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October Month Festivals List 2018

DateOctober 3, 2018

Gandhi Jayanthi– October 2nd,Tuesday

Gandhi Jayanthi is the day of birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the great son of India. He was born when the country was suffering under the British rule. Gandhi inspired the people through his words and deeds, united them against all divisions of caste, creed, and religion, and led them in a massive non-violent struggle against the mighty foreign reign. Thanks to his leadership and the great sacrifices of the people, the English were forced to free our land, and we attained independence, at last, on 5th August 1947. Gandhi is hailed as Mahatma, a noble soul, is adored as ‘The Apostle of Peace,’ and also revered as the Father of the Nation.

He was born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2nd, 1869 in Gujarat. During his eventful life he also worked selflessly for the upliftment of the downtrodden and communal harmony, and ultimately sacrificed his life for the sake of Hindu-Muslim unity.

Gandhi Jayanthi is celebrated all over the country and the world with solemnity and enthusiasm, when rich tributes are paid to this noble soul by people from all walks of the society.

Ekadasi – October 5th, Friday

Ekadasi or Ekadasi thithi is the 11th lunar day. While this is regarded as an auspicious day in general, it is considered particularly special for worshipping Lord Vishnu, the supreme God of protection. It is ‘Eka Dasi,’ the 11th day and is observed in both, the bright and the dark fortnights of the Moon.

Ardent devotees observe Ekadasi Vrat on the occasion, when they observe fasting, read and listen to scriptures, offer prayers and do other religious activities. Though there will generally be 2 Ekadasis in a month and 24 in a year, every one of them is unique, and people perform different rituals on different such days to please the Almighty and seek his blessings.
The first Ekadasi day of October 2018 falls on Friday, the 5th. People can observe austerities on the occasion, offer worships to Gods and receive divine blessings.

Pradosham – October 6th, Saturday

Pradosham is a period considered very sacred for worshipping Lord Shiva. This prevails during the evening, twilight hours of a Trayodasi thithi, the 13th lunar day, and extends for about 3 hours around sunset. As per legends, this is the time when Shiva accepted and drank the lethal poison Alahala, which emerged from the milky ocean when the Devas and Asuras churned it. Pradosham is thus said to be the time when Shiva saved the universe from destruction. The Lord is remembered and worshipped by the people during the occasion when his mount Nandi is also offered prayers.

Pradosham also means ‘removing sins,’ and so, this worship is said to relieve devotees of all their sins. This occurs twice a month, and the first for October 2018 falls on Saturday, the 6th. Devotees can perform Vrats, and offer worships at homes and temples then and receive divine grace.

Mahalaya Ends – October 8th, Monday

It is the 15-day period of Mahalaya Paksha that is often referred to as Mahalaya. It is also known as Pitru Paksha, the ‘fortnight of the ancestors’, and is held as sacred for worshipping the departed forefathers. Mahalaya corresponds to the first dark fortnight during the Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada month (September-October). It begins on the first lunar day of Pratipada and concludes on the following Amavasya, New Moon day. This year it started on 25th September and will end on Monday, the 8th of October.

Mahalaya Paksha is dedicated exclusively to the worship of ancestors, when people perform many ceremonies and make offerings of rice grains and sesame seeds along with water, as oblations. These are believed to help the departed souls to attain salvation, while also relieving people of their sins.

The New Moon day when Mahalaya ends is observed as Mahalaya Amavasya when people observe many austerities for propitiating ancestors. The ending of Mahalaya marks the beginning of the Navratri festival.

Amavasya – October 9th, Tuesday

The New moon Day is known as Amavasya. A calendar cycle consists of 30 lunar phases, and these are known as thithis. Amavasya is the dark Moon thithi among these, when the Moon remains invisible in the sky. One of the meanings of the term ‘Ama Vasya’ itself is ‘no moon.’ A lunar calendar month starts on a Purnima, Full Moon day, and has Amavasya right in the middle of the cycle.

Amavasya is a holy occasion dedicated to religious activities and for the worshipping of the ancestors.

There will usually be one Amavasya in a month and 12 in a year and some of them are held as more special than others. The Amavasya of October 2018 falls on Tuesday the 9th. This occurs in the month of Bhadrapada (September–October) and follows the sacred Mahalaya Paksha, and is observed as Mahalaya Amavasya, an occasion regarded extremely sacred for ancestral prayers. People can perform rituals for satisfying the departed souls of family elders on this Amavasya and receive their blessings.

Navaratri Begins – October 10th, Wednesday

Navaratri is a very popular festival of our land. It is ‘Nava Ratri,’ the ‘festival of 9 nights’ when the Mother Goddess and her different forms are worshipped with fervor all over the country. This festival is observed in the bright fortnight of Ashwin or Purattasi month (September–October) and is beginning on October 10th, Wednesday this year.

