The North Bay Hindu Center is pleased to offer a step-by-step Upākarma puja conducted by Pandit Viswanathan over zoom on Wednesday, August 30, available at 2 separate times (6 AM and 9:30 AM to be selected on the registration form). This event is not available at the temple and online only.

Please note:

• Temple suggested donation for puja - $51
• Priest Dakshina per your choice via Zelle (instructions on confirmation email)
• Deadline to pickup material = Tue 8/29 at 6:30 PM 
• Register by Tue 8/29 at 12 PM
• You must be with Traditional Attire (Veshti/ Dhoti/ Viboothi/ Sreeswarnam ( Thrinamam) ) with following Items: Pancha Pathram, Thaambalam, 1 Sombhu (Water Pot) 

Selection of time:

Please take time off your day to participate in our religious event which happens once a year. Please don’t try to rush the event because we are trying to do our best to help the community enjoy this divine event and get Veda Mata and Guru’s blessings.  Those of you who are willing to take time off from the office and school please apply for the second batch (9:30 AM). If it is not possible really need to go office and school then please apply for the first batch (6:00 AM). That would be greatly appreciated. 

Tradition:

The sacred thread (yajñopavita) is traditionally introduced to a student in a ceremony called Upanayana (regional names differ). This is one of the traditional saṃskāras that marked the acceptance of a student by a guru and an individual’s entrance to a school in Hinduism. Traditions vary widely across India. One of the recurring annual traditions thereafter is that of Upākarma ("Beginning", Sanskrit: उपाकर्म), also called Āvaṇi Aviṭṭam (Tamil: ஆவணி அவிட்டம், Malayalam: ആവണി അവിട്ടം), Janivārada Huṇṇime (Kannada: ಜನಿವಾರದ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ), Gahmā Pūrṇimā (Odia: ଗହ୍ମା ପୂର୍ଣିମା), and Jaṁdhyāla Paurṇami (Telugu: జంధ్యాల పౌర్ణమి), which is the annual changing of the sacred thread on the occasion of Śrāvaṇa Pūrṇimā. In North India, it is common to celebrate the same day as Raksha Bandhan and change the sacred thread on the occasion of ones birthday.