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A legend behind the Ananta Chaturdashi is found in the Mahabharata. It recounts the story of a woman named Sushila, who encountered a group of women worshipping Ananta near a riverbank. They explained that the performance of this vrata (pious observance) would earn great merit for the performer and offer them safety.
[2] [3] The festival ends on the tenth day after start, when the murti is carried in a public procession with music and group chanting, then immersed in a nearby body of water such as a river or sea, called visarjana on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi. In Mumbai alone, around 150,000 murtis are immersed annually. [1] [4] [5]
Chaturdashi (Sanskrit: चतुर्दशी, romanized: caturdaśī) is the 14th day of the waxing phase or waning phase of the moon in the Hindu calendar. [1] This is the day prior to new moon ( amavasya ) or full moon ( purnima ).
The legends dates back to a story in the age of Mahabharata. The childless king Asvapati and his consort Malavi wish to have a son. Finally, the God Savitr appears and tells him he will soon have a daughter. The king is overjoyed at the prospect of a child. She is born and named Savitri in honor of the god. [citation needed]
The fourteenth day is known as Ghata chaturdashi or Ghayala chaturdashi, and is reserved for those people killed by arms, in war or suffering a violent death. [ 3 ] [ 5 ] Sarvapitri amavasya (all ancestors' new moon day) is intended for all ancestors, irrespective of the lunar day they died.
In South India (especially Tamil Nadu), Brahmin women make marundu (which translates as 'medicine') on Dhanatrayodashi, the eve of Naraka Chaturdashi. The marundu is offered during the prayer and eaten early on Naraka Chaturdashi before sunrise. Many families hand over the recipes of the medicine to their daughters and daughters-in-law.
The story is recalls how Shiva saved creation by drinking poison called "halahala" which emerged from the ocean while it was being churned by the asuras (demons) and devas (demigods). The poison was held at his throat to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the body, thus turning it blue.
Also called: Samvatsaradi (Telugu new year), Ugadi (Kannada new year)Observed by: Hindus in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa: Type: Religious (Hindu), social, cultural