Chaitra month or Chaitra mahina or Chaitra maas is the sixth month in Gujarati calendar or Gujarat Panchang. Chaitra month falls in March – April as per Gregorian calendar. In Gujarati Panchang for Gujarat Chaitra mas 2010 will start on March 16 and end on April 14, 2010. Similar dates are applicable to Marathi, Kannada, and Telugu Panchangam.
According to Hinduism, on the first day of Chaitra month Lord Brahma started the creation. But Gujarati people celebrate their New Year or Bestu Varsh on the first day of Kartik mahina (November – December).
Gujarati Chaitra maas Shukla Paksh begins on March 16 and ends on March 30, 2010.
Gujarati Chaitra mas Krishna Paksh starts on March 31 and ends on April 14, 2010.
The major Gujarati festivals during Chaitra month in 2010 are – Sri Ram Navratras (Vasanta Navaratri or Chaitra Navaratri), Soubhagya Gauri Tritiya, and Sri Ram Navami.
As per North Indian or Hindi Hindu calendar, Chaitra maas 2010 has begun on March 1st and ends on March 30, 2010.
Maha Raas, a festival celebrating the love life of Lord Sri Krishna, is celebrated on Kartik Poornima, the full moon day in Kartik month, in North Eastern states like Tripura and Manipur. Raas Leela is the divine love episode of Krishna’s life. Hindu girls are festooned in the form of ‘gopies’ and danced around the idols of Krishna and Radha.
Trak.in Reports:
- According to the locals, the Maha Raas celebrations in Tripura date back to over centuries when the queen of Manikya Dynasty from Manipur brought the idol of Radha-Krishna and established a Radsamadhav temple in the region. Although Raas is a festival of Manipuri community, today both Hindus and Muslims along with the hundreds of tribals celebrate this festival. Pradyot Kishore Dev Barman, the scion of erstwhile Manikya dynasty termed this festival as one of communal amity.
Paitha Mahakruchcha Vratam is a five-day vratham observed in Karthika Krishna Paksham in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In 2009, Paitha Mahakruchcha vratham begins on November 9 and ends on November 12. Usually, this vrata starts on Kartika Krishna Saptami and ends on Kartika Krishna Ekadashi (Utpanna Ekadasi / Utpatti Ekadasi). During the vrata, Lord Vishnu is worshipped and on each day a type of food is consumed by devotees. The legend or vratha katha of Paitha Mahakricha vrata is mentioned in the prominent Hindu scripture of vrathas known as “Chaturvarga Chintamani”.
Here are the details of food to take on each day during Paitha Mahakracha vrat:
- Kartik Krishna Saptami – November 9, 2009 – Water
- Kartik Krishna Astami – November 10, 2009 – milk
- Kartik Krishna Navami – November 11, 2009 – curd
- Kartik Krishna Dashami – November 11, 2009 – ghee
On Kartik Krishna Ekadashi, also known as Utpatti Ekadashi or Utpanna Ekadasi, the upavasam is broken with performing Vishnu puja.
Karaka Chaturthi vratam is observed on Kartika Krishna paksha Chavithi, the fourth day in the second half of Kartika masam. Karaka Chaturthi 2009 date is November 6. It is mainly observed in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and in some parts of Maharashtra by married women. Karaka Chavithi is also observed as Sankashtai hara Vinayaka Chavithi. This puja is dedicated to Lord Ganesh who is worshipped for wellbeing and prosperity.
On Karaka Chaturthi, women observe fast or upavasam for whole day. After seeing the Moon in the evening, women break their fast and take food. This vratham is concluded with Vrata udyapana after performing for 12 or 16 consecutive years.
Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple located at Anantagiri near Vikarabad in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh hosts one of the biggest Karthika maasa Jathara in the state. This fair attracts a large number of devotees from all around Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. In 2009, Karthika maasa Jathara in Anantagiri is started on October 28th and continues for whole month of Karthik. The important day during Anantagiri Jathara is Karthika Purnima. In 2009, Karthika Purnima falls on November 2nd.
During Karthika masa Jathara in Anantagiri Padmanabha swamy temple, Dhwajarohana, Thulasivahanam, Swamivari Kalyanotsavam, Rathotsavam, Garudotsavam, Seshavahanotsavam, Surya Chandra Vahanostavam and Chakrathirdham are the main attractions. The above events are organized as per the temple schedule.
