By Girish Kumar Dubey
Devotes in Varanasi city of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh observed fast to celebrate the Hindu festival, Nirjala Ekadasi on Sunday (June 12).
Nirajala Ekadasi is one of the most popular and toughest 'Ekadasi' (11th day) fasting days. Nirjala Ekadasi is also known as Pandav Bhim ekadasi fast.
In Nirjala Ekadasi, people abstain even from consuming water.
Nirjala Ekadasi is dedicated to Hindu lord Vishnu, preserver of the Universe, and is observed on the 11th day of a fortnight in a traditional Hindu calendar.
"On the day of Nirjala Ekadasi (the eleventh day of a fortnight in a traditional Hindu calendar), devotees from all over the country visit Rajendra Prasad ghat (in Varanasi). Thousands of devotees carry kalash (mud pot) filled with pure holy waters from all over the country. They would offer the holy water in Kashi Viswanath Temple (a famous temple in Varanasi). This year holy waters from Chitrakoot Dham (a place in Uttar Pradesh), river Bagmati of Nepal and from other important rivers of the country have been brought, which would be consecrated," said Sudama Tiwari, a devotee.
Legend goes the way that the second brother of Pandavas (the five acknowledged sons of King Pandu from the Hindu epic Mahabharata) wanted to fast on Ekadasi but still ate food. So, sage Vyas advised him to observe Nirjala Ekadasi fasting, which falls during shukla paksha in Jyeshtha month (third month of a traditional Hindu calendar).
Nirjala refers to 'without water'; hence on this day staunch Vishnu devotees who undertake this fast do not drink water or eat food for the day.
"Today, we are observing this fast for those who are hungry, unhappy and thirsty in India as well as in the world and so with this medium (by observing this fast), we will provide water and food so that peace, harmony and prosperity prevails in the country," said Dharmasheel Chaturvedi, a devotee.
The observation of vows on this day has references in the Indian epic Mahabharata which says that Bhima, one of the protagonists of the epic, observed fast on this day.
The fast begins on ekadasi sunrise and ends on dwadasi (next day) sunrise.
Devotes in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh observe fast to celebrate Hindu festival of Nirjala Ekadasi.
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JUNE 12, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. DEVOTEES WALKING ON THE ROAD
2. DEVOTEES CARRYING ORANGE COLOUR FLAGS
3. DEVOTEES PLAYING CONCH SHELL ON THE ROAD
4. A KALASH (MUD POT)
5. A MUSICIAN PLAYING SHEHNAI (AN INDIAN OBOE)
6. DEVOTEES CARRYING KALASH IN THEIR HANDS
7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SUDAMA TIWARI, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:
"On the day of Nirjala Ekadasi (the eleventh day of a fortnight in a traditional Hindu calendar), devotees from all over the country visit Rajendra Prasad ghat (in Varanasi). Thousands of devotees carry kalash (mud pot) filled with pure holy waters from all over the country. They would offer the holy water in Kashi Viswanath Temple (a famous temple in Varanasi). This year holy waters from Chitrakoot Dham (a place in Uttar Pradesh), river Bagmati of Nepal and from other important rivers of the country have been brought, which would be consecrated."
8. TWO MEN CARRYING A BANNER
9. MEN CARRYING KALASH IN THEIR HANDS
10. DEVOTEES CARRYING YELLOW KALASH
11.A DEVOTEE CARRYING A YELLOW KALASH
12. A MAN IN THE ATTIRE OF LORD SHIVA, THE HINDU GOD OF DISTRUCTION AND RESURRECTION
13. DEVOTEES
14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DHARMASHEEL CHATURVEDI, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:
"Today, we are observing this fast for those who are hungry, unhappy and thirsty in India as well as in the world and so with this medium (by observing this fast), we will provide water and food so that peace, harmony and prosperity prevails in the country."
15. DEVOTEES PLAYING CONCH SHELL OUTSIDE A TEMPLE
16. DEVOTES WALKING INSIDE A TEMPLE
17. DEVOTEES CARRYING KALASH
18. WOMEN IN YELLOW ATTIRE CARRYING KALASH
19. MEN IN WHITE ATTIRE CARRYING KALASH
No comments:
Post a Comment