The last month of the year will be special from the perspective of Teej and festivals. There will be 10 special dates in December for the fast and festival. Shukla Paksha of Aghaan month will start on the very first day of the month.
The month of Aghaan will end in December and the month of Pausha will begin. There will be Dhanu Sankranti in the middle of the month and there will also be Kharmas. Auspicious works are not done during this period.
Know the major fasts and festivals falling in December and their importance…
Aghan Amavasya (1 December, Sunday) This will be the last day of Krishna Paksha of Margashirsha month. On this day, due to new moon at the time of sunrise, there will be an auspicious festival of bathing and donation. On Aghan Amavasya, woolen clothes and food are donated after taking bath in pilgrimage sites and holy rivers. It is believed that by doing this one gets inexhaustible virtue.
Vivah Panchami (6th December, Friday) On this day, Vivah Panchami festival will be celebrated as it is the fifth date of Shukla Paksha of Aghan month. According to the Puranas, the marriage of Shri Ram and Sita took place on this date, hence every year this day is celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Lord Ram and Mother Sita. Lord Ram-Sita and Hanuman ji are worshiped on this date. Ram Charit Manas is recited in temples.
Bhanu Saptami (8 and 22 December) The lord of both Sunday and Saptami Tithi is Sun. Whenever this date wise coincidence occurs, that day is celebrated as Surya Saptami festival. On this occasion, the rising sun is worshiped by offering Arghya. Worshiping the Sun in this way is believed to increase longevity. Apart from this, fasting is also observed throughout the day with the desire to fulfill the wishes. Salt is not eaten during this fast.
Geeta Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi (11 December, Wednesday) On this day, Lord Vishnu and Mother Lakshmi are worshiped with rituals. Fast is observed. According to the scriptures, since Geeta Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi occur on the same day, this date is compared to Mani Chintamani.
Dattatreya Jayanti (14 December, Saturday) This day is the festival of worship of Lord Dattatreya. Mahayogishwar Dattatreya is considered to be the incarnation of Brahmaji, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva and he was born on the full moon date of Margashirsha month and he received education from 24 Gurus. The Datta sect arose in the name of Lord Dattatreya. There are many temples of Lord Dattatreya in South India.
Dhanu Sankranti and Aghan Purnima (15 December, Sunday) This day will be the last day of Aghaan month. On this day, along with the full moon, the Sun will enter Sagittarius, hence Dhanu Sankranti festival will also be celebrated. On this festival, there is a tradition of bathing in the river and doing charity. Kharmas will start on this day due to Sun coming into Sagittarius. Which will last till 14th January. During this period, weddings and other auspicious functions will not take place.
Saphala Ekadashi (26 December, Thursday) This day will be the last Ekadashi of the year. On this date, the fast is resolved by taking bath in Brahma Muhurta and worshiping Vishnu and Mata Lakshmi with rituals. According to the scriptures, by fasting on Saphala Ekadashi, all the troubles of life go away and one attains salvation.
Somvati Amavasya (30 December, Monday) Somvati Amavasya festival will be celebrated due to Amavasya on Monday. This is called the great festival of bathing and charity. In Mahabharata, Bhishma had explained the importance of this day to Yudhishthir and said that a person who bathes in holy rivers on this day will be prosperous, healthy and free from all sorrows. It is also believed that by taking bath the ancestors are also satisfied.
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