Stories 7
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.
Kartik Purnima at Pushkar
The fair opens with the month of Kartik and closes on its full moon.
The lamps that kept Death at the door
A bride keeps her fated husband awake and blinds Yama, come as a serpent, with lamps and a heap of gold; the tale told for the Yama lamp of Dhanteras.
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.
Yama dines at Yamuna's house
Yamuna's long-refused invitation is accepted on Karttika bright second; Yama frees the hells for the day and grants her wish for all brothers and sisters.