1 vinayaga chadhurthi ed

Vinayagar Chaturthi & Ramzan Edition

fest-In | 1 “To reach the unreachable”

Ganapathi bappa morya

Every year the entire Indian community celebrates “Ganesh Chaturthi” with great enthusiasm. We Indian celebrate Ganapati’s birthday as Vinayagar Chaturthi. Preparation of this sacred festival begin months in advance and the actual day of celebration sees a grand observance of the occasion complete with elaborate execution of traditional rituals, singing of devotional songs, fervid dancing, cracker-busting and loud chanting of “Ganapati bappa morya”.

Ganesh followers will create the pandal(Shelter) in their own locality before two weeks of the celebration and place the unique Ganesh statue inside the pandal)Shelter) and do pooja everyday in the morning and in the evening by singing devotional songs which praise Ganesh. Most people of the community will attend the evening pooja. They actually rush to home from their work place to take part in the festivities and gather around

the brightly lit Ganesha. People offer prasad of kolkatta, sundal,Modaks or peras (a type of sweetmeat, coconut,biscus of any other red flower, sheaves of vermillion, turmeric powder and rice. During Ganesh Chaturthi, in most part of countries people offer prasad to the image of Ganesha in their mini temples at home. The entire family wears fresh and clean clothes and assembles in the sacrosanct area. As the sing hymns, everyone is given some flowers and rice in their hand. These are later showered on Ganesha. Sometimes a few families get together in someone’s house for the pooja. Each ceremony is rounded off with people tucking in toothsome modaks in keeping with Ganesh’s style.

Modaks Myth:

Hindu mythology has a story to tell even about Ganesh’s Modaks. It is said that Ganesh’s loved Modaks and simply could not stop himself from eating them. In fact he devoured them by the hundreds. Once moon was make a fun of ganesh’s obsession with modaks he got furious with the moon that he crushed him, saying that his beauty would never remain constant. Since that day, way back in time the moon reveals itself in all its magnificence only once in 28 days.



Chennai Ganapati!!!

Rajasthan Ganapati!!!

U.S.A Ganapati!!!

On the day of festival Chennai people will buy the “Clay Idol of Ganapati” with paper umbrella from outside. Before perform pooja person(Male Gender) who is the head of the family will shower(Oil Bath) the Idol. After shower will decorate the Idol with Sandal (Santhanam), flowers and will put Poonal on his shoulder. They will also place one rupee coin on his belly. Special foods like Kolkatta, sundal will be place in front of the ‘Clay Idol’ and aarthi will be show. Family members will pray together and get bless from senior person. From the day of festival everyday without fail in the morning and in the evening will do pooja with aarthi. Third day from the day of festival in the morning after doing pooja they will take the Idol and drop it into well or nearby lake. This the custom which is follow by Chennai People.

Rajasthan people place a garlanded Idol of Ganesha smeared with vermillion right outside their homes. In front of the image they keep a plate with some vermillion and turmeric powder so each passerby can put a pinch of the sacred powder on his forehead and feel blessed by Ganesha.

U.K. Ganapati!!!

More and more Hindus migrating to U.K., Hindu festivals have begun to witness celebrations in different parts of Europe. In London, Ganesh Chaturti was observed for the first time in the Vishwa Hindu Temple in 2005, due to the sincere efforts of the Hindu Culture and Heritage Society, a Southall based organization. The event was supported by a number of temples, gurudwaras and many other organizations in the U.K. and saw a grand celebration. The Shobha Yatra (Procession) started from the premises of the Vishwa Hindu Mandir, proceeded to Ram Mandir at King Street, Southall, and was finally immersed in the river Thomasat Putney pier in the presence of dignitaties.

