This year 2016  Avani Avittam / Upakarma falls on 18th August

Upākarma "Beginning" (Sanskrit: उपाकर्म), also called Āvaṇi Aviṭṭam (Tamil: ஆவணி அவிட்டம்) and Janivārada Huṇṇime(Kannada: ಜನಿವಾರದ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ),Gamha Purnima (Odia: ଗହ୍ମା ପୂର୍ଣିମା), is a Vedic ritual practiced by Hindus of the Brahmin caste. This ritual is also practiced by the Kshatriya and Vaishya community, who are dvijas and therefore have the rights to doSandhyavandanam, the daily ablution ritual.

Courtesy: wikipedia

In those days it is said that children were sent to study to distant places where Rishis taught Vedas and Upanishads to the Brahmin community before they were sent away.  ''Upakarma'' or ''Beginning'' or ''Aarambham'' is the auspicious day to start their education.

Brahmins belonging to Yajur Veda observe Upakarma in the month of Sravana (Aug-Sep) on the day of Paurnami.

There is a story saying the Lord Hayagriva ( Lord of Knowledge/Learning) restored the Vedas to Brahma from the demons Madhu and Kaitabha who stole the Vedas from Brahma, it is said that Vishnu took the form of Hayagriva (Haya-Horse and Griva - Neck/Face) to kill the demons and recover the precious scripts.

On this day the men and the children (who had Upakarma already) have to change the threads accordingly.
Bramhacharis (unmarried Brahmin Boys) should wear 2 Vastras and have to wear 3 lines/strands of thread where as the married men Gruhasta's have to wear pancha kacham and wear 6 line/strands of thread. Both should also use Upavastram / Uttareeyam tied to their wait during the ritual.

Important things used during the ritual of Yagnopaveetam (Poonal / Sacred thread) are Panchapathiram, Uddharani (for aachamanam), Dharbam, Black Til seeds (used for tharpanam), Rice (Akshadhai), Aasanam (to sit), Jalapatram.

This ceremony symbolizes retrospective and pertinence to a new beginning.

Typical Menu for Aavani Avittam is

Breakfast : Idli / Aapam
Lunch: Saadham (Rice) Paruppu (Dal tadka), Nei(ghee), Mour Kozhambu (yogurt based curry) or Sambhar, vada (urad dal vada), Paruppu usali, Kariamudhu (Poriyal /dry curry), Saathamudhu (Rasam), Thirukannamudhu (payasam), Vadaam / Aaplam ( fried papads), Thayir (yogurt) and pickle.
Dinner: Light tiffin but women and children have to eat Saadham (Rice) little at least and they do not do fasting as the men who would have given Tharpanam on this day.

GAYATHRI PRATHIPATH / JAPAM : August 19th
Gayathri Japam is done as to their capacity of reciting the mantra from 21 to 108 to 1000.

I have collected these from few sources from Google and here are some more links if you interested in reading more about this festival.
Scripts, Sankalpams and Do it yourself scripts and MP3's are here if you are abroad which is very useful.

https://www.trsiyengar.com/id62.shtml
https://www.trsiyengar.com/id63.shtml ( for Gayatri Japam)
http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/rituals/upakarma/significance.html
http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/index.html (for different regional languages and Gayatri Japam)
http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/kannada/upaakarma.pdf (Yajur veda Upaakarma in Kannada)
http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/tam2/upaakarma.pdf (Yajur Veda Upaakarma in Tamil)
http://vedabhavan.org/yajur-upakarma-avani-avittam-2016-text-mp3-downloads/
http://www.panchangam.com/avani.html
https://www.scribd.com/doc/51710064/Yajur-Veda-Avani-Avittam-or-Upakarma-and-Gayathri-Japam
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/07/narli-purnima-in-maharashtra-narali.html (In Maharashtra people celebrate this purnima day as Narli Purnima check this link to know more about it.

Have a wonderful day...

RAKSHA BHANDAN

In North India people celebrate Raksha Bandhan on this same day as the name depicts Raksha ( to Protect) Bhandan ( to tie). Sisters tie Rakhis to their brothers to protect them from evil influences and it is a big festival for North Indians. Married woman go or invite their brothers and tie Rakhi for the well-being of their brothers.
When I was searching in the net I came across this, I thought this was very interesting and wanted to share with you this as I had not heard of a mantra for this particular festival.

A Mantra is recited when the Rakhi or the silken thread is tied. The silken thread is charged with the power of the Mantra,The power of this Mantra protects the wearer from evil influences. which is as follows:

Yena baddho balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah;
Tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshey maa chala maa chala.
"I am tying on your hand this Raksha, with which the most powerful and generous King Bali himself was bound; O Raksha, don’t go away; don’t go away."

Lots of sweets are made during this festival and shared with everybody.

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                                         ''WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY PONGAL''

 

As we all Indians know what is Pongal ?, I would like to write a few words about this...thinking someday my kids would love to read what mum was doing on this occasion right? as we all do right ?

