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Oppiliappan List Archive: Message 00086 Nov 2004

 
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 Dear all,

 Wish you all a very happy Deepawali.
 Thought I will share this note on the Deepawali festival.



> DEEPAWALI
> The festival of Lights
>
> Deepawali or Diwali means a row of lights.  It is celebrated on the 
> New(No) Moon day of the month of Kartik (Nov. 12 for the year 2004). 
> Deepawali is actually a five day festival! It  is connected with many 
> episodes from the Hindu holy books.
>
> Dhan Teras (Thrayodashi)
> The Shopping day
>
> Two days prior to Deepawali is known as Dhan Teras. On this day a new 
> utensil is bought for the house. House is spotlessly cleaned, washed, 
> white washed.  and decorated. The children are taken out to buy fire works 
> (crackers), earthen diyas (lamps) and new clothes.
>
> Naraka Chaturdashi
>
> Lord Krishna killed a wicked demon by name Narakasura on the eve of 
> Deepawali. This day  prior to Deepawali is called Naraka chaturdashi and 
> celebrated by lighting Fire crackers.  This is the part children enjoy the 
> most!
>
> Choti Diwali
>
> In some parts of India, the day prior to Diwali is celebrated as Choti 
> Diwali. This is to commemorate Hanuman coming to Ayodhya  with the news of 
> the arrival of Lord Rama &  his party from Lanka.
>
> The Deepawali Day
>
> Deepawali day is believed to be the day on which Lord Rama, and his party 
> returned  to Ayodhya from Lanka.  They are greeted by lighting hundreds of 
> clay lamps. This  gives the festival the name of Deepawali. Special puja 
> to Lakshmi are performed.
>
> On the main Diwali day, a morning bath is very essential.  In Southern 
> India to bathe before Sunrise, after a good oil massage, is  considered 
> very auspicious. Children finish this and start firing crackers in the 
> early dark minutes before the Sunrise.
>
> Goverdhan Puja
> Anna Koot
>
> The day after Deepawali is celebrated as Goverdhana Puja. The sacred hill 
> of Goverdhan, near Mathura and Kamadhenu (the cosmic cow) which are 
> connected with Lord Krishna are worshipped. Krishna lifted up the 
> Goverdhan mountain and held it like an umbrella, under which people and 
> animals took shelter from the relentless rain. Once the rain subdued, the 
> people gathered around the hill and had a great feast (Anna Koot). This 
> festival is especially popular among the devotees of Srinath Ji (Bala 
> Krishna), as  popularized by the 15th century CE philosopher, Sri 
> Vallabacharya (composer of Madhurashtakam). He founded Pushti 
> Marga(Pantha). There are about 30 million Hindus (mostly from  Gujarat and 
> Central India) belonging to this tradition.
> In some other parts,  this day is celebrated as  Bali Padyami. On this day 
> king Bali, who was humbled by Lord Vishnu as Vamana, pays a  visit  to his 
> lost empire.
>
> Deepawali also is the New year day for the followers of  Vikrama calendar, 
> founded after the great king Vikramaditya.
>
> For Jains, Deepawali marks the day on which their founder Mahavira 
> attained Nirvana.
>
> Arya Samajis spend this day in memory of their founder guru Swami 
> Dayananda, who was killed on this day.
>
>
> Deepawali is a great national festival in India. It is celebrated by 
> Hindus with extraordinary festivity. Houses are cleaned and painted. 
> People wear new clothes. Shops and offices are decorated with colored 
> lights.  Businessmen close their old account books and open new ones. 
> People exchange gifts, cards and visit friends and relatives.  Another 
> custom practiced on Deepawali day is the early Morning (5 am) oil bath.
>
> In short, you might as well call Deepawali as the Christmas of India, 
> because all communities participate at least in the secular aspects of the 
> festival. It is also the July 4th, because of the fire works.
>
> WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY DEEPAWALI
>
>
>
> 



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