In the United States of America, Ganesh chaturthi is celebrated by different religious organizations.The Sai Samsthan, a Hindu society in Warrenville,Illinois,supposedly organizes the grandest Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in the U.S.A,which is attended by thousands of local Indians as well as people of other nationalities.Other well known organizations to hold the Ganesh puja are the North American Sankethi Association of New York and the Hindu Temple Society in Mami,Florida. The festival sees local Indians striving to observe all the organizing of the festive parades and the immersion of the idols. At the end of the celebrations, the idols of Lord Ganesha are given a festive farewell in the local rivers and seas. While in Miami, the Ganesha idols are immersed in



Kerala Ganapati!!!

the sea in the north of Mami, in San Francisco Bay Area the devotees take their Lord to the Baker Beach for immersion.

Kerala people will not buy any Clay Idol instead of that they will do pooja with the image which they already having in their home. With that image will do normal pooja like what other states people will do in pooja.

Mauritius Ganapati!!!

With the Hindu community itself forming about 52% of its population, the Ganesh Chaturthi observance sees fervid celebration in Mauritius. Annually, the occasion is observed here on the 4th day of the lunar month of Bhadrapada (August/September as per the Gregorian calendar). The tradition of Ganesh Chaturthi celebration started here in 1896. The

well known Bhiwajee family in Mauritius is credited with the first observance of Ganesh Chaturthi in Cascades Valley in Henrietta, a tradition that they have still kept alive. With time, other Hindus who came to Mauritius joined in too and began to celebrate the festival in a grander way. In present times, the festival has become so popular thet the Mauritian government has proclaimed the Ganesh Chaturthi day as a public holiday. In the evening of the celebrations, Lord Ganesha Statues are blessed in various temples and households and taken for immersion in the sea. Mauritius being an Island sea on all sides, devotees from different villages and towns take part in the “Shova Yatra” and proceed to the beaches for the immersion of the Idols.

France Ganapati!!!

The Ganesh Chaturthi in France is probably nowhere as big as in Paris. The Sri Manikka Vinayakar Temple in Paris celebrates the occasion in a grand manner with even a chariot procession being ogranised during the time. The festival is celebrated in the temple for ten days at the end of which the “Utsava Murti” (Idol that is specially created only to be worshipped for the duration of a festival) of Lord Ganash is mounted on a chariot which is pulled through the streets by thousands of local Hindus dressed in traditional costumes. Two watertrucks proceed some distance ahead of the chariot and wash the



Immerse Ganapati

road to purify the path of Lord Ganesh. Numerous devotees of the Lord accompany his Idol, dancing and singing “bhajans” (songs worshipping divine beings). Other than people of India origin, many Sri Lankans, France and even Europeans take part in the celebrations. The chariot covers four miles of the France capital and comes back to the temple.

People will packed with multitudes as each locality comes out on the streets with its Ganesha. Amidst shouts of ‘Ganapati Bappa Moriya Pundhchya Varshi Lavkarya’ (Marthi for Oh Ganpati My Lord, return soon next year), a sea of humanity carries the Idols to the sea. Fire crackers announce the arrival of the procession that halts every now and then for people to get a last glimpse of their favourite God and seek his blessings for he is the remover of all obstacles. The Idols are carried into the holy waters, and face the direction of the local community centers they started their journey from, till their visarjan or immersion. In other towns and villages, folks carry the Idols to the local rivers or tanks for the visarjan ceremony. As dusk takes charge of the skies, people return to their localities and homes, awaiting

Ganesha’s return the following years. Artists and Sculpture’s start imagining how they will make an even nicer Ganesha for the next year. Even though the spiritual fiesta continues for 10days (from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi) in various mandapas (Pandals) and are immersed into the water on 11th day but the immersions of the household Idols take place on 3rd or 5th or 7th day according to the conventions of the fastidious household.



Give a try . . .

• Think Big with Concentration to pull you nearer to the highest goal.

• Talk Less & Listen more to get High Efficiency & Adaptability.

• Peacefully digest all good and bad in life to live happy life.

• Retain good throw away bad will make you to think positive.

• Desire, unless under control can cause havoc. You ride the desire and keep it under control and don’t allow it to take you for a ride.



