Phalguna masam or Falgun month is the 12^th or last month as per traditional Telugu calendar. Falgun Month 2010 will start on February 15 and end on March 15, 2010 as per Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati and Marathi calendars. Falguna masam is the period when Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra or Purva Falguni Nakshatram falls during Purnima or Full Moon day.

The major or important festivals and auspicious days in Phalgun month are:

• Guru Moodam begins – February 15, 2010
• Chandra darshanam – February 15, 2010
• Sashti Vrat – February 20, 2010
• Ekadashi (Amalaki Ekadasi) – February 25, 2010 – Falguna Shukla Paksha Ekadashi
• Pradosha Vratam – February 26, 2010
• Kamadahanam – February 27, 2010
• Holi 2010 – February 28, 2010
• Pournami (Falguna Pournima) – February 28, 2010
• Madana Purnima or Vasanta Poornima – February 28, 2010
• Vasantotsavam – March 1, 2010 – Chootha Kusuma bhakshanam
• Lakshmi Jayanthi 2010 – March 1, 2010
• Sankashti or Sankatahara Chavithi – March 2, 2010
• Phalguna Krishna Paksha Ekadashi – March 11, 2010
• Shani Trayodashi – March 13, 2010
• Pradosham – March 13, 2010
• Masa Shivaratri – March 13, 2010
• Meena Sankranti – March 14, 2010
• Guru Moodama ends – March 14, 2010
• Krottha Amavasya – March 15, 2010 – Kottha Amavasya or Falguna Amavasya
• Somavathi Amavasya or Amasomavara vratham – March 15, 2010

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Annapurna Puja is observed during Chaitra Navratri or Basant Navratri especially in West Bengal.  Goddess Annapurna is known as the deity of food and nutrition in Hinduism. In 2010, Annapurna Puja date is March 23^rd, 2010. The pooja date falls during Chait Navaratri as per traditional Bengali calendar.

Annapurna Puja festival is mainly observed by women. The important rituals and customs during Annapoorna Pooja day include – recitation of Annapurna Devi Stotram and observance of fast. In some places people worship Annapoorna Mata by installing idols and by setting up pooja mandap. All other rituals and customs are performed as per traditions.

Devotees who worship of Goddess Annapurneshwari will be blessed with prosperity and health. Women worship Annapurneshwari Devi for their better married life. They also perform Annapurneswari Pooja for their children’s health and better growth. Annapurna Ashtakam is the important prayer to chant during Annapurna Puja.

It is to note that in North India, Annapurna Puja is observed on Annapurna Jayanti which falls on Margasirsh Purnima, the Full Moon day in Margashira month. It is one of the major festivals in Kasi Annapurna Temple.

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Shani Pradosh or Sani Pradosha vrata is observed on Trayodashi tithi or the 13^th day in Shukla Paksha or Krishna Paksha in a Hindu month which falls on Shanivar or Saturday. You can get the Pradosham pooja dates for 2010 here. Any Pradosha puja is performed by devotees during or after Suryasthamaya or sunset. The main purpose of Sani Pradosha vrat is to pacify the bad effects of Lord Shani who is also known as one of the most powerful and effective Navagraha or nine celestial Gods.

Shani Pradosh 2010 dates – Sani Pradosha vratham in 2010:

• March 13, 2010 – Chaitra Krishna Pradosh / Falguna Krishna Paksha Pradosham
• March 27, 2010 – Chaitra Shukla Pradosh
• August 7, 2010 – Shravan Krishna Pradosh / Ashad Krishna Paksha Pradosha Pooja
• August 21, 2010 – Shravana Shukla Pradosha vrata
• December 18, 2010 – Poush Krishna Pradosh vrat / Margasira Krishna paksha pradosha pooja

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Shivaratri puja is one of the auspicious Hindu rituals to perform on Mahashivratri. There are some simple Shiva Mantras or stotras or prayers to chant during Shivaratri puja procedure. Bilvashtakam, Lingshtakam, Shiva Astakam, Shiva Panchakshari mantram, Shiva Chalisa, Shiva Aarti, Shiva Sahasranama stotram are some important stotras to chant during Shivratri pooja. Here are the links for lyrics or text of Shivaratri Mantras….

Bilvashtakam – Shiva stotram to chant during Bilva puja or Bilvapatra abhishekam

Lingashtakam – Octet to Linga form of Lord Shiva

Shiva Panchakshari Stotram

Shiva Chalisa – 40 verses dedicated to Lord Shiva

Shivashtakam – Octet to Lord Shiva

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Amavasya or the No Moon day in February 2010 is one of the most important Amavasya or No Moon days in 2010. The Amavasya date in February is February 13, 2010. As per North Indian calendars, this No Moon day is Phalgun Amavasya and according to Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati calendars it is Magha Amavasya. This is also known as Shivaratri Amavasya.

Shivaratri Amavasya is one of the most auspicious days to perform Punya snan or holy dip in Hardiwar Maha Kumbh Mela. Pitru Tharpan or rites to dead ancestors is the main ritual during Amavasya as per Hindu beliefs. This Amavasya marks the end of Magh month in the calendars followed in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

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