Anant Chaturdashi 2023: Anant Chaturdashi is one of the most significant festivals celebrated by both Hindus and Jains. The day is devoted to Lord Vishnu, who is revered in his Ananta (infinite) avatar. It is believed that observing Anant Vrat (fasting) on this day can help you get rid of sorrow, karma and pain. Anant Chaturdashi is celebrated enthusiastically all over India mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat.
The festival of Anand Chaturdashi holds great significance for devotees of Lord Vishnu marble murti, who consider him a symbol of purity, devotion and prosperity. The festival is celebrated with great passion and devotion all over India and in other parts of the world, especially in countries with a significant Hindu population.
When is Anant Chaturdashi celebrated in 2023?
According to the Hindu calendar, Ananta Chaturdashi or Chaturthi is celebrated annually on the fourteenth day of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of Bhadrapada (August-September). Anant Chaturdashi will be celebrated this year on Thursday, September 28, 2023.
How to celebrate Anant Chaturdashi 2023
All of this festival’s rituals are carried out on Anant Chaturdashi with the utmost devotion and trust. Materials and ingredients for the puja are prepared one day before Anant Chaturdashi. Then, the devotee places 14 puris and 14 maal puas on a wooden plank and applies 14 long tilaks of vermilion (kumkum). Along with this, Panchamrit (a mixture of curd, milk, jaggery, curd, ghee and honey) is also kept on a wooden plank. After that, a thread with 14 knots on it—representing Lord Ananta—is taken, bound to the cucumber and then five times twisted in Panchamrit. This thread is believed to be a protective thread or a Raksha sutra which protects against the evil eye. Both women and men tie this thread, after finishing the Ananta Chaturdashi rituals, where women tie it on their left wrist and men on their right wrist. The thread is supposed to be tied for 14 days, and then it is going to be removed. One of the most important rituals is believed to follow on Anant Chaturdashi fast, where men observe this fast for wealth and prosperity and women for their family’s well-being. Anant Chaturdashi marks the worship of Lord Anant, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu marble statue.
Significance of Anant Chaturdashi
Hindu celebrate Anant Chaturdashi on the fourteenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadrapada. Its significance can be found in:
- Worship of Lord Vishnu:- For a happy and long life, devotees pray to Lord Vishnu in his Anant (avatar).
- The culmination of Ganesh Chaturthi:- The ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival comes to a close when clay statues of Lord Ganesha are submerged in water bodies to represent his departure and the prayers of the faithful.
- Renewal and Resurgence:- Anant Chaturdashi encourages hope and regeneration by representing the cyclical aspect of life and the belief in the recurrence of favorable events.
- Cultural Celebrations:- The festival involves music, lively processions and dancing during the idol immersions, unity and showcasing communal joy.
- Ananta Sutra Ritual:- Trying sacred threads for auspiciousness and protection in a common practice during this time.
Importance of Anant Chaturdashi celebrations among the Jains
Anant Chaturdashi is a significant event of Indian Jains. The holy day of Jainism is observed on the fourteenth day of the light fortnight of Bhadrapada month. This festival marks the end of the 10-day-long celebration of Paryushan, a time for self-spiritual and introspection renewal for the Jains. The significance of Anant Chaturdashi lies in its very name. ‘Anant’ means infinite and ‘Chaturdashi’ means the 14th day of the lunar cycle. The day is dedicated to Lord Anant, the highest soul’s manifestation in both India and other countries who practice the Jain religion.
Anant Chaturdashi Puja Vidhi 2023
- On the day of Anant Chaturdashi, get up early in the morning and take a bath and also wear new clothes.
- Make a lasting commitment in front of Lord Anant.
- Make a garland containing 14 knots from the cotton thread with Kumkum and Turmeric.
- Offer sweets, flowers and fruits to lord Vishnu.
- Read the Anant Chaturdashi Vrat Katha and recite the Lord Vishnu mantras.
- Distribute the prasad to the worshipers after the pooja.
- Donate 14 things to the needy and poor to receive the divine grace of Lord Anant.
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