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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