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The month from when the Sun enters the ‘Dhan’ sign of the zodiac (Sagittarius) to 14 January.
This year, this period commences on 16 December 2008 and concludes on 14 January 2009, the day of Makar Sankranti, the Kite Festival.
Traditionally, this month is considered inauspicious for performing social activities such as weddings.
There are various stories cited in the scriptures about the significance of Dhanurmaas.
The Swaminarayan Sampraday observes this month because it is associated with the month that Shree Krishna attended school. As the days are short during this month, Shree Krishna took his cows to pasture early, before attending to his studies. For that reason, the Lord’s mangla aarti is performed early, at 5.30 am, and the shangar aarti is performed at 7.00 am. Then, the rajbhog aarti is performed at 8.00 am, so that the Lord is then able to attend school on time. When the Lord returns from school at 11.00 am, he is laid to rest, so the temples close their doors at this time.
It is generally regarded that this month as a time of enlightenment and purification. For this reason, people go to bathe in the rivers and lakes before attending the temples very early each morning during this month, where they offer rich, warming foods to the Lord.
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