1. Guru Purnima (July 10, 2025, Tuesday)
Significance:
Guru Purnima is a day dedicated to honoring and expressing gratitude towards gurus (spiritual teachers) who play a vital role in the spiritual and personal development of individuals. Observed on the full moon day in the month of Ashadha, this festival is an occasion for devotees to reflect on their journey, seek blessings, and pay respects to their mentors.
Read More About Hindu Philosophy
Rituals and Celebrations:
- Devotees visit temples and ashrams to offer prayers and perform rituals for their gurus.
- People often organize gatherings where spiritual discourses are shared, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and learning.
- Offerings of fruits, sweets, and flowers are made at the feet of the guru, symbolizing reverence and respect.
- Many choose to engage in self-reflection and meditation, aiming to strengthen their connection with their spiritual path.
2. Hariyali Teej (July 8, 2025, Tuesday)
Significance:
Hariyali Teej marks the onset of the monsoon season in India and is celebrated predominantly in the northern states, especially Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. This festival is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva, signifying love, devotion, and marital harmony.
Rituals and Celebrations:
- Women adorn themselves in green garments and traditional jewelry, symbolizing the lushness of the monsoon.
- Special prayers and pujas are performed to honor Goddess Parvati, seeking her blessings for a happy married life.
- Festivities often include singing traditional songs, dancing, and swinging on decorated swings.
- Sweets like ghevar and malpua are prepared and shared among family and friends.
Cultural Impact:
Hariyali Teej serves as a reminder of the importance of nature and fertility in sustaining life, while also emphasizing the bond between husband and wife.
3. Nag Panchami (July 15, 2025, Tuesday)
Significance:
Nag Panchami is a festival dedicated to the worship of Nagas (serpents) and is observed on the fifth day of the waxing moon in the month of Shravana. This festival reflects the reverence for snakes in Hinduism, often associated with fertility, water sources, and the cycle of life.
Rituals and Celebrations:
- Devotees visit temples or local shrines dedicated to Nagas, where they offer milk, flowers, and sweets as offerings.
- People often draw images of snakes using rice flour or colored powders at their doorsteps, inviting the divine presence of the Nagas.
- Fasting is common on this day, and special prayers are recited to seek protection from snake bites and blessings for family welfare.
- Communities come together for rituals that emphasize environmental awareness and conservation of snake habitats.
Quote:
“Naga pujanam samprapya, chaturbhujam bhajamy aham.” – A prayer expressing reverence to the divine serpent and seeking its blessings.
