Fw: Saranagathi Happy DipAwaLi Celebrations !

[Guest guest]

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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