Bheemana Amavasya

Bheemana Amavasya is a festival celebrated in South India, most in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated on the new moon day (amavasya) of the ashadha month of the Hindu calendar.^[1]

Amavasya is the day of new moon occurrence in the sky, and any fortnight containing the new-moon is considered auspicious by Hindus. They believe that during this period, the offerings they make, reach their late forefathers and in return are showered with blessing. Signifies the beginning of auspicious period, and many pooja's are performed to Hindu deity's during this period seeking blessing.

First moon occurrence of August month is marked as Bheemana Amavasya, which is considered very auspicious by Hindus; it is believed that on this day Shiva, the Lord of destruction in Hindu mythology, is impressed by Parvathi's devotion towards him and accepts her as his wife. Parvathi is considered by some schools of Hinduism as the supreme Divine Mother or Lordess and all other goddesses are considered her incarnations or manifestations.

Parvathi, thus, symbolizes many different virtues esteemed by Hindu tradition: fertility, marital felicity, devotion to the spouse, asceticism, and power. It is believed if women abstain from consuming food on this day and offer prayers to Lord Shiva, Parvathi chastely an unmarried would seek a good virtuous husband and married would pray for their husband's long life, success and happiness.

Usually two idols are made using red mud clay, dried and decorated.One Idol depicts Lord Shiva & the other symbolizes Parvathi. One can use Idols made of panchaloha ( 5 materials namely gold,silver,copper,bronze,zinc ... the combination may differ)

Married women are supposed to gift and serve their husbands on this auspicious day and henceforth. They should never retaliate with their husbands and gift them whatever they want as often as you can.

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