A Very Happy Diwali to All our Readers..!!

Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali. May this diwali light up new dream,

fresh hopes and a wonderful future to all our readers

Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated every year in autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere).It is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. One of the major festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed.The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika in Bikram Sambat calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Facts you need to know

• Diwali marks the Hindu new year. It is the largest and most celebated festival in india. Hinduism is a major religion of India, and is considered to be the oldest religion in the world.
• The English city of Leicester hosts the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India.

• It is a national holiday in India, Trinidad & Tobago, Myanmar, Nepal, Mauritius, Guyana, Singapore, Surinam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Fiji. And is an optional holiday in Pakistan.
• Tihar or swanti are the names referred to Diwali in Nepal and on the fourth day, the hindu god of death, Yama is worshipped for longer life of people for a longer life of the people.
• In Malaysia Diwali, Diwali is a National public holiday and is celebrated as Hari Diwali in the month of Aswayuja.

• On the same night that Diwali is celebrated, Jains celebrate a festival of lights to mark the attainment of moksha by Mahavira.
• The total cost of the firecrackers exploded in Diwali is estimated to be around one billion dollars. This is a significant amount of money, which could be used for other purposes like providing education and better health care facilities to those individuals who need them.
• There is unique traditional practice in orissa where the people call upon the spirits of their dead ancestors. They burn jute stems to shed light on the dark path of the spirits on their way to heaven.
• On Diwali farmers thank the deities for the harvests they had and pray for a prosperous harvesting season in the upcoming year as it marks the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter.
• It is celebrated in honor of Lakshmi – the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.

• The festival also marks the return of the Lord Rama and Sita after completing fourteen years in exile.
• The word Diwali means “the row of lighted lamps (diyas)” in Hindi.
• The festival signifies the victory of light over darkness.
• Diwali also marks a major shopping festival in the places where it is celebrated. There are special discounts and offers that businesses provide to their customers. Buying new things during this festival is considered to be good.

• It is the most famous, biggest and brightest festival of India, and is celebrated for five days.
• Oil and light lamps are used in high numbers in and around peoples’ houses and properties to celebrate the festival. The festival commemorates the lighting that was done to bring Lord Rama and his wife Sita from the forest of Ayodhya.

• Diyas light the houses, fireworks illuminate the skies and rangoli decorates the outside Hindu homes. They do this to attract Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune.

• Sikhs also celebrate Diwali, as it marks the release of their gurji – Guru Hargobind Sahibji – and 52 other kings and princess of India that were made captives by the mogul emperor Shah Jahan.
• Businesses also start new accounting books, and farmers end the harvest season. The festival also signals the onset of winter.
• Diwali is also celebrated in honor of the marriage of the Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. And it also marks the triumph of the Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka. Hindus in Bengal honor the fearsome Goddess Kali on the occasion of Diwali.

• During the festival of Diwali, fireworks worth billions of dollars are ignited. These fireworks cause a lot of pollution, which is a particularly life hazard for those living in densely populated areas such as the cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in India. Fireworks produce a variety of pollutants affecting sound, light, air and water.
• Gambling during Diwali is admitted as there is a belief that it brings good luck and prosperity in the year ahead.

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