--- In SriRangaSri@xxxx, Srini Raghavan <sraghav@xxxx> wrote: > > I have difficulty in following the logic of Dileepan in instructing that Deepavali should be celebrated on Sunday, Nov.3 while it is on Monday, Nov.4 in India. He is suggesting that Chaturdasi (and Amavasai )comes first to US before it dawns in India. This matter was discussed at length in a different list about 18 months ago in the context of Yajur Upakarma. Let me give a brief explanation here. The start of thithi is based on the position of moon with respect to earth. Therefore, the instant in time that marks the birth of a thithi is the same all over earth. Whether U.S. or Japan, or Norway, it begins at the exact same instant. So, when amavasyai begins on Nov 4th at 6:00 a.m. in India, it begins at that same instant everywhere else also. That instant in time is 7:30 p.m. the previous calendar day in the U.S. because U.S. is 10.5 hours behind India. That instant in time will be 8:00 a.m. in Singapore which is 2 hours ahead. After having determined when a thithi begins and ends we need to apply the rules for determining a given function. The rule for Deepavali is that at the time of snanam, which is between 3 and 4 a.m., Chaturdasi must be present. It is true that there are difficulties in places where the sun never sets, or never rises at some times of the year. This does not mean these rules do not apply in other places where such extreme conditions are not there. Otherwise, even the determination given for India can be questioned. The sun never rises in Norway, so how come Deepavali is on Nov 4th in India? In any case, I have not just made any of this up. These are based on careful study and consultation with experts who have been in the business of making such determinaton for years. Thus I stand by the determination I have provided. If you wish you take it, take it. Or else, just leave it. It won't please me if you do, and it will not offend me if you don't. -- dileepan
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