Posts tagged with "Diwali"

Diwali

Posted by Nitin Kumar No Comments
Oct 25 2011

हमारे हिंदी पृष्ठ के सभी साथियों को दिवाली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाये!  Happy Diwali to our Hindi Page Community! :)  Yes, the biggest festival of India has already started with today. Let me show you what this festival is all about and how it is celebrated.

Deepavali (from Sanskrit words, “Deep” for lamp and “Aavali” for row) or Diwali (contraction of Deepavali) is the biggest festival of India and the most important festival for Hindus. It is also called festival of lights. Usually, it is celebrated between mid- October and mid-November. Diwali festival span for 5 days.
From Hindu mythology, Diwali marks the return of King Rama after a banishment of 14 years and his victory over King Ravana. People celebrated his return by lightening rows of “Diya” or “Deepa“, oil lamps. Diwali symbolize the triumph of good over evil.

Diyas

Diyas or Deepa

Preparation of Diwali festival includes new white wash for homes, home decorations and invitation for neighbors. On the first day of festival, there is traditional for shopping for home & family members. Traditional sweets, “Mithai”  are also prepared for the festival. Greeting and traditional sweets and gifts are sent to the relatives.

Mithai

Mithai

Even weeks before, the whole atmosphere in families turn jubilant and colorful. Diwali festival is eagerly awaited by Hindus and Indians irrespective of their religion. On the day of Diwali, people lite the traditional oil lamps which are placed in house’s veranda and periphery. Homes are also decorated with colorful electric lamps and candles.

Diwali Puja

Diwali Puja

In evening, entire family sit together for “Diwali Puja“, a long  prayer for Hindu gods and goddesses. After prayer, a lavish dinner usually take place which is followed by traditional sweets are distributed among family member and neighbors.

Diwali Fireworks

Diwali Fireworks

The traditional for firework is very popular and after prayer lite up the whole sky with wonderful colors. Diwali is usually celebrated with entire family and neighbors. This festival shows no bound of region or religion and celebrated all across India with fervor.

This wonderful festival of Diwali brings us a lesson to overcome our ignorance by bringing the light to our inner darkness.

Diwali All Over India

Posted by kunthra 1 Comment
Oct 30 2009

Diwali (दिवाली) is celebrated all over the world. Let’s take a look at some of the ways different regions celebrate the holiday. Before I begin, let me explain some of the reasons why Hindus regard Diwali as an important holiday. First, Hindus associate Diwali as the commemoration of Narakasura’s death. Narakasura was an evil demon killed by Krishna’s wife Satyabhama. In one account, it was said that she caught a missile hurled by Narakasura with her bare hands, which saved her husband from death. Other accounts say that Krishna killed Narakasura himself.

Anyway, there are six main events observed throughout the Diwali celebrations. All these days are celebrated according to the Hindu calendar. The first day is where the cow is worshipped. The second day is when people buy new utensils. The third day is when Hindus rise before the crack of dawn to take an oil bath and wear new clothes. Lamps are lighted and the Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped on the fourth day. The fifth day is when the men present gift to their wives. The fifth day represents the triumph of Krishna’s victory over the demon Bali. The sixth day is a day recognizing the special bond between brothers and sisters. This day is in honor of the God Yam (lord of death) and his sister.

In southern India, especially in Andhra Pradesh, firecrackers are lit and gifts of sweets are given to the children. The women of the house also create Kolams, which is a form of sandpainting done by rice powder. It’s thought that making these floor paintings near the entrance of the home will bring prosperity to the household. In Gujarat, since Diwali is considered the last day before the start of a new year on the Hindu calender, neighbors give gifts of fresh fruit and go to the temple to pray. Some people go to the temple to protect themselves against black magic.

In Bombay the traders do not make any payments in the Bombay Stock Exchange, but a token bidding is performed. In Bengal, people light candles in memory of their deceased ancestors. In Goa, berries are crushed with one’s bare feet to symbolize the killing of Narakasura. Next year the Diwali celebrations will fall around November 5th on the solar calendar. I encourage everyone to make an effort to take a trip to India and experience the bright and interesting cultural celebrations that India has to offer. Maybe I’ll see some of you there next year!

Diwali

Posted by kunthra No Comments
Oct 27 2009

This month is the celebration of Diwali (दिवाली) or Diipaavali (दीपावली), which is known as the Celebration of Lights. Small lamps are lighted to signify the triumph of good over evil. More specifically, Diwali recognizes the inner light of the aatman (आत्मन्) or the soul. Diwali is a festival where Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains alike observe the same festival for different reasons.

Jainists believe that Lord Mahavira (महावीर) was one of the last sages who had attained nirvana (निर्वाण) or enlightenment on Diwali. Lord Mahavira is considered one of the foremost Tirthankar (तीर्थंकर) (or teachers who have achieved enlightenment) responsible for establishing the dharma (धर्म). Jainists try to follow Lord Mahavira’s path to enlightenment by observing the holiday with an ascetic focus.

The festival of Diwali contain several significant events for the Sikhs. The Sikhs celebrate the release of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak’s (गुरु नानक देव) release from prison. The Sikhs also celebrate the release of Guru Harobind Ji, the sixth guru. According to the story, The Mughal Emperor Jahangir agreed to let Guru Harobind Ji and whoever could hold unto the Guru’s cloak, go free. Guru Harobind made a large cloak with 52 tassels. Each prince was able to hold unto the tassels and leave the prison. Diwali is also associated with the martydom of Sikh scholar Bhai Mani Singh, who was executed for encouraging the Sikhs to not pay a tax to a government bent on killing Sikhs.

For Hindus Diwali is associated with Lakshmi Puja or Lakshmi worship. Lakshmi is the goddess symbolizing wealth and prosperity. In order to attract the goddess to one’s home (and therefore attract wealth and prosperity) the Rangoli is left at the doorstep. Rangoli is a form of sand painting that uses finely grounded powder. The house must also be clean, because it is believed that Lakshmi will only visit a household that is industrious and clean. Water, nuts, fruits and flowers are left for Lakshmi. In the evening lights are lit so that the goddess can find her way to her worshippers’ houses.

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