Maha-Shivaratri
Mahashivaratri Festival or the 'The Great Night of Shiva' is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity, the destroyer and transformer. Shivaratri falls on the 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Magha or Phalgun, according to the Hindu calendar. Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees observe day and night fast and perform ritual worship of Shiva Lingam.According to the Vedic scriptures, this night marks the night when Lord Shiva danced the "Tandava", a vigorous dance which is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death.

Next Shivaratri: Thursday, February 11, 9:00 PM

Holi
The festival of "Holi" commemorates the victory of Lord Vishnu over the demon King Hiranyakashipu and his sister Holika. Hiranyakashipu's own son Prahlada was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Prahlada's demon father attempted to burn Prahlada to death on a pyre by ordering him to sit in the fire on the lap of his aunt, Holika, who was to be protected by a magic shawl. Praying to Lord Vishnu, Prahlada was unharmed in the fire but his aunt perished. The destruction of the Holika by the Lord is symbolized on Holi with the burning of the demoness in huge bonfires. Holi is also called the Festival of Colors, and people celebrate this spring festival with folk songs and dancing and with lighthearted pranks such as the throwing of colored powders and water at each other. Holi has a special significance for devotees of Lord Krishna, who celebrate the divine love of Radha for Krishna in joyful festivities that last for several weeks in Vrindavan and Mathura, the towns where Lord Krishna grew up, and where He first celebrated the festival by playing pranks on the gopis.

Quote
"Valorize everything, but do not get attached to anything. "

Swami Ramakrishnananda
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