Festival Of Lights-Diwali

Diwali the festival of lights,traditional sweets,greetings,fire-crackers celebrated by Indians all over the world.Diwali includes the lightning of clay lamps filled with oil to signify the victory of good over the evil.Diwali is a auspicious religious festival celebrated by Hindus,Sikhs and Jain's with great enthusiasm and excitement.Diwali means lights,clay lamps,traditional sweets,decorations,rangolis,torans,fire crackers,greetings,sending gifts to dear ones.The festival commemorate the coming home of prince Rama after the exile and his victory over mythological demon Ravana.

Diwali is celebrated for 5 days:

Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi-Indian Business Communities start their financial year,individuals purchase new utensils,gold ,silver on this day.

Narakchaturdashi -the day celebrated for vanquishing of the demon Narakasur by Lord Krishna,this day is also called choti diwali.

Laxmi poojan- worshiping the goddess of wealth Mahalaxmi.People do poojas in their shops, offices,workplaces for financial stability and prosperity.

Pratipada or Diwali Padva - On this day husbands purchase gifts for their wives as a token of love and prosperity,on this day goverdhan pooja is also performed and some Hindu families cook kadi chawal and mix vegetable (satsaaga) and offer this food to Lord Krishna on this day.

Yama Dwitiya or Bhai Dooj -On this day sisters invite their brothers to their houses and offer food and delicious food to their brothers .

• DHANTERAS or DHANTRATODASHI:The first day of Diwali legend says during chumming of the ocean (sagarmanthan)by gods and demons Dhanvantari -the physician of gods came out of the depth of the ocean on this day with a pot of AMRITA that was for the welfare of mankind.
• NARAKCHATURDASHI: Choti Diwali one of the famous story behind the celebrations of this day is the demon king narakasura defeated lord Indra.Narkasur imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of gods and saints in his harem on the day before Diwali lord Krishna killed narkasur and released the jailed daughters.
• DIWALI-LAXMI POOJA: This day is celebrated as the return of prince of ayodhya shri ram with sita and laxman after 14 years long exile.
• KARTIK SUDH PARTIPADHA/DIWALI PADVA/GOVERDHAN POOJA: Govardhan is small hill in brij near mathura people of gokul used to worship lord indra for rain lord krishna told them it was mount govardhan and not lord indra who was responsible for rain this made lord Indra angry and in fury he cursed heavy rains in gokul on this day lord Krishna lifted mount govardhan on his little finger of his right hand and saved all the people of gokul from heavy rains by giving shelter to them.
• BHAI DOOJ /YAMADWITIYA: Legend says on this day lord yamraj the god of death visited his sisters yamuna's house she welcomed him by performing all the rituals like aarti,tilak ,offered garland around his neck yamuna also cooked varieties of dishes for her brother yamraj ate all those and showered blessings on yamuna and gave her a boon that if a brother visits his sister on this day he would be blessed with health and wealth .

Diwali is celebrated by Sikh communities with great zeal and enthusiasm .Diwali is of special importance for them it is popular has the day when the sixth guru GURU HAR GOBIND JI came back from the captivity of the fort of Gwalior city with 52 imprisoned hindu kings.People illuminated lamps in his ways to SHRI HARMANDIR SHAHIB which is known as GOLDEN TEMPLE.Sikh communities celebrate this day has BANDHI-CHOD DAY.( freedom of imprisioned day)

Diwali has its significance in Jainism as Buddhist celebrate Buddha purnima as the day of Nirvana of Buddha, Easter is for Christians.Lord Mahavira the last of Jain Thirthankar of the era attained Nirvana on this day at Pavapuri on 15th of October, 527 B.C.

HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL OF YOU

MAY THIS DIWALI BRING LOTS AND LOTS OF JOY AND HAPPINESS IN YOUR LIFE GOD BLESS YOU ALL