Moon Signs

'Sun Sign' is the popular way of knowing about yourself and your horoscope, but what is a 'Moon Sign'? According to Hindu astrology, The Moon rules over your mind, while the Sun rules your soul. So for knowing your predictions, it is important to consider the combined effect of Sun Sign & Moon Sign.

In fact, The Moon Sign has given more importance in Astrology than Sun Sign and there is a reason for that. You may be surprised to know that the Moon Sign reflects more on your personality and your life than your Sun Sign.

By knowing the reading of your Moon Sign, you will be able to know how much the Moon affects your personality. The descriptions are quite general, but may reveal you some significant information about you.

Technically speaking, the Moon Sign means the position of your moon in a particular sign during your time of birth. Normally a moon stays in a sign for around 2.5 days so most of the time you will be able to find your moon sign even if you don’t know the correct time of your birth.

Durga Puja

Durga Puja observed in Aashin or Ashwin month (September – October) is one of the most popular Hindu festivals.

Durga Puja 2010 begins on October 7 with Mahalaya. Durga Puja rituals and celebrations begin on October 13, 2010 with Durga Saptami. Durga Puja is the biggest festival in West Bengal and eastern parts of India and it celebrates the annual visit of Mother Goddess Durga. In Bengal, she is worshipped as Shiva’s consort and is given the warmest welcome a married daughter can receive when she comes home. Traditionally Durga Puja begins on the Mahalaya day in Ashwin month.

Mahalaya – October 7, 2010

Durga Puja Shasti – October 13, 2010

Maha Saptami – October 14, 2010

Durga Ashtami – October 15, 2010

Durga Navami or Maha Nabami – October 16, 2010

Dashami – October 17, 2010

On the Shashti day, Kalash is prepared and it is kept in the house and with it begins rituals and celebrations.

The most auspicious day of the Durga Puja festival is the Maha Ashtami and the Maha Navami.

Paksha Shradh 2010 begins on September 24 and ends on October 7

Pitru Paksha Shradh, or Pitr Paksh Shraddh, is the annual rites and rituals offered to ancestors, relatives and dead parents in the month of Ashwin in North India and during Bhadrapad in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Pitru Paksha Shradh 2010 begins on September 24 and ends on October 7. It is popularly believed that the Shradh performed during the Pitr Paksh Shraddh fortnight is highly auspicious as it reaches the dead relatives immediately and therefore their souls attain liberation or rest in peace.

Pitru Paksha Shradh is performed during the Krishna Paksha or waning phase of moon. In some regions, the Mahalaya Shradh Pitru Paksh fortnight begins with Purnima of Bhadrapad month. In majority of the regions it begins on the day after the Poornima.

Mahalaya Shradh is the final day of Shradh and the most important day of Pitru Paksh fortnight. It is also known as Sarvapitri or Sarvapitru Shradh and falls on the Amavasi or no moon day.

Ganesha Chaturthi (गणेश चतुर्थी)

Ganesha Chaturthi (गणेश चतुर्थी) , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival. It is the birthday of Lord Ganesha who is widely worshiped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 20 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period).

While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat,Orissa , Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Outside India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal and by Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka.