AZ India

F E E L A T H O M E www.azindiatimes.com PAGE - 8 Jan 2019 1-844-AZINDIA TEMPLE PANCHANGAM Be bold , be italic , but never regular. By Gayathri Pattabhiraman gayathri.krithivas@gmail.com Maha Ganapati Temple of Arizona wishes one and all a very Happy and Prosper- ous New Year. 2019 is filled with events at the temple beginning with the Grand New Year Celebrations. Each year, the priests adorn Lord Maha Ganapati in an exquisite alankaram . This year will feature a very unique adornment as well. The first quarter of the year is filled with events that elevate the spirituality of the devotee. Observances in propitiation of the Sun god, Lord Ayyappa, Lord Sub- ramnaya and Lord Siva round out the months of January through March. Jan. 5th: Hanumath Jayanti: In Tamil Nadu, Hanumath Jayanti is observed in the month of Margazhi which falls in December – January. January 12th: Bogi, Ayyappa Irumudi Yatra: Ayyappa devotees have been observing the strict rituals and observances as a part of the Mandala puja for Lord Ayyappa. Just like pilgrims in India take the yatra to Sabarimala, Ayyappa devotees who have adorned the mala will make the pilgrimage to Maha Ganapati Temple at the conclusion of their mandala puja. January 13th: Makara Sankaranti Pongal Celebrations: Special pongal offerings to the main deities will be performed to celebrate the harvest festival. January 20th: Thai Poosam Festival will feature special pujas to Lord Subra- manaya and will involve devotees carrying the traditional Kavadi on their shoul- ders. February 10th: Ratha Saptami celebrations to observe the north-easterly change of the sun’s path. February 19th: Masi Magham is considered one of the most auspicious days in the year as it is believed that the heavenly beings descend to the earth to purify the souls of humans. Special pujas to Lord Nataraja, the Lord of the cosmos is performed that day. March 4th: Maha Sivaratri will be observed with special Abhishekams to Lord Viswanatha three times beginning 5:30 PM till midnight to the chanting of Sri Rudram. March 23rd : Panguni Uthiram will be celebrated with the divine marriage of Lord Subramanya to Goddess Deivanai in a grand Kalayana Utsavam. Between Mid- April to Mid-May, a very special event is to take place. The prat- ishta of the vigrahas of Ganapati, Naga, Vishnu and Siva under the peepal tree will take place. The details of all the events can be found on the temple’s website or on the Temple’s Facebook page. The temple is also embarking on the construction of the Dwajastambha or the flagpole of the temple. Plans are underway to raise funds for the important mile- stone project as well as the ornamentation of the exterior walls. We invite you to visit the temple to see all the wonderful developments taking place there.