Happy Diwali 2012

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 13 Nov 2012 11:21

Happy Diwali to one and all!!!
And a happy and prosperous New Year.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 13 Nov 2012 11:25

Happy Deepavali to all and a prosperous, healthy and peaceful Samvat 2069. May India vanquish the evil in the coming years.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 13 Nov 2012 11:26

Happy Deepawali; may the darkness in our lifes be dispersed -- May lord Ram bless us with his presence once more.

Jai Shree Ram.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 13 Nov 2012 11:36

शुभ दीपावली !!!

SHUBHA DIPAVALI

Happy Diwali To All

नव वर्षाभिनंदन

Happy Vikram Samvat 2069

Choice is yours!

ashish raval · Post by **ashish raval** » 13 Nov 2012 12:17

Wish you all a cracking Diwali and a prosperous new year. Not sure it is new year in other parts but it it in Gujarat.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 13 Nov 2012 12:46

शुभ दीपावली
Happy Diwali to all.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 13 Nov 2012 12:56

ashish raval wrote:Wish you all a cracking Diwali and a prosperous new year. Not sure it is new year in other parts but it it in Gujarat.

Vikram Samvat is also celebrated as new year in Rajasthan and almost everywhere in Maharashtra though Gudi Padva is The Partipada new year day in Maharashtra.

In Rajasthan it is typically observed with wishing "Rama Shyama" greetings

member_23686 · Post by **member_23686** » 13 Nov 2012 13:01

Happy Diwali to all

ArmenT · Post by **ArmenT** » 13 Nov 2012 13:08

ramana wrote:Happy Diwali to one and all!!!
And a happy and prosperous New Year.

Happy Diwali to all. Just out of curiosity, what's with the new year greetings? Are there any Indian cultures that celebrate diwali as beginning of new year? I wasn't aware of this...
[edit]Just read some of the posts above and found out that Gujarat & Rajasthan observe New Year at Diwali[/edit]

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 13 Nov 2012 13:47

ArmenT

It is not new year AT diwali but the Next day of Diwali, the start of new month of Kartik (where the calendars is observed as Kartik to Ashwin). The first new moon day of Kartik month is the new year day.

Believe me, it is a big event in Gujarat.

In big cities as well as towns and villages, the business/shop opening muhurt is generally in the early morning, the first business of the new year day starts with taking and delivering first orders. All the businesses and shop owners make rangolis and burst cracker starting as early as 4 am in the morning. Guys and gals clad in new clothes go out wishing Ram Ram/Saal Mubarak to all known and unknowns in the vicinity. They hug and wish near and dear ones while shake hands even with strangers!

The celebration halts on its own by the afternoon! Because the favourite activity of Gujaratis starts - eating enjoing undhiyu on new year day lunch!

તમને નવા વર્ષ ના રામ રામ,
Tamne Nava Varsh Na Ram Ram

The last day of diwali celebration is Laabh Paancham, four days after the new year day.

Many gujaratis/rajasthani/shepherds/rabaris/gopals of gujarat/rajasthan celebrate the eleventh day, the ekadashi, as Dev Diwali, lord krishna's marriage anniversay, by holding a mock marriage o deities Krishna and Rukmani. From this ekadashi onward marriages can be organized but not during the diwali times.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 13 Nov 2012 13:58

Happy Deepavali to all BRFites.

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 13 Nov 2012 14:07

Jalayen diye magar dhyan rahe itna, andhera dhara par kahin reh na paye.

Shubha Deepawali

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 13 Nov 2012 14:08

This new year day is celebrated in many regions with different names and reasons

Bali Pratipadā (Sanskrit: बालि प्रतिपदा,Marathi: बळी-प्रतिपदा or पाडवा,Kannada: ಬಲಿ ಪಾಡ್ಯಮಿ ) is the third day of Dipavali (Diwali), the Hindu festival of lights. It is celebrated in honour of the notional return of the demon(Daitya)-king Bali to earth. Bali Padyami falls in the Gregorian calendar months October-November. It is the first day of the Hindu month Kartika and is the first day of the bright lunar fortnight (day after new moon day) in the month. It is also called the Akashadipa (lights of the sky). It is celebrated as the first day of the Vikram Samvat calendar, in Western India.

The rituals observed on the Bali Padyami day have variations from state to state. In general, on this sacred festival day, Hindus exchange gifts, as it is considered a way to please Bali and the gods. After the ceremonial Oil Bath [a particular usage in Indian English, which denotes that oil is smeared over the body and then washed by soap or shikakai (means "fruit for hair" and is a traditional shampoo used in India), during bath] (considered essential as purification of selfish desires) by all the family members, wearing of new clothes is kind of mandatory. People decorate the main hall of the house with a Rangoli or Kolam drawn with powder of rice in different colours, thereafter Bali and his wife Vindhyavali are worshipped. Symbolically, seven forts are also built out of clay or cow dung to worship Bali. In the evening, as night falls, door sills of every house and temple are lighted with lamps arranged in rows. People remember Bali's kingdom with the slogan: "Let the ideal kingdom of Bali dawn at the earliest on earth." [14]

Another observance that is practised, mostly in North India, on this day is of playing the gambling game called pachikalu (dice game), which is linked to a legend. It is believed that god Shiva and his consort Parvati played this game on this festival day when Parvati won. Following this, their son Kartikeya played with Parvati and defeated her. Thereafter, his brother, the elephant-headed god of wisdom Ganesha played with him and won the dice game. But now this gambling game is played only by family members, symbolically, with cards.[11][12]

In Maharashtra, it is celebrated as Padva or Bali Pratipada. The day is linked to worship of king Bali. Men present gifts to their wives on this day.

