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MAIN
Holidays
& Observances
Diwali - Festival of Lights
Diwali
or Deepavali is often called the Festival
of Lights, because the name translates as row of lights
but mainly because of the lights and candles which
have become such a symbolic part of this festival.
Modern
celebrations often feature the glow of fireworks,
as well!
Diwali
is a five day feast that combines the festivities of the Western
holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, so you can
imagine the importance it holds for India and other countries
with large Hindu
populations.
Families
gather to celebrate and offer prayers together. New clothes
are often bought, gifts are exchanged, business and personal
accounts cleared, and ways of being a better person in the
new year are planned.
When
is Diwali this year? Diwali is celebrated 20 days after
Dussera, on Amavasya, the 15th day of the dark fortnight of
the Hindu month of Ashwin (Aasho). That is Saturday, October
17 in 2009.
Aartii
lakshmii jii kii, Jo koii nara gaataa
Ura aananda umanga ati, Paapa utara jaataa
Whosoever
hymns this prayer to Lakshmi is purged
of his sins and experiences the ecstasy of joy
Diwali
Festival
- Excellent presentation on the Festival of Lights in India
and around the world, including the five days of Diwali and
related history, customs and traditions, recipes
for Gujia, Malpua and more, related links and resources.
Diwalimela
- Very nice sections cover the history of the Diwali feast,
recipes, customs and traditions and worldwide celebrations.
There are links to other India related sites, a Diwali screensaver
and Diwali wallpaper for your computer desktop. One section
has five pages of Diwali e-cards for you to choose from. The
store offers candles, diyas, sarees and more...
Diwali
Greeting Cards - The big collection of greetings to
send online with galleries of sparkling fireworks, virtual
Aarti, religious blessings, and cards for friends, family
or business associates, from 123Greetings.com.
Diwali
- Festival of Life - Great overview of the holiday
as it is celebrated in the UK and throughout Asia, with four
pages of photographs, history, legends and customs, from BBC
Religion & Ethics web.
Manas
Festivals - This site is an excellent resource for
learning about India. The sections on culture and the arts
are very well done and many festivals are covered. The article
on Diwali explores the history, traditions and current social
culture that makes this holiday so important.
India
Nest Festivals of India
- Choose from several engaging and well-written story articles
on Diwali including details on light ceremonies, celebrations
for each day, and the festival's significance to the Sikh
and Pushti sects.
Words
that may not be familiar on these sites:
Aarti
are hymns or prayers.
Diya
are candles or lamps made in a clay pot.
Mithai
are sweets often exchanged during the Diwali festival.
Naivedya
are foods offered to the Gods.
Rangoli
are designs painted on the floor to welcome everyone.
Thalis
are trays to serve sweets and also to set the naivedya on
to present to the Gods.
Tikka
is celebrated the day after Diwali. Sisters prepare a tikka
paste made from rice flour and saffron paste to place on the
forehead of their brothers as a protection from harm.
also
see -> Holi
| Janmashtami
| Makar
Sankranti
Rakhi | World
Friendship Day | India
Independence Day
also
see in Religion -> Hinduism
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