Navaratri represents the struggle of the virtue against the vice and its ultimate victory. As per legends, Goddess Durga fought a fierce battle with the mighty Asura Mahishasura and his demonic forces for nine days and destroyed them ultimately on the 10th day, thus relieving the worlds of their oppression. These nine days are regarded as very auspicious and are observed as Navaratri when fervent prayers are offered to her. The prime pooja is offered on the last day, while the 10th day of victory is celebrated as Vijayadasami.

The most enthusiastic Navaratri celebrations take place in Eastern India, while South India too celebrates the occasion with religious fervor, by organizing Golu, a unique arrangement of dolls at homes.

Jupiter Enters Scorpio – October 11th, Thursday

Jupiter is regarded as Guru, the universal teacher. He is one of the Navagrahas, a group of 9 powerful planets and is believed to be the most auspicious among them. He is a giant planet, the largest in the solar system and can bring in immense benefits in the lives of the people. Also known as Brihaspati, the wise preceptor of the Gods, he is said to stand for excellence in learning, religious beliefs, spiritualism, lofty mind, the vision of truth, optimism, desire, wisdom, and success.

Jupiter will move into the zodiac sign of Scorpio on 11th October 2018, Thursday and will stay there for about a year. The Scorpio born may experience tension, work pressure, and health issues, and struggle to make decisions and handle problems. They, however, may not lose courage, and with patience and confidence, may be able to come out of the period unscathed. The results will, however, be different for other signs.

Shasti – October 14th, Sunday

The 6th thithi or lunar day of the bright fortnight of Shukla Paksha is known as Shasti. This is an occasion held sacred for offering prayers to Lord Muruga.

Muruga was born as the divine son of the universal parents Shiva and Parvati, with the specific aim of ridding the world of evil forces. For completing his mission, he took on the demonic forces led by the mighty Surapadma, fought a fierce battle for five days and succeeded in overcoming them on the 6th day. This day of his resounding victory is observed as Shasti.
While this is believed to have happened during Aippasi (October–November) and is celebrated as Skanda Shasti, that memorable occasion is remembered every month and held as Shasti worship.

Devotees observe fasts on Shasti days and pray to Muruga fervently. For October 2018, Shasti occurs on 14th Sunday, when devotees can seek the Lord’s grace through worships and austerities.

Sun Enters Libra – October 17th, Wednesday

Sun is the head of the solar family of planets, of which our mother earth is a member. He is a luminous heavenly body, a huge ball of fire, and remains the principal source of light, heat, and energy to us. Astrology holds him as the king of planets, and one denoting aspects like courage, power, and authority. He thus holds a strong influence over the lives of the people, and so, his transit in a sign assumes a lot of significance.

Sun moves into the zodiac sign Libra on Wednesday, 17th October 2018 and will remain there for about a month. Venus will also be with him there, during the period. This may mean problems and worries for people born in Libra, in the first half of the period. Things may, however, improve dramatically in the latter half, when they may enjoy success in endeavors, get suitable rewards and be joyful. Other sign-people may have different results.

Navaratri Ends – October 18th, Thursday

Navaratri is the famous festival dedicated principally, to the worship of the supreme feminine power. It lasts for 9 nights and hence, has got the name Nava Ratri. This is celebrated all over the country with great enthusiasm, in the month of Ashwin or Purattasi (September–October), during Shukla Paksha, the Moon’s waxing phase. The festival which started this year on 10th October is concluding on 18th, Thursday.

Navaratri celebrates the victory of good over evil. The Mother Goddess Durga is believed to have fought with the mighty, buffalo-faced demon Mahishasura on these 9 days and destroyed him on the last day. This day of her resounding victory is considered as the end of the Navaratri period and is observed with great piety as Maha Navami when fervent prayers are offered to the Goddess.

She is worshipped as Saraswati, the Goddess of learning on this day, and the occasion itself is observed as Saraswati Pooja. People in the South also worship the tools and instruments they use, and so, also call the day as Ayudha Pooja.

Vijaya Dasami – October 19th, Friday

Vijaya Dasami is a very auspicious day. This follows the 9-day Navaratri festival immediately and can even be regarded as the concluding day of Navaratri festivities. Vijaya Dasami means ‘the 10th day of victory’. This day is celebrated on Dasami, the 10th lunar day of Moon’s bright fortnight during the month Ashwin or Purattasi (September–October).

