Anant Chaturdashi is a Hindu festival that falls on the 14th day (Chaturdashi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, which typically occurs in August or September of the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as Ananta Chaturdashi or Ananta Padmanabha Vrata.
The word “Anant” in Sanskrit means “infinite” or “eternal,” and this festival is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Ananta Padmanabha form. Ananta Padmanabha is a form of Lord Vishnu who is depicted reclining on the cosmic serpent, Ananta Shesha, with Lord Brahma emerging from his navel and Lord Shiva meditating upon his feet. Devotees worship this form of Lord Vishnu on Anant Chaturdashi.
Key rituals of Anant Chaturdashi include:
- Observance of Vrata: Devotees observe a fast and perform various rituals on this day. They wake up early in the morning, take a ritual bath, and wear clean clothes.
- Recitation of Mantras: Special prayers and mantras dedicated to Lord Vishnu are recited during the day.
- Tying Ananta Sutra: A sacred thread, known as the “Ananta Sutra” or “Ananta Dhara,” is tied around the wrist while chanting prayers. The thread typically contains 14 knots, symbolizing the 14 lunar phases of the bright fortnight.
- Offerings: Devotees offer various items to Lord Vishnu, such as flowers, incense, fruits, and sweets.
- Storytelling: The legend of Lord Ananta Padmanabha and the significance of the festival are often narrated to family members and gathered devotees.
- Community Processions: In some regions, there are processions with idols of Lord Vishnu in his Ananta Padmanabha form, carried through the streets for public worship.
- Immersion of Ananta Idol: One of the most significant rituals of Anant Chaturdashi is the immersion of an idol or image of Lord Vishnu, typically made of clay, into a body of water (river, lake, or sea). This symbolizes the return of Lord Vishnu to his cosmic abode.
- Prayer for Eternal Blessings: The festival is also an occasion for devotees to pray for the well-being, prosperity, and eternal blessings for themselves and their families.
Anant Chaturdashi is widely celebrated in various parts of India, particularly in the western state of Maharashtra and some southern states. It marks the conclusion of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which begins ten days earlier with the installation of Lord Ganesha idols. It is a day of spiritual significance and is observed with great devotion and enthusiasm by Hindus.