Date for Diwali needed

[Guest guest]

Dear list members,

 

I have to supply the dates of some lunar Indian holidays to a New York

Ashram for their year 2002 calendar. I have calculated all the dates except

the date for Diwali. Ashvina amavasya begins after pradosha on Nov. 3, 2002

and ends before sunset on Nov. 4, 2002 and that is what is making me unsure

whether Diwali - Lakshmi puja should be celebrated on Nov. 3 or Nov. 4 2002

in New York State.

 

The Panchang data (tithi end times and sunrise/sunset times) for New York

State are as follows:

Tithi

Date Tithi end time Sunrise Sunset

---- ----- -------- ------- ------

2002 Ashvina

Nov. 2 K 13 22:53:20 6:27 16:51

Nov. 3 K 14 19:13:14 6:29 16:50

Nov. 4 K 15 15:34:34 6:30 16:49

Kartika

Nov. 5 S 1 12:07:31 6:31 16:48

Nov. 6 S 2 9:02:13 6:32 16:47

 

S.K. Chatterjee in his "Indian Calendric System" page. 74 for Diwali has

Ashvina amavasya with Lakshmi puja celebrated in Pradosha (see page 60).

 

P.V. Kane, History of Dharmasastra vol.5 part 1 has:

page 199 [On] Ashvina amavasya...one should take an oil bath in the morning

and ... worship Lakshmi.

 

[P.V. Kane quoting Hemadri] ... one should worship Lakshmi in the evening...

 

page 200

[P.V. Kane quoting the Krtyatattva]...when there is 14th tithi in a portion

of the day and there is amavasya on the night of that day Lakshmi should be

worshipped and (that night) should be known as Sukharatri.

 

Can somebody confirm (or not) that this means that for New York Diwali is

on Nov. 3, 2002 with the Lakshmi puja in the evening.

 

Also for New York is Indian New Year (Kartika Sukla 1) on November 5 2002,

or is it always the day after Diwali.

 

Many thanks,

Harry

 

Harry Spier

371 Brickman Rd.

Hurleyville, New York

USA 12747

 

 

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