Thanksgiving: What is the significance of celebrating the day with Turkey?

Festivals are a reason for all of us to take a break from the hustle-bustle of our daily lives and take part in merrymaking and spend quality time with our family and friends. We, humans, are always in search of some excuse or the other to seek a brief shelter from the rains of our business, under the umbrella of the name “festival”. Thanksgiving serves the exact function. It is a day that celebrates a good harvest of the year and is considered a national holiday. It is celebrated with different names but the same vigour, enthusiasm, and idea in many parts of the western world, especially the United States. Other states that celebrate the same include Canada, the Caribbean Islands, Liberia, and many others. To know more about the delicacies of the festival read on.  

Thanksgiving Messages

Why the name?

As is very much evident from the name itself, it is a day for giving thanks. But the question may remain, thanks for what?! The thanks are for a good year, a good harvest and of course for a year of good health and prosperity. It is a day that thanks to the Almighty for a good harvest and seeks a blessing for the harvest. It had of course begun as a day for the people to thank for the food they have and such matters, but now has taken quite a commercial turn worldwide. In the US, the festival has often been recognised as an incident that had taken place when English colonists had held a gathering of a feast to thank the Native Americans for their help in starting afresh their lives in the US. The First Thanksgiving was celebrated when they had harvested their first crops in October of 1621. The feast had lasted for three days. For many people again, however, according to many Native Americans, the holiday is symbolic of centuries of seizure of land that resulted in slow initiation of the erosion of tribal cultures.

What is the significance of celebrating the day with Turkey?

There are many and varied opinions and beliefs as to why turkey is the main food item of the night of Thanksgiving. The first one is that eating turkey for the holiday in the US precedes Lincoln’s nationalizing the holiday in around the 1860s. Other beliefs include that Turkey was the animal chosen for the meals as the bird is quite big and hence would be able to feed many people, gathered in the fests to celebrate. The bird has an added advantage that it neither lays eggs nor gives milk.  

When does Thanksgiving fall every year?

The festival is celebrated on different days in different places. Some of the dates are as given below: 

• In Canada on the 2nd Monday in October
• In Liberia on the 1st Thursday in November
• On the last Wednesday of November in Norfolk Island
• On the 4th Thursday of November in the U.S. and Brazil

The day is more than just a festival for quite a large portion of the world population. Rather, it is an emotion. Anyway, it is depicted, it is quite an important part of the calendar in the western world and is celebrated with equal or sometimes an even greater enthusiasm with friends and family. 

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What is Puthandu & What are the rituals of the festival?

Puthandu is a celebration in the state of Tamil Nadu for their New Year. It usually falls on the first day of the month of ‘Chitteari’ according to the Tamil calendar. Again, however, according to the Gregorian calendar, it falls mostly on the 14th of April. The day initiates the new calendric year for the Tamils. This day is portrayed great enthusiasm and is celebrated with great fervour not only in the state, but also worldwide where there is enough amount of Tamil population. Puthandu is also sometimes called ‘Varusha Pirappu’. Reminding us of the cultural heritage of India, the festival is celebrated nationwide as well with different names in different places such as ‘Vishu’ in Kerala, ‘Pana Sankranti’ in Orissa, ‘Poila Boishak’ in Bengal, ‘Bihu’ in Assam and ‘Vaisakhi’ in Punjab. 

What is Puthandu?

Happy Puthandu Wallpapers

Puthandu is the beginning of the month of Chitterai and marked as the first day of the Year. It is a rather auspicious function for the Tamils. Legends are owing to which some of the people even believe that Puthandu was the day when Lord Brahma sat to create the Universe. There are other believes as well that portray that Lord Indra visited the Earth on this day to certify amity and contentment amongst the humans. In some Southern states on the nation, along with Tamil Nadu of course, this is a day of merrymaking and feasting, enjoying the day to its fullest. A good start ensures a good run and hence the people celebrate the day with much enthusiasm and hope regarding the day as one when new things are meant to be started, for them to have a better end.

What are the rituals of the festival?