As per legends, Goddess Durga fought a fierce battle with the evil forces led by the deadly demon Mahishasura, which lasted for nine days and it was on the 10th Dasami day that she slew the demon and annihilated his army. While the 9-days of the battle are observed as Navaratri, the day of her great triumph is celebrated with religious fervor and traditional enthusiasm as Vijaya Dasami. Elsewhere, this is also regarded as the occasion of Rama’s victory over Ravana and is celebrated as Dussehra.

While grand worships are conducted on this occasion, Vijayadasami is also regarded as highly propitious for making all new beginnings. People also initiate small children in learning on this day.

Ekadasi- October 20th, Saturday

The 11th thithi or lunar day is called Ekadasi. This is what the term ‘Eka Dasi’ itself means. Ekadasi is a very auspicious day and is virtually earmarked for Vishnu-worship, apart from the performance of other spiritual pursuits, and is observed during both, the waxing and the waning phases of the Moon.

EkadasiVrat is observed by many a devout on this day when they do fasting; read, recite and listen to religious texts; visit temples and offer prayers, and spend the day in spiritual activities. A calendar month will normally have 2 Ekadasis and a year, 24. However, every one of them has one’s unique significance, when people undertake a variety of activities and do many worships.

It is on October 20th Saturday that the second Ekadasi of the month comes. People can observe Vrats, perform rituals and offer prayers to the Gods on occasion, seeking their grace and blessings.

Pradosham – October 22nd, Monday

The twilight hours of the evening when the 13th lunar day of Trayodasi thithi rules is called Pradosham. This stretches for about 3 hours and is believed to be highly auspicious for praying to Lord Shiva.

As per mythology, the deadly venom Alahala emerged out of the vast ocean of milk, when Devas and Asuras churned it for obtaining Amrut. As the poison was capable of snuffing out all lives from the universe, Shiva intervened and consumed the poison, thus protecting the worlds from destruction. Pradosham is the time when the Lord performed this feat, and so, he is remembered and worshipped on the occasion. Prayers are done to his vehicle Nandi too, then.

‘Clearance of sins’ is also what Pradosham means and hence, that prayers are believed to absolve devotees of all their sins. Pradosham comes twice a month, and the second one for October 2018 occurs on 22nd Monday. Devotees can observe fasts, visit temples and do Poojas during that time and seek divine blessings.

Pournami – October 24th, Wednesday

Pournami is the Full Moon day. The Moon, which usually keeps waxing and waning, remains full and the brightest on this day, and this phenomenon happens when the Sun and the Moon are separated by 180 degrees. This causes high tides, while lunar eclipses to occur only then. Pournami is also a thithi or lunar day that divides a month into two fortnights, the Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha.

Pournami is considered an auspicious day when positive energies are generated, and so, people choose this occasion for spiritual practices and for making new beginnings. Also, different Pournamis have different significances and are capable of bestowing a variety of benefits by the performance of particular activities. Pournami usually occurs once a month, and in October 2018, this falls on 24th, Wednesday. People can undertake Vrats and offer worships on this sacred day and get divine blessings.

Mercury Enters Scorpio – October 26th, Friday

Mercury is a Navagraha, one of the nine powerful planet lords. He is the smallest of planets, but rules over buddhi, the vital faculty of intellect, and hence is known as Budha. Intelligence and articulation skills are believed to be his most significant gifts to humanity. He, therefore, exercises tremendous influence over the lives of the people, and a lot of importance is attached to his movement in a zodiac sign.

Mercury is getting into Scorpio on October 26th, 2018, Friday and will continue staying there till the end of the year. During this time, he will also become retrograde for some time and then turn direct again. For the Scorpio-born, mixed fortunes are in store during the period of his stay in the sign. In the first half, they may have to face obstacles, health issues, and tensions due to litigations, indirect enmities and even minor humiliations. Things may turn around during the latter part when their long-term efforts may bear fruit, and there may also be improvements in all fronts.

Sankatahara Chaturthi – October 27th, Saturday

Sankatahara Chaturthi is an occasion dedicated to Lord Ganesha worship. ‘Sankata Hara’ denotes elimination of difficulties, and Chaturthi is the 4th thithi or lunar day falling in Krishna Paksha, the waning phase of the Moon. This day is thus regarded as ideal for the clearing of all problems and obstacles in life. This is also known as Sankashti Chaturthi.

It is Lord Ganapati who is held as the destroyer of obstacles, and hence, Sankatahara Chaturthi prayers are offered principally to him. People worship Ganapati in many ways on that day, and visiting his temples and smashing coconuts in front of his idols is one among them. Devotees take recourse to this unique practice for pleasing the compassionate Lord and for getting themselves relieved of Karmic effects. Many observe fasts too, seeking all round progress. Sankatahara Chaturthi occurs once a month, and comes on 27th Saturday, in October 2018.

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