December 14th to January 14th was Marghazahi Maasam (Month of Marghazahi according to Tamil calender), This is a month long ritual or Penance (Tapam/Tapasu) carried out by Andal during the month of winter, I have written about her here do check out if you are interested. In this cold weather she gets up so early morning for a month-long period to awaken Vishnu and prays in such a way leading an austere life to attain his love, Her severe penance ends on the day of Kudaaravellum which fell on January 12th this year. From Dec 14th to Jan 12th, we in our community do not prepare any sweets, and make Ven Pongal (Savoury Rice) but on the 12th where Andal completes her Penance she makes Sweet Pongal to please Vishnu - I have written about this post here. Check it out.

Coming back to Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makara Sankranti in Karnataka and Andhra, Lohri in Punjab, Magh Bihu in Assam etc., The dates of some festivals might change but this Festival has never changed dates, According to the Gregorian calendar January 13th-15th ie., form the last day of the Tamil month Maargazhi to the third day of Thai. I have taken few lines from Our Wikipedia, which describes in more detail about the  scientific reason behind this celebration.
Courtesy of wikipedia

The time of the festival is of great importance to all Hindus, as it corresponds to the solar equinox when the days begin to lengthen and the nights begin to wane. Sankranti, or the transition of the Sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi (Capricorn).

For this purpose, the signs and houses of the zodiac are calculated using sidereal time, not tropical. As such it does not account for the Earth's precession. The festival therefore takes place around 21 days after the winter solstice (between December 20 and 23) that marks the starting of the phenomenon of 'northward apparent migration of the sun' or Uttarayana, literally meaning northward journey of Sun.

Considering the winter solstice marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. Scientifically, the shortest day of the year is around December 21–22 after which the days begin to get longer, hence actual Winter Solstice begins on December 21 or December 22 when the tropical sun enters Makara rashi. Hence actual Uttarayana is December 21. This was the actual date of Makar Sakranti too. But because of the Earth's tilt of 23.45 degrees and sliding of equinoxes, Ayanamsa occurs. This has caused Makara Sankranti to slide further over the ages. A thousand years ago, Makar Sankranti was on December 31 and is now on January 14. Five thousand years later, it shall be by the end of February, while in 9,000 years it shall come in June.^{[citation needed]}

While the traditional Indian Calendar is based on lunar positions, Sankranti is a solar event. So while dates of all Hindu festivals keep changing as per the Gregorian calendar, the date of Makar Sankranti remains constant over a long term, 14 January. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu Calendar month of Magha.

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer or from Dakshinayana (south) to Uttarayana (North).

In Karnataka - the place I come from the kannadigas celebrate in a different way, Amma has adapted to both Tamil Nadu culture (as we being Iyengars and as we have been born and brought up in Karnataka) Amma has always seen to it that we enjoy both the festivals and traditions as much as possible.On this auspicious day even today Amma buys us new clothes to my kids and me!, Early in the morning having a good head shower wearing new clothes we keep the pongal paane (Paane is nothing but a mud pot but as we don't use them anymore we use Brass vessels or sometimes a pressure cooker!) decorating it with Fresh Turmeric stick in a thread applying Naamam to the vessel and saying Pongalo Pongal....

In our home,  we say this when the milk is starting to boil - 

      ''Pongalo Pongal Porandaath Kulandanvaalatum

                      Pukkath Pongi Vaalatum''    
  

Meaning for the above words-
porandaath (the family I was born) Kulandan vaalatum (live peacefully) Pukkath (the family I have been given to - Husband's family) Pongi Vaalatum (flow with prosperity)

After the ritual done, The day before we would have packed Ellu-Bella and Sakkare Acchu in covers, Then she would ask us to take plates - place a cover/box of Ellu-bella (sesame seeds- Jaggery), Sakkare - Acchu ( sugar candy moulds in different shapes), sugar cane, Banana and some kind of gift.  This ritual is called ''Ellu Beerodhu'', There is a saying in Kannada '' Ellu Bella Thindu Olle Maathadi ( which translates to eat the mixture of sesame seeds and jaggery and speak only good). 

In Karnataka newly married women give Bananas for a period of 5 years to married women (muthaide Baagina), with other things little Beetle leaves, Areca nut and other fruits and things which they are able to give for the first years of marriage and start increasing the Bananas in multiples of 5 and pray for their husband's Longetivity by the 5th year they give 25 Bananas :)).  

Will continue this post tomorrow with other things which I follow and celebrate during this 
period....

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Let God give a shape to all your dreams , let them all come true,lots and lots of happiness and prosperity. Diwali is always connected with lots of light, new clothes, and very important lots of sweets, As this festival consists of 3 days, the first day is in karnataka is called ''neeru thumbo habba'' A festival where you wash all the vessels in which you store water, we do puja to Ganga the very sacred river for Indians, Amma always made kozhukottai and I have the same practice, So, I made sweet and khara kozhukottai, yesterday & Today we have been having a lovely time, my friends are visiting me and we are all having a lovely time, with lot of cooking and lighting loads of crackers!!, I just decided even if it is so late I need to wish all my visitors a very happy diwali.

Again, I would like to wish you all a very happy diwali.

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