The celebration and preparations, all begin a day before the actual day of the festival of Puthandu. Amongst the rituals is one where people arrange three fruits namely jack fruit, mango and banana, silver and or gold jewelry, betel leaves, flowers, and a mirror, and put all of these on a tray. This is especially known as ‘Kanni’, which is believed to bring prosperity, happiness and well being to the people following the ritual. Houses are decorated with kolams on this day, the middle of which is decorated with ‘Kuhtuvillakku’, a lamp that is symbolic of removing darkness from our lives in the new year. People get dressed up, greet each other and visit temples and enjoy the day to the fullest. There are variations to the kind of rituals people follow during the festival as well. Such as in Madurai, a big exhibition popularly known as ‘Chitterai Porutkaatchi’ is held at the Meenakshi Amman temple. People gather there, and the day is celebrated on a grand scale then. 

When is Puthandu this year?

Puthandu this year is on the 14th of April, 2020, which is a Tuesday. 

It is but the new year celebrations of the states of the South. However, reminiscing in the beauty of us standing united even in our diversity is an exhibition of the strength of our country. This strength is again portrayed during this festival when it is celebrated nationwide with different names but the same enthusiasm. 

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Govardhan Puja 2020: Ceremonies & Annakoot

Also known as Annakut puja, Govardhan puja or Bali pratipada is a Hindu festivity that is usually held after a day of the occurrence of the Diwali Puja in the month of Kartik. There is usually a one day gap between Govardhan puja and Diwali. This day commemorates the defeat of lord Indra by lord Krishna, a deity of the Hindu mythology. Worshippers of the Govardhan puja prepare varieties of vegetation meals such as rice, vegetables, wheat, curry of gram flour, etc to offer them to Lord Krishna. 

Govardhan puja 2020

Govardhan Puja Images for Whatsapp

In the ancient texts, the celebration of Govardhan puja has been mentioned to be held during the pratipada tithi of the month of Kartik. Depending on the beginning of the auspicious tithi, Govardhan puja sometimes falls a day before Amavasya on the Hindu calendar. This year, Govardhan puja will be celebrated on 15th November. 

Govardhan Puja ceremonies

The Puja has immense significance in the lives of Indians. Along with lord Krishan, people also worship and pray to Lord Varuna, Agni and Indra on this day. On this day, Govardhan Parvat, indicating cow dung and lord Krishna holds the most importance. The puja is highly symbolic. It makes us realise how our lives are largely dependent on the basic resources and elements of mother nature and hence we should treat mother nature with respect and remain forever grateful to her. It is through the Govardhan Puja that people pay their respect to the resources of mother nature that we procure. 

On this day, Govardhan is made from cow dung. Devotees make a hillock of cow dung and decorate it with flowers. Generally, the Puja is conducted either in the day time or in the evening. As the puja continues, fruits, milk, honey, Gangajal, curd, crystallised sugar, water, incense sticks are offered to Govardhan. After the Puja is done, prasad is distributed. Besides worshipping cow dung, cows and bulls that are employed for agrarian purposes are showed reverence and worshipped. After the Puja, people seek blessings of Govardhan Ji by going around the hillock of cow dung and spilling water from a vessel as they complete the rounds. Lastly, the sow barley on the ground, marking the end of the rituals. Worshipping Govardhan Giri strengthens one’s financial state and is supposed to be auspicious for the enhancement of one’s children and cow health. 

Annakoot for Govardhan Puja

On this auspicious day, Annakoot is prepared in the temples. Annakoot is a meal made up of varieties of cereals that are offered to Lord Krishna during this puja. At certain places, the temples make khichdi and puri. Along with this, sweets and other delicacies are prepared from milk and are distributed as bhog among the worshippers. In various places, the night of the Govardhan puja is celebrated with dance and music and people pray for a prosperous life seeking the blessings of Lord Krishna.

The Govardhan Puja is a way of expressing our dedication to Lord Krishna and mother nature. On the day of this festival, bhandar and religious ceremonies are organised in religious places all across India. After the Puja gets over, prasad is distributed. Going around the Govardhan Parvat on this day is special significance snd a lot of people seem to take part in this activity. People popularly believe that by going around the mountain, the benediction of Lord Krishna is pursued. 

