Marathi Calendar 2024 July
As we enter the month of July in the year 2024, the Marathi community gears up for a month full of festivals and events. Being a proud Marathi myself, I have always been fascinated by the rich culture and traditions of Maharashtra. In this article, I will be sharing my personal experience and insights about the Marathi Calendar 2024 July.
Marathi Calendar 2024 July: List of Festivals and Events
The Marathi Calendar 2024 July is packed with numerous festivals and events that are celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal by the Marathi community. Here is a list of some of the major festivals and events that will be celebrated in this month:
- Ashadhi Ekadashi
- Guru Purnima
- Shravan Month Begins
- Nag Panchami
- Raksha Bandhan
- Krishna Janmashtami
Ashadhi Ekadashi: A Celebration of Faith and Devotion
Ashadhi Ekadashi is one of the most significant festivals of the Marathi community. It falls on the 11th day of the Hindu month of Ashadha and marks the beginning of the four-month-long Chaturmas period. The festival is celebrated with great fervor and devotion in Maharashtra, especially in the town of Pandharpur.
Thousands of devotees gather in Pandharpur to pay their respects to Lord Vitthal and seek his blessings. The devotees undertake a pilgrimage called ‘Wari’ and walk the distance of over 250 kilometers from Alandi to Pandharpur. The entire town wears a festive look with colorful decorations, street plays, and religious processions.
Guru Purnima: Honoring the Spiritual Gurus
Guru Purnima is a festival dedicated to honoring the spiritual gurus and teachers in one’s life. It falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Ashadha and is celebrated with great reverence and gratitude. The festival holds a special significance for the Marathi community as the great saint and poet Saint Dnyaneshwar took Samadhi on this day.
On this day, devotees offer puja and seek blessings from their gurus. The day is also marked by cultural programs, bhajans, and discourses on the significance of having a guru in one’s life.
Nag Panchami: Worshiping the Serpent God
Nag Panchami is a festival dedicated to worshiping the serpent god. It falls on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Shravan. The festival is celebrated by offering milk and honey to the idols of the serpent god and seeking his blessings for protection against snake bites.
The festival holds a special significance for farmers as they believe that worshipping the serpent god will ward off any harm to their crops caused by snakes.
Raksha Bandhan: Celebrating the Bond of Sibling Love
Raksha Bandhan is a festival celebrating the bond of love between siblings. It falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan. On this day, sisters tie a sacred thread called ‘Rakhi’ on their brother’s wrist and seek his protection and blessings.
The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy across Maharashtra. Brothers and sisters exchange gifts and sweets, and the day is marked by family gatherings and feasts.
Krishna Janmashtami: Celebrating the Birth of Lord Krishna
Krishna Janmashtami is a festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna. It falls on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Shravan. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and show across Maharashtra, especially in the towns of Mathura and Vrindavan.
The day is marked by special puja and bhajans dedicated to Lord Krishna. Devotees fast throughout the day and break their fast at midnight, the time when Lord Krishna is believed to have been born.
FAQs: Marathi Calendar 2024 July
Q1. What is the significance of Ashadhi Ekadashi?
A1. Ashadhi Ekadashi marks the beginning of the four-month-long Chaturmas period and is considered to be a very auspicious day for the Marathi community.
Q2. Why is Raksha Bandhan celebrated?
A2. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated to commemorate the bond of love and protection between siblings.
Q3. What is the significance of Nag Panchami?
A3. Nag Panchami is celebrated to seek the blessings of the serpent god and ward off any harm caused by snakes.
Q4. What is the importance of Guru Purnima?
A4. Guru Purnima is dedicated to honoring the spiritual gurus and teachers in one’s life and seeking their blessings.
Q5. What is the significance of Krishna Janmashtami?
A5. Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who is considered to be the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu.
In conclusion, the Marathi Calendar 2024 July is filled with festivals and events that hold a special significance for the Marathi community. These festivals not only provide an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate but also give us a chance to reconnect with our roots and traditions.