चैत्र . Chaitra . राम नवमी . Rama Navami
The Hindu New Year is the first month of the Hindu calendar. Each state in India celebrates the New Year in its own unique way, following customs and traditions that are exclusive to that particular region. It takes place during the beginning of the spring season where other celebrations such as Holi, Gangaur, and Rama Navami take place.
Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama, the seventh avatar of the God Vishnu. It is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil with puja, devotional worship. Bhajans and Kirtans are sung for hours, as well as fasting and reading passages about Rama's life. Some locations organize chariot processions of Vishnu, while others celebrate it as the wedding anniversary of Rama and Sita, Rama’s consort.
Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama, the seventh avatar of the God Vishnu. It is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil with puja, devotional worship. Bhajans and Kirtans are sung for hours, as well as fasting and reading passages about Rama's life. Some locations organize chariot processions of Vishnu, while others celebrate it as the wedding anniversary of Rama and Sita, Rama’s consort.
後祭 . Ato-Matsuri
Gion Matsuri is a festival that takes place annually in Kyoto during the month of July. Its roots are in Japan’s indigenous Shinto faith and conducted for purification and pacification of diseases. During the entire month, the guardian Gods are temporarily taken out from Yasaka Shrine to dwell in the city for a week where people can pray and receive blessings. Ato-Matsuri happens at the end when the Gods are paraded back to the shrine. Ironically, the festival was canceled during the pandemic and it was conducted on a smaller scale during 2021. These images were photographed during the last time it was celebrated at full scale in 2019.