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When is Diwali & How are the five days celebrated?

Dipawali or Diwali happens to be one among India’s biggest national festivals, celebrated throughout India, even by non-Hindu communities. Also known as the festival of lights, Diwali is a five-day festival that includes fireworks, lamps, good food, candles in its celebration. Diwali is an ancient festival that is celebrated across beliefs and cultures for consecutive five days. On this festival, Indians light rows of clay lamps, called Deepa outside their Houses which symbolises their inner strength protecting them from evil and spiritual darkness. 

When is Diwali 2020? 

The date of the celebration is determined by the Lunar cycle. Hence, the date varies every year. Dipawali is held on the 15th day of the Kartika month in the Hindu calendar. Diwali 2020 is on 14th November, Sunday. Dhanteras will mark the beginning of the festival on 13th November. The word Dhanteras has been derived from two words” Dhan, meaning wealth and teras, meaning 13th, representing the day of the lunar month it falls on. 

Origin

In northern India, The legend goes that on this day, lord ram returned to Ayodhya after being in exile for 14 long years with his family and brothers. To celebrate the victory of good over evil, people celebrate the occasion, lighting up their houses with lights and diyas. Laxmi Goddess is also worshipped during Diwali. Southern India on the other hand, honours the defeat of asura Naraka, a rashy king of Assam who imprisoned innumerable residents. It was Krishna, of the Hindu mythology who subdued Naraka and freed the prisoners. 

Symbols

The word Deepawali means,” a row or cluster of lights or clay lamps”. All Indians on this day illuminate their houses with fireworks, lamps, and bonfires. The festival stands cor the Victory of good over evil and the elevating from spiritual darkness. During Diwali, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Laxmi is also worshipped. 

How are the five days celebrated? 

Dhanteras marks the beginning of the five-day celebration. On this day, people worship goddess Laxmi and there is a tradition of buying something precious. On the second day, Diwali puja takes place. They wake up early and take a bath which is said to purify their bodies of all impurities and sins. They wear new clothes, take part in Puja and lights diyas in the evening. On the third day, Laxmi puja is held. People believe that on this day, goddess Laxmi will enter their houses and bless them with prosperity and good fortune. Families meet each other and exchange gifts and light diyas, artificial lights, and candles. On the fourth day, the Govardhan puja is done. It is said that on this day 

Indra was defeated by Lord Krishna who lifted the entire Govardhan parvat. Worshippers build s small hillock of cow dung, representing Govardhan and worship it. The last and fifth day is bhatriditiya. Sisters on this day perform a short tilak ceremony, praying for their brother’s success and long life.

People all around India exchange gifts, festive meals and welcome everyone with open arms. The celebration occurs when monsoon ends and the weather becomes pleasant and mild. People buy new clothes, clean their houses, pay off old debts and reconcile with old relations. Houses are washed and decorated marking the arrival of Diwali. All mansions are conventionally lighted up using deeps (oil burning clay lamps), though now people use artificial lights. People engage in spending time with their families and friends. 

 

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When is Dhanteras 2020

Dhanteras marks the beginning of the five-day-long Diwali puja. Dhanteras also called dhanwa Tari triodasi is the first day of the Diwali celebration that falls on the thirteenth day of the lunar cycle of Krishna paksha in the month of Kartik. Also known as dhantriodashi, people worship the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Goddess Laxmi for their well being. Hence, the day is of great importance to all sectors and communities of India. 

When is Dhanteras 2020?

Happy Dhanteras Wishes

Dhabteras is the day, we worship goddess Laxmi and seek her blessings to prosper in life. Dhanteras will be held on 13th November, Friday in 2020. The thirteenth day of the waning lunar cycle in Kartik month is celebrated as Dhanteras, marking the beginning of the five days long Diwali festival. It has become a part of culture and rituals for people to buy or purchase something precious on this day to open that gates of fortune. 

