Stories 4
Tradition: All traditions · clear
Brahmotsavam, the festival of Brahma
Brahma is believed to have worshipped Venkateswara at Tirumala and to have conducted the first festival for him.
Indra's pole: the banner festival and Indra Jatra
Why a pole is raised for Indra: the Mahabharata's gift to King Vasu of Chedi, Kathmandu's legend of Indra the captive flower thief, and the Tamil Indra festival at Puhar.
The three strides of Vishnu, from the Rigveda to the dwarf and King Bali
In the Rigveda Vishnu's one deed is to take three steps that measure out the world and make room for people; the third step is a honeyed place out of sight. The Brahmanas turn the steps into earth, air and sky, the Ramayana gives them a dwarf and a king named Bali, and festivals in Kerala and the Deccan welcome that king home.
Vishvakarma Puja and the builders' communities
How and when Vishvakarma is worshipped: the solar date in Bengal and the east, the day after Diwali elsewhere, and the craft communities who trace themselves to his five sons.