03/11/2013
Happy Diwali...
Diwali also called Divali, Deepavali or the "festival
of lights", is a five-day Hindu festival which starts
on Dhanteras, celebrated on the thirteenth lunar
day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu
calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej,
celebrated on the second lunar day of Shukla
paksha of the Hindu calendar month Kartik.
Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after
Dussehra. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls
between mid-October and mid-November.
Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri
Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad &
Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.
For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important
festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by
performing traditional activities together in their
homes. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of
moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC. Arya
Samajists, celebrate this day as Death Anniversary
of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. They also celebrate
this day as Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti.
The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of
deepavali which translates into "row of lamps".
Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps
filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over
evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and
one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make
the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.Firecrackers are
burst because it is believed that it drives away evil
spirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new
clothes and share sweets and snacks with family
members and friends.
The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most
Indian business communities begin their financial
year. The second day of the festival is called the
Naraka Chaturdasi. Amavasya, the third day of
Diwali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess
of wealth. The fourth day of Diwali is known as
Kartika Shudda Padyami. The fifth day is referred
to as Yama Dvitiya, and on this day sisters invite
their brothers to their homes.