Eid - Mubarak

Coming with the new moon, the festival marks the end of 'Ramadan' - a month when Muslims fast throughout the day and eat only at night Prayers, feasts and family get- together are the major highlights of the celebrations. It was during this month that the holy Koran was revealed. Eid means recurring happiness or festivity. Eid is celebrated in India with much enthusiasm and fervor and muslims from all strata of life can be seen adorned in beautiful new clothes, visiting the mosques to attend Salatul Eid (Eid prayers). Greetings of “Eid-Mubarak” or a blessed Eid are exchanged.

A very important aspect of eid is the charity, which all the Muslims are expected to extend to the needy. Earlier, this was in the form of gifts in kind but now cash is given to the needy. The first Eid of the year is known as "Eid Al Fitr". Al Fitr literally means breaking of fast. Thus Eid Al Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawaal, the tenth month in the Muslim calendar, to mark the end of a month long fast during the month of Ramadan. As the third "pillar" or religious obligation of Islam, fasting has many special benefits. Among these, the most important is that it is a means of learning self-control. Due to the lack of preoccupation with the satisfaction of bodily appetites during the daylight hours of fasting, a measure of ascendancy is given to one's spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to Allah. Ramadan is also a time of concentrated worship, reading of the Quran, purifying one's behavior, giving charity and doing virtuous deeds. The secondary objective of fasting is a way

of experiencing hunger and developing compassion for the less fortunate, and learn to be thankful and appreciative for all of God's bounties. Fasting is also advantageous to the health and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits.

Eid Al Fitr is a day of joy and thanksgiving. On this day, Muslims show their joy for the health, strength and opportunities of life, which Allah has given them to fulfill their obligations of fasting and other good deeds during the month of Ramadan. It is considered unholy to fast on this day. It is also a day of forgetting old grudges and ill feelings towards other fellow men. The second important Eid celebration is called "Eid Al-Adha". Although only the pilgrims in Makkah can participate in the Hajj fully, all the other Muslims in the world join with them by celebrating Eid Al-Adha, or "Celebration of Sacrifice." On the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims around the world celebrate this feast of commitment, obedience and self-sacrifice to Allah. They wear their nicest clothing and attend Salatul-Eid (Eid Prayer) in the morning. This is followed by a short sermon, after



Tummy Full

Islamic Tradition

which everyone socializes. Next, people visit each other's homes and partake in festive meals with special dishes, beverages, and desserts. Children receive gifts and sweets on this happy occasion. In addition, like the pilgrims in Makkah, the Muslims, who can afford to do so, offer domestic animals, usually sheep, as a symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice. The meat is distributed for consumption to family, friends, and to the poor and needy. Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. This has to do with the communal aspects of the fast, which expresses many of the basic values of the Muslim community i.e., empathy for the poor, charity, worship, steadfastness, patience etc. Fasting is also believed by some scholars to extol fundamental distinctions, lauding the power of the spiritual realm, while acknowledging the subordination of the physical realm. It also teaches a Muslim to stay away from worldly desires and to focus entirely on the Lord and thank him for his blessings. It is rejuvenation of the religion and it creates a stronger bond between the Muslim and his Lord. After the end of Ramadan, is a big celebration of Eid.

.

Chicken Biriyani Ingredients Basmati rice-1Kg Water-1Ltr Milk-500ml Chicken-1kg Masala Paste Green chilly-10 Cinnamon-4sticks

Cloves-10 Fennel-2tbsp Cardamom-6 Peppercorn-10 (Grind these ingredients in a mixer) Ginger garlic paste 2tbsp Coriander leaves 50g Mint leaves 25g Curd 150ml Tomato 150g Onion 1kg Black cumin seeds 1tbsp Cinnamon stick 2 pieces Bay leaves 2 Cashew nuts kismis 50g Cardamom 5 Ghee 200g Coriander powder 2 tbsp Milk 500ml Saffron 1 pinch

Method

1. Heat the ghee in a saucepan;

saute the onions till golden brown

colour and add sliced tomatoes

sautéwell.

2. Put ginger garlic paste, curd

and biriyani masala and turmeric

powder, and coriander powder.

3. Add the chicken pieces and

cookwell.