How is the day celebrated 

Ti celebrates this day, offices and houses and other buildings are decorated and beautified. The entrances of offices and homes are decorated with colourful rangolis to welcome the goddess of prosperity and wealth, Laxmi. Some people even draw her footprints with rice flour and vermilion to signify her arrival into their houses which they so long have been waiting for. People buy Dhanteras gifts like jewelry, coins or metal utensils, etc. Houses and buildings are illuminated with clay lamps and artificial lights to signify the defeat of evil.  

Traditions of Dhanteras 

Dhanteras is considered to be an auspicious day for starting anything that will progress slowly. It’s a good day to start your business or projects. Again, this day is considered a good one to start renovations or construction works of office and homes. Laxmi Puja is performed during the Pradosh Kaal on the day of Dhanteras which lasts about 2 hours. During these two hours, generally, before sunset, Laxmi puja is performed. This puja is of utmost importance to the corporate sector to seek the blessings of goddess Laxmi and pray of fortune and prosperity. Some people fast on this day and end it after the Laxmi Puja gets over. Many people place a lamp at the entrance of their homes and offices. Thus ritual is called Yamadeepa. It is believed that this light protects the house from the god of death, Yamadev. 

There are few things that one should never buy on Dhanteras as they are considered to bring misfortune. Never buy black coloured things, sharp objects or iron items, glass objects, oil or fake gold. If you wish to purchase a new car, don’t make transactions of this day. Don’t take loans from anyone or repay old debts. 

People celebrate Dhanteras with pomp and gaiety. In the evening, all houses get illuminated as the Laxmi puja is being performed. Lamps are lighted to keep evil spirits away. Devotional songs and bhajans can be heard playing in temples and mandirs. Villagers decorate their cattle and worship them as they are considered to be sacred for farmers. In southern India, on this day, cows are worshipped as people consider them to be an incarnation of the Laxmi goddess. 

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When is Baisakhi 2020?

Baisakhi, as per the Nanakshahi solar calendar, is the festival that marks the beginning of the new Sikh year. It is also the harvest festival of India, especially celebrated in the state of Punjab. Baisakhi is to Punjab is what Durga Puja is to Kolkata, and is immensely celebrated amongst the Sikhs. The festival always falls on the first month of Bikram Samvat according to the Hindu calendar. The main reason for the celebration of the day is that Guru Govind Singh, the tenth guru had established the Holy Khalsa. It is also important to know a bit about the community, such as they have their famous five K’s and also about the five men or the panj payre. Scroll down to know more about it.

Happy Baisakhi Images for Whatsapp

The Sikhs and their legends:

The story of the festival opens at the dawn of the incident where Guru Teg Bahadur was beheaded by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, his fault is that he had stood up for the Hindus and their rights. After this, guru Govind Singh, his son, became the next guru. Around the year of 1650, Punjab was in a state of turmoil, having to deal with corrupt rulers, in a state with no laws, and where common people had no rights or security. 

Guru Govind Singh, hence decided that it had become necessary to instill among the people a sense of security and courage. To do so, he called a group of Sikhs, asked them to gather in Anandapur, drew out his sword, and asked who among the public was willing to sacrifice their lives for a greater good. Finally, the “ Panj Pyare” stood up. Then, instead of attacking them with the swords, the Guru baptised them. And hence the first ceremony of the Amrit initiation was held. The group of five people is symbolic of the Five K’s namely, Kangha (comb), Kara (a steel bangle), Kesh (uncut hair), Katchera (underwear), and Kirpan (sword).

What are the rituals followed during Baisakhi?

During the celebration of the festival, the people wake up early, wear their traditional clothes and then go to the Gurdwaras to attend the day’s special prayer gatherings. Their holy book is given a bath of water and milk and then put back on the throne with absolute care. It is then read out to the public gathered, while they peacefully and patiently listen to it. Amrit, a special drink, holy nectar is prepared and distributed amongst the public after the verses have been said, which they sip on five times. At noon, semolina is prepared and then, seeking his blessings and then distributed about the public as well. It is finally then carried by the arrangement of Langar. 

When is Baisakhi this year?

It is the spring harvest festival of mainly the Sikh community. This year, Baisakhi is on the 13th of April, 2020, Monday. 

Baisakhi, the festival of the Sikhs, is however not just limited to their community. It is one of the representations of the unity in our diversity. It is celebrated throughout the country with equal vigour and enthusiasm. 

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How to Use Quotation Marks in Story Writing

When students write their academic assignments, they have to follow certain rules. Some of them are relatively free. The others must be fulfilled exactly as demanded. Thus, placing a quotation into quotation marks is one of the rules, which cannot be violated. Otherwise, you’ll commit a mistake that will deprive you of important grades. Quotations can be used in any piece of writing including storytelling.

It’s not always easy to insert quotations correctly. There are certain rules, which explain how to do that in the right way. These rules cannot be violated at any rate! Many students cannot memorize them or simply don’t understand how to write them correctly. Commonly, they use professional essay writing help provided by services from https://www.advancedwriters.com. This is a trustworthy and legit academic writing service, which helps to write different papers online. Besides, its expert writers help to make correct quotations. Of course, it’s better to learn the rules on your own.

Some people mistakenly think that quotations shouldn’t be used in non-scientific papers similar to story writing. Why do they think so? Well, we all know that scientifically-based projects must be supported with the official evidence that is pointed out with the help of quotations. Non-scientific papers aren’t obliged to include research. Nevertheless, many students use them because they want to make their stories stand out from the crowd. Using quotes, you insert an expert opinion of some outstanding writer, scholar, philosopher, etc. Thus, you strengthen something important in your text and it automatically draws the attention of your readers. Therefore, even if you write a simple story, as well as a personal statement, narrative, descriptive or reflexive essay, you should learn how to use quotation marks correctly. We’ll teach you the right way.

Begin with a Capital Letter

The first rule you should never forget is to capitalize the first letter of any direct citation you make. The standard sources are:

• Books;
• Articles;
• Studies;
• Journals, etc.

Besides, direct citations must be circled out with citation marks from both sides. For example, you should write after the following manner: Pollen says, “You can eat whatever you want as long as you make it yourself.” Obligatorily memorize this simple but important demand.

Consider Comma Placement

Another important rule to remember is related to commas. You should put a comma each time you make a full quote. Don’t forget that commas shouldn’t be counted as the part of the quotation marks. It always goes before them. For example: Like Tolkien wrote in his book, “For nothing is evil in the beginning.”

Lowercase Issue

Sometimes, writers use citations in the middle of the sentence. This case differs from the common citation placement and has a different demand you should know about. In case you’re citing a source within a sentence, you should lowercase its first letter. Mind that it can be used if you use only some part of a long citation, but not its full version. Thus, you may write in the following way: Tolkien wrote in his book a lot about the good and evil things “there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair,” meaning there is always an equal equivalent and it’s up for us to decide which path to choose.

Add Punctuation When It’s Necessary

You should remember another important rule about punctuation. It’s required to add all the punctuation means within your quotation if they really should be there. These are:

• Commas;
• Periods;
• Exclamation marks;
• Dashes;
• Question marks, etc.

Even quotation marks should appear inside your marks if they are present in the literary source you’re using. Here are several examples:

Bilbo Baggins said, “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”

Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “There is no friend as loyal as a book.”

Put the Marks around Common Sayings

Many students forget to place quotation marks around clichés, proverbs, and other common sayings. These parts of speech should be highlighted as well. Consider the following samples:

Everyone knows the saying, “What goes around comes around.”

This issue reminds us of one well-known proverb, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

Underline a Separate Part to Emphasize Its Value

Some people don’t know that it’s allowed to mark a phrase or even a single word in their stories. This method is also known as scare quotes. They aren’t applied frequently. Nevertheless, their impact is huge and immediately gets the attention of the readers. You can write: He smartly revealed his “little” trouble. Thus, the word “little” means “big”.

Take into account our recommendations and tips. They will surely help you to make a captivating story with quotations stated correctly. Accordingly, you won’t be deprived of important grades.

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