Festivals
Stories behind the festivals of India.
Within Festivals
All Festivals stories (10)
Krishna and the Mountain Shelter
Indra called for the rain clouds. News had reached him that Nanda and the other cowherds had not brought their usual offerings to him…
The Bows in the Shami Tree
Prince Uttara stood beneath a shami tree. High among its thick branches hung a large bundle. His companion, Brihannala, looked up and asked…
Jhijhiya: A Folk Tradition of Bihar
Long ago, in the villages of Bihar, people celebrated Jhijhiya during the festival of Navratri. It is a beautiful folk tradition where women…
King Indradyumna's Resolve and Queen Gundicha's Penance
King Indradyumna of Utkala (Odisha) had the Shrimandir built, but a search was made for a qualified priest to perform the consecration of…
Lord Jagannath and His Devotee Salabega
Long ago, Salabega was born into a Muslim family. His father, Lal Beg, served in the Mughal forces. When Salabega grew older, he too became…
Hera Panchami: Lakshmi Searches for Jagannath
Every year in Puri, Lord Jagannath sets out on the grand Rath Yatra with his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra. Their…
Mata Vaishno Devi – The Sacred Journey
Long ago, in the village of Hansali near present-day Katra, lived a kind and humble devotee named Shridhar. He and his wife had no children…
The Night of the Little Lamp
Every year, on the darkest night of the month of Kartik — when there is no moon at all — Goddess Lakshmi comes down from her heavenly home…
The Story of Durga: The Mother Who Protected the Universe
Long ago, there lived a powerful and scary demon named Mahishasura. He was so strong that he had defeated all the kings on Earth and even…
Sanja
Long ago, in the beautiful Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, there lived a cheerful girl named Sanja. She loved flowers, birds, trees, and…