MONTH OF FESTIVALS, GET BLESSINGS FROM LORD KRISHNA & LORD GANESHA!

September is the ninth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, the third of four months to have a length of 30 days, and the fourth of five months to have a length of less than 31 days. This month marks the great Indian Hindu festivals of Krishna Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi.

The fun and gaiety of Indian celebrations continue throughout the year. The celebration of the festivals in September is a blend of tradition with enthusiasm. Some of the biggest religious festivals in India take place during September, as the festival season is in full swing. The colorful spectacle is captivating. The highlights of this issue include theNishkalankMahadev temple, located in Gujarat, Krishna Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi festivals.

NishkalankMahadev temple, Gujarat - Think of a temple in the weirdest of places. Under the sea. But then, the Hindus have built their temples over the hills and mountains, inside the caves, at the sea shore, near the water falls…wherever nature reveals itself in all its grandeur and pristine beauty. The temple I am talking about is NishkalankMahadev’s temple (Nishkalank – blemish less or sinless; Mahadev – Lord Shiva), and it is under water during high tides in the sea and emerges during low tides to reveal itself majestically, promising its devotees to wash away all sins.

Ganesh Chaturthi - The festival celebrates Lord Ganesha as the 'God of New Beginnings' and the 'Remover of Obstacles' as well as the god of wisdom and intelligence and is observed throughout India. A ten-day festival, it starts on the fourth day of Hindu luni-solar calendar month Bhadrapada, which typically falls in the months of August or September of the Gregorian calendar. It is usually celebrated privately at home in states such as Maharashtra,

Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Ganesh Chaturthi is also observed in Nepal.

Krishna Janmashtami- It celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar - or incarnation - of Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism, seen as the "preserver" and part of the trinity including Brahma and Shiva.Krishna is considered to be part warrior, hero, teacher and philosopher by followers and seen as the god of compassion, tenderness and love.The god features in a number of key Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavad Purana and the Mahabharata.

And finally in this issue, the favourite food of Lord Krishna -Poha (Flattened rice) Dessert Pudding. PohaDessert Pudding- This is anothervariation of traditional rice pudding. The recipe of Poha Dessert Pudding is very easy, and this is as tasty as the traditional Indian Rice Kheer, so one can enjoy it on festival occasion like Krishna Janmashtami. Hope you give it a try.

On the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, worship Lord Krishna and enjoy the happiness. Thank you.

“I am the beginning, middle, and end of creation.”– Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita.