Anant Chaturdashi

Festival falling on the fourteenth day
(chaturdashi) of the bright (waxing) half of
the lunar month of Bhadrapada
(August–September). This festival falls
during the four-month period when the
deity Vishnu is believed to be sleeping
on Shesha, his serpent couch, while his
wife Lakshmi massages his feet. The
festival itself is named after Shesha, one
of whose epithets is Anant (“endless”).
On this day, devotees (bhakta) of Vishnu
should worship and meditate on this
particular image of Vishnu, with Shesha
and Lakshmi.
Before beginning worship, devotees tie
onto their forearm a string dipped in
turmeric, an eastern Indian spice, in
which fourteen knots have been made.
Each of these elements is symbolic: The
string is a symbol of Shesha, the color yellow is associated with Vishnu, and the
fourteen knots signify the fourteenth day.
Aside from worshiping Vishnu,
devotees should also fast (upavasa)
on this day. Carefully observing the
requirements for this festival is believed to
ensure prosperity and freedom from exile.
According to mythic tradition, keeping
this vow enables the five Pandava
brothers, the heroes of the epic
Mahabharata, to escape from exile and
regain their kingdom.