Diwali is here!
The spirit of Diwali is back. The festivities and the celebrations are here.
Let's know a little about Diwali before we start wishing our friends and family.
Diwali or Deepavali means the 'festival of lights'.
It is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) every year. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.
Diwali is one of the largest and brightest festivals in India. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of good over evil.
The preparations and rituals typically extend over a 5-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night.
Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate, and decorate their homes and offices.
On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, decorate the outside of their homes with rangoli (as shown in the picture below) and participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
After the prayer is the best part of the celebration - Fireworks and Crackers!
Then a family feast including mithai (sweets) and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends is done.
[Courtesy: TheNosh.com]
Deepavali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.
Diwali is an important festival for Hindus. The name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali vary significantly among Hindus, based on the region of India and other countries.
In many parts of India,the festivities start with Dhanteras (in Northern & Western part of India), followed by Naraka Chaturdasi on second day, Deepavali on the third day, Diwali Padva dedicated to wife–husband relationship on the fourth day, and festivities end with Bhau-beej dedicated to sister–brother bond on the fifth day. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra.
On the same night that Hindus celebrate Diwali, Jains celebrate a festival of lights to mark the attainment of moksha by Mahavira.
The Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas and some Buddhists also celebrate Diwali remembering Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism.
Diwali is an official holiday in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.
Indian schools in Qatar declare a holiday to mark this festival.
Are you enjoying a holiday today? Or do you plan to celebrate the festivity and share sweets with your collegues at office? Let us know in the comments below.
Wishing one and all a very happy Diwali!!
Happy choking!
"Pollution soared to hazardous levels in Delhi on the night of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, reaching 40 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organisation, reports say.
Massive quantities of fireworks go up in smoke during the festival. On Wednesday night, the levels of PM10 particulates, which are very hazardous to health, rose to 2,000 micrograms per cubic metre, reports said.
The WHO recommends a maximum of 50 micrograms per cubic metre." [BBC]
Wishing you all a very very happy and prosperous Diwali...... have fun....
Wish you all a very happy n prosperous Diwali.... have fun :)
nana didi bahini bhanji bhatiji lagayad sampurna chhori cheli ani dai bhai bhatij ani saathi haru ra mero sampurna aaphanata haruloe tiharko shubhokamana samarpan gardachhu..wish you all happy tihar
Umm jst smell de festival of lights is
just around the corner wish you all a Very Happy Diwali. ... I hope the day has
been blessed with the presence of those you love most...and totally agree wid Mr.Khan..cheer and have funs guys
Brahma & Saraswati mentioned in also mentioned in the Holy Books of Muslims , Christians and Jew but not as God but as a Prophet and wife of Prophet . Hindus call him Brahma, Muslims call him iBrahim, Jews call him aBraham and Christians call him aBraham . His wife is called SARAswati by Hindus, SARA by Muslims, SARA by Christians and SARA by Jews .
You can see these two words Brahm & SARA repeating in all of them.
All Mankind have a common origin..a same father and same mother. If people realize this people will love each other never fight each other.
Thus the same person and his wife is mentioned in Holy books of Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Christians. So why kill each other in the name of Religion.
Islam teaches that Allah is not the God of Muslims only but Allah is the God of all people whether they are Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Christians. Monotheism is present in all the Holy scriptures.
We never existed before 100 years nor will exist after 100 years. If you consider that you sleep 8 hours a day, it is one third of the day and calculation for the whole life it will be one third of a person’s age. Hence there is no time to waste time in vain talks and disputes. Help the poor and do good to your parents and be thankful to God, He gave you free, the air you breathe, the water you drink, fruits and vegetables, most importantly your Life for free. Our life is a continuous exam until we meet God and it is when he will question you for your time, youth , money , actions etc . People reject God but can they escape Death? . Don’t forget you are nearing your death every second.
Wishing one and all a very happy Diwali
The festival spiritually signifies the victory of good over evil.
Wishing one and all a very happy Diwali
The festival spiritually signifies the victory of good over evil.
Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous Diwali.