For Hindus across the world, it’s the time to mark the festival of Basant Panchami, dedicated to the worship of Devi Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning and Music and celebrating the advent of spring. In a way it is the perfect combination because Saraswati symbolizes creativity and was herself born on this day, just like the nature itself emerges from winter and renews the world with new creativity each spring. This is also the time, swaths of the Indian countryside... Read more
Once upon a time, North America was a stranger to Diwali. Back then, we Hindus made do with what was available- like homemade sweets or off the shelf holiday decor repurposed for Diwali, and a hurried puja since the kids had to go to school just like any other busy weekday. Real festivities with family and friends had to wait for the weekend with most such festivities being private events. Public acknowledgement or large-scale celebration was far too distant an... Read more
Hindus just completed their most popular festival Diwali, which is fast becoming a staple of mainstream America. The conclusion of the five-day festival mostly marks the end of a long season of festivity for most Hindus, except for those who hail from the India’s eastern belt comprising of states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, parts of Nepal and surrounding areas. For these communities, the sixth day after Diwali is celebrated as Chhath and on a scale that rivals Diwali for... Read more
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