Festivals

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What Are the Festival Days of Saivism?

Festivals are special times for worship of God and Gods, for family and community sharing and for spiritual practices. Saivites observe many festivals, both in the temple and the home. They also honor special holy days each week and month.

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What Are the Primary Festivals to Siva?

On Mahasivaratri, Siva's great night, we worship Parasiva. On Krittika Dipam we celebrate the infinite light of Parasakti. During Ardra Darshanam, we invoke the blessing of Parameshvara--Lord Siva Nataraja in His blissful Cosmic dance.

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What Are the Major Ganesha Festivals?

Ganesha Chaturthi is a joyous celebration of Ganesha's birthday. Vinayaka Vratam is twenty-one days of fasting and daily temple worship. Pancha Ganapati is a five-day family festival of harmony and gift-giving.

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What are the Main Karttikeya Festivals?

Vaikasi Visakham celebrates the anniversary of Lord Karttikeya's creation. Skanda Shashthi is a six-day festival honoring His conquest of light over darkness. Tai Pusam is a time of spiritual practices, and of public penance, called kavadi.

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What Are Other Important Festivals?

Besides the temple festivals, there are many home, community and national celebrations, most importantly Dipavali, Hindu New Year, Tai Pongal, guru puja days, kumbha melas, Guru Jayanti and Guru Purnima.