4. Soak the rice about 10 minutes

anddrainwell.

5. Melt the ghee in a saucepan

and add in the spices and sliced

onion mint, coriander leaves,

cashew nuts, kismis, bay leaves



and sauté till brown in colour.

6. Add milk and water. Allow to

boil and then add rice. Lower the

heat, cover and continue to cook

for 15 minutes. Drain rice. ( rice

should not be over cooked. Cook

the rice till 3/4 th done and

grains remain seperate ).

7. Take another saucepan and

place half the rice into it. And add

the chicken on the top of the rice.

And put the remaining rice on top

of the chicken. And spread to

make an even layer.

8. Make random holes through

the rice with a spoon and pour a

little saffron milk into the hole.

9. Place a few knobs of ghee,

fried onion, cashew nuts and dry

grapes (kismis) on the surface

and cover tightly. Seal the edges

with atta paste (mix ¼ cup atta

and water). Keep this sauce pan

over a pan or Iron cooking

vessel. Cook on a slow flame for

15 minutes (or bake in an oven

at 350 * C for 20 minutes). You

should open the seal only at the

time of serving. Serve with salad,

pickle and pappadam.

Nombu Kanji

Ingredients Lamb or beef (minced) – ½ cup

Broken rice – 2 small cups

( soaked)

Green gram– ½ cup

(soaked)

Vegetables (chopped) – 1 cup

Onion (medium) – 2 nos

(thinly sliced)

Tomato (medium) – 1 no

(finely chopped)

Green chillies – 2 - 3 nos

Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tsp

Turmeric powder – ½ tsp

Chilly powder – 1 tsp

Cumin seeds (Jeerakam) – ½ tsp

Coconut – ½ no

Cinnamon (Karugapatta) sticks – 1

– 2 nos

Cloves (Grambu) – 3 - 4 nos

Salt – As reqd

Coriander leaves (chopped) – A

little

Mint leaves – A few

Ghee/oil – 1 – 2 tbsp



Ganpati Spl Food Method 1. Heat oil or ghee in a pressure cooker. 2. Splutter cumin seeds followed by cinnamon sticks and cloves. 3. Add onion and green chillies and sauté till the onions turn light brown. 4. Add the meat and sauté again till it too turns light brown. 5. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté till you get rid of the raw smell. 6. Add tomato and sauté well till it gets blended well. 7. Add turmeric powder and chilly powder and stir well. 8. Add the vegetables, mix well and sauté for a while. 9. Add green gram and broken rice and mix well. 10. Fry the rice and dhal for a while. 11. Add about 4 cups of water and mix well again. 12. Add salt and mix well. 13. Pressure cook it for 5 –10 minutes or till done. 14. Add thick coconut milk and mix well, if more water is required. Serve hot or warm.

Poorna Kozhukatta

Ingredients for Poornam Coconut-1 (Scraped)

Jaggery-1/4 kg

Cardamom – 4-5

Ingredients for dough

Rice-1 ½ cups

Water-3 cups

Gingelly oil-1 tpsp

Salt-a pinch

Method

1. Pond Jaggery and add half a glass of water to it. Use a heavy bottomed pan for this purpose.

2. Place it on the stove and let the jiggery melt, in low fire.

3. Once it starts thickening add the coconut scrapings



little by little and the let the poornam be on the stove untilthemoisture evaporates.

4. Remove it once it starts sticking to the bottom of the pan.

5. Let the poornam cool and make small round balls and keep them aside.

6. Soak rice in the specified amount of water for half an hour and then grind to a smooth paste using the same water.

7. Add salt and a tbsp of oil in it and pour the mixture starts changing colour (from pure white to somewhat bluish white) once it starts becoming thick

Zenith family wishing you all Happy Ganesha Chathurthi &

Ramzan!!!

Thank You!

Editors

Rtr. Premalatha Rtr. Saravanan

Date post:	10-May-2015
Category:	Spiritual
Upload:	prema-latha
View:	751 times
Download:	0 times

1 vinayaga chadhurthi ed

Spiritual