Anant Chaturdashi
| Anant Chaturdashi | |
|---|---|
Immersion of Ganesh
|
|
| Observed by | Religiously by Hindus and Jains. Other Indians celebrate the cultural aspects. |
| Type | Religious, India and Nepal |
| Observances | Ganapati Visarjana, Wearing Sacred Silk Thread (Ananta), Prayers, Religious rituals (see puja, prashad) |
| Date | Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 2016 date | 15 September |
| 2017 date | 5 September |
| 2018 date | 23 September |
| 2019 date | 12 September |
| Frequency | annual |
Anant Chaturdashi is a festival observed and celebrated by Jain and Hindus. One may note that Chaturthi is the fourth day of the lunar fortnight, while Chaturdashi is the fourteenth. In the normal course, Anant Chaturdashi falls 10 days after Ganesh Chaturthi.
This is an important day in the Jain calendar of festivities. Jains observe Paryushana in the last 10 days of the bhado month, Anant Chaturdashi, also known as Anant Chaudas is the last day of Paryushana. Kshamavani, the day the Jains ask for forgiveness for any mistakes they have made intentionally or otherwise, is observed one day after Anant Chaturdashi.This is the day when Lord Vasupujya,12th Tirthankara of present cosmic cycle attained nirvana.
Anant Chaturdashi is also the last day of the Hindu festival of Ganeshotsav. It is generally the tenth or eleventh day after Ganesh Chaturthi, and all the Ganesh idols brought into homes and communities are immersed in the sea or nearby lakes and rivers. On this day, people travel to the waterfront with the idols, large and small, dancing and singing in large processions. Lord Ganesha is departed, only to be welcomed the next year with equal excitement.
In parts of Bihar and Eastern UP, the festival is closely linked to kshirsagar (Ocean of Milk) and Lord Vishnu's Anant Roopa. Fourteen tilaks (small vertical strips) of vermilion are made on a wooden plank. Fourteen puri(fried wheat bread) and fourteen pua(deep fried sweet wheat bread) are placed on these vermilion strips. A bowl containing Panchamrit (made of Milk, Curd, Jaggery, Honey and Ghee) symbolizing kshirsagar (Ocean of Milk) is placed on this wooden plank.A thread having fourteen knots, symbolizing Lord Anant is wrapped on a cucumber and is swirled five times in this "Ocean of Milk". Later this Anant thread is tied on the right arm above the elbow by men. Women tie this on their left arm. This Anant thread is removed after fourteen days.
Following is the story behind this festival:
Sushila and Kaundinya
There was a Brahmin named Sumant. From his wife Diksha he had a daughter named Sushila. After the death of Diksha Sumant married Karkash, who began to give a lot of trouble to Sushila. Sushila married Kaundinya, and both decided to leave the house to avoid the harassment of the step-mother. On the way they stopped near a river. Kaundinya went to take bath, and Sushila joined a group of women who were performing worship. They told Sushila that they were worshipping "Anant". "What kind of worship is this?" Sushila asked.
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