined to illustrations on the book and done in miniatures, and which emerged, developed and took shape during the period of the Mughal Empire ( 16th -19th centuries).mughal emperors wanted to show their deeds of hunting,conquering etc.for that they selected painting as the best weapon.

TANJORE PAINTING:it is an important form of indian classical painting native to the town of tanjore in TamilNadu.it mainly encourages art and literature.