| Celebrations of Major |
| Festivals at Dwarka |
| Although every month of the Indian calendar come with host of festivals and there has always been a festival time in Dwarkadheesh temple, the major festivals, according to Indian calendar months are celebrated as follows: |
| Sr. No. |
Month |
Side 1st ½ or 2nd ½ |
Date (Indian) |
Festivals |
| 1 |
Kartik |
Shukla (1st ½) |
Pratipada (1st day) |
New year, Govardhan pooja, Annakoot darshan (56 dishes) |
| 2 |
" |
" |
Dwitiya |
Bhai-beej |
| 3 |
" |
" |
Ekadashi |
Tulsi-vivah, Shardapeeth also celebrates Tulsi-Vivah at Ashta Patranni Temple, A procession is taken out in the town |
| 4 |
Margshirsh |
" |
" |
Geeta Jayanti (at Shardapeeth
premises), The Sun moves to Dhan (Saggitarrius) zodiac, celebrations of Dhanurmaas begins |
| 5 |
Paush |
" |
Chaturdashi |
* Makar-Sankranti (The Sun moves to Makar (Capricorn) zodiac, also known as Uttarayan (tilting of the Sun towards North) |
| 6 |
" |
" |
Purnima |
(Kheer –Bhajia Bhog offered to the Lord in the evening) |
| 7 |
Maagh |
" |
Panchami |
Vasantotsav (Spring Festival), Saraswati Pooja (Worshipping Goddess of Knowledge) |
| 8 |
Falgun |
" |
Ashtami |
Holashtak begins. Colourful aarti is performed every day. ‘Fuldol’ shringar takes place on these days. |
| 9 |
Chaitra |
|
Navami |
Ramnavami-birthday of the Lord Ram |
| 10 |
Chaitra |
Shukla (1st ½) |
Chaturdashi |
Worshipping Brahmaleen Jagadguru Shankaracharya Abhinav Sachchidanandteerthji at Shardapeeth |
| 11 |
Vaishakh |
" |
Trutiya |
‘Chandan Sewa’ darshan of ‘Akshaya Trutiya’. Adornment with flowers of the Lord begins from this day in the evening |
| 12 |
Jyeshtha |
" |
Panchami |
Celebrations of coronation of the present Sharda Peethadheeshwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Swarupanandji Maharaj |
| 13 |
" |
" |
Purnima |
Jyeshthabhishekotsava (adornment of the Lord with the mango pulp and juice (Darshan of the lord from open curtain and ‘Jal Yatra’ (procession with sprinkling of water) in the evening |
| 14 |
Ashadh |
" |
Pratipada |
Final glimpse of the ‘pushpa-shringar’ (adornment with flowers) which began on Akshaya trutiya |
| 15 |
" |
" |
Dwitiya |
‘Rath Yatra’-the Lord’s procession is taken out in a silver chariot from 1400 hrs to 1600 hrs. Lord Krishna takes four circles round the temple, four aartis and ‘bhog’ form the part of ‘Rath Yatra’ celebrations |
| 16 |
" |
" |
Purnima |
It’s a ‘Guru-Purnima’ day. Guru pujan at Shardapeeth |
| 17 |
Shraavan |
" |
Dwitiya |
15 days’ Hindola-utsav begins. The Lord’s swing is decorated with gold, silver, vegetables, fruits, dry-fruits etc every-day. |
| 18 |
" |
" |
Ekadashi |
Jiladan Utsav-The Lord moves around the town in a paalki and brought to the mythological Kaklas Kund (a pool of water) where he is worshipped. A guard of honour is given to the Lord since the time of Gayakwadi rule. According to the myth (and as described in Shrimad Bhaagvat), the deciples get rid of skin disease by taking bath in the pool. This celebration is conducted by Sharda Peeth. |
| 19 |
" |
" |
Purnima |
Raksha-bandhan and changing yajnopavit of the Lord |
| 20 |
" |
Krishna (2nd ½) |
Ashtamai |
Janmashtami-birth day celebrations, open curtain puja-abhishek darshan. During Janmotsav at midnight, first Devaki maataa’s aarti is performed and then Lord’s aarti takes place. Lord’s janmotsav puja-archana begins at 2200 hrs and the divine aarti takes place at sharp midnight. Disciples can have darshan upto 0200 hrs after midnight. |
| 21 |
Bhadrapad |
Shukla (1st ½) |
Trutiya |
Birth-day celebrations of the existing Shardapeethadheeshwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Swarupanand Saraswati Maharaj
|
| 22 |
Bhadrapad |
Shukla (1st ½) |
Dwadashi |
Vaaman dwadashi. Pakistan had bombed the temple on this day on 7th September 1965 but surprisingly nothing untoward happened. Elderly people remember to have seen an image of the Sudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna in the sky on this day. For this miraculous escape, the Gugali brahmins hoist flag on the temple on this day. Baldauji’s puja is also performed on this day. |
| 23 |
Aaswin |
" |
Pratipada |
Goddess puja in Navratri and yajna-havan etc take place in the Ashta pataranis’ temple precincts
|
| 24 |
" |
" |
Dashami |
Dashahara festival is celebrated on this day. Lord Krishna is adorned like an emperor with sword and shield, the procession starts from Ashta patarani temple.On the way, weapons and a ‘Shami’ tree puja takes place. This festival is organised by the Shardapeeth. |
| 25 |
" |
" |
Purnima |
The Lord seats in open for watching the full moon. Sharadotsav aarti takes place. Khir hog is offered and women perform raas-dance. |
| 26 |
" |
Krishna (2nd ½) |
Trayodashi |
Dhanteras puja |
| 27 |
" |
" |
Chaturdashi |
Roop-Nark Chaturdashi (Morning mangala aarti at 0530 hrs) |
| 28 |
" |
" |
Amavasya |
Deepavali (During 2030 hrs to 2100 hrs, haatadi darshan is arranged, scene of a market place is created with silver balance etc. Pujan of Mahalakshmi Sharadapeeth is done |
| 29 |
Kartik |
Shukla (1st ½) |
Pratipada (1st day) |
New year, Govardhan pooja, Annakoot darshan (56 dishes) |
| 30 |
" |
" |
Dwitiya |
Bhai-beej |
| 31 |
" |
" |
Ekadashi |
Tulsi-vivah, Shardapeeth also celebrates Tulsi-Vivah at Ashta Patranni Temple, A procession is taken out in the town |
| *Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14th January every year as per the Christian calender but the celebrations of the Makar Sankranti is observed in the temple on Paush Shukla Chaturdashi day. Thus, disparity/mis-match of the date therefore be ignored and only the Indian dates mentioned herein could be considered by devotees for darshan in temple etc. |