White cows decorated and worshipped during Bali Padayami of the Diwali festivties by farmers in Tamilnadu and Karanataka.

The farming community celebrates this festival, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, by performing Kedargauri vratam (worship of goddess Kedar-Gauri - a form of Parvati), Gopuja (worship of cow), and Gouramma puja (worship of Gauri - another form of Parvati). Before worship of cows, on this day, the goushala (cowshed) is also ceremoniously cleaned. On this day, a triangular shaped image of Bali, made out of cow-dung is placed over a wooden plank designed with colourful Kolam decorations and bedecked with marigold flowers and worshipped.[5][12]

The day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja in North India. It is celebrated to observe the lifting of Govardhana hill by god Krishna to save his kinsmen and cattle from rain and floods

source:wiki

Atri · Post by **Atri** » 13 Nov 2012 14:31

Wish you all Shubha Deepavali..

member_20317 · Post by **member_20317** » 13 Nov 2012 15:26

Happy Divali to you all and Jai Ram ji ki.

Also do not use the broom after the Laxmi pujan.

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 13 Nov 2012 15:33

Happy Deepavali folks

prahaar · Post by **prahaar** » 13 Nov 2012 16:05

Shubha Deepavali to everyone!

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 13 Nov 2012 16:48

Wish you all a happy and prosperous Deepavali

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 13 Nov 2012 17:15

May the divine light of diwali
spread into your Life
peace, prosperity, happiness
and good health.
Wish you all happy dieepavali.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 13 Nov 2012 17:42

Happy Diwali to all those who have Indian wives.

All others, get started on the Gajrela!

shaardula · Post by **shaardula** » 13 Nov 2012 17:53

happy deepavali to all.

negi · Post by **negi** » 13 Nov 2012 18:01

Happy deepawali birathers. Btw maulanas serious pooch is daroo allowed today ?

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 13 Nov 2012 18:04

negi wrote:Happy deepawali birathers. Btw maulanas serious pooch is daroo allowed today ?

only if you're above 18!

And after Scottish Independence, double the amount!

KJo · Post by **KJo** » 13 Nov 2012 18:11

Happy Deepavali to all!

I must give Sunita credit. She has no fear of exposing her SDRE background quite publicly unlike the likes of Jindal and Haley.
And she is only half SDRE.

Sunita Williams greets happy Diwali to all Indians from space

NEW YORK: Indians around the world got a special Diwali message from outer space as Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams sent out warm wishes on the occasion from the International Space Station.

Floating upside down in the space station as she appeared on the screen before the Indian tricolour for a local TV show, Williams said, "I just want to wish everybody in India and people of Indian origin around the world a happy Diwali".

"It is a wonderful festival and I am happy we are part of it up here at the International Space Station," she said.

Williams, 47, spoke to Indian-origin student of New York University Riti Bhalla, who as a city-based TV host interviewed Williams on her Diwali special programme.

The tricolour was not the only Indian object accompanying Williams in space.

She has also carried a picture of the Sanskrit word 'Om' and a copy of the Upanishads, which her father gave to her before she left for the space mission.

SBajwa · Post by **SBajwa** » 13 Nov 2012 18:13

Happy Diwali!!!!!

Jih Prasad Chattih Amrit Khaye, Tis Thakur kau rakh man mahe
"By God's grace you partake in thirty-six delicacies, enshrine that lord and master within your mind"
SGGS Page 269, Sukhmani Sahib.

symontk · Post by **symontk** » 13 Nov 2012 18:39

Happy Deepavali

ShauryaT · Post by **ShauryaT** » 13 Nov 2012 21:38

Shubh Deepavali to all. May Ram Rajya embark upon our lands and Mata Lakshmi bless her peoples.

brat · Post by **brat** » 13 Nov 2012 21:52

Happy Deepavali to all.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 13 Nov 2012 21:57

Happy Deepavali for all Forum members and readers.

Tamaso maa Jyotirgamaya!

Ameet · Post by **Ameet** » 13 Nov 2012 22:13

Wishing everyone, especially our armed forces a Happy, Safe and Prosperous Diwali.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 13 Nov 2012 22:15

Shubh Deepavali!

Rupesh · Post by **Rupesh** » 13 Nov 2012 22:38

Wish you all a happy Deepavali

Nandu · Post by **Nandu** » 13 Nov 2012 22:57

Happy Deepavali. May the coming year be prosperous for you!

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 13 Nov 2012 23:01

Happy deepavaLi to all

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 13 Nov 2012 23:11

Happy Deepavali to you and your family. Wishes for health, prosperity, happiness and peace.

girish.r · Post by **girish.r** » 14 Nov 2012 00:11

A very Happy Diwali to you all. Good Health and Peace.

fanne · Post by **fanne** » 14 Nov 2012 01:13

Happy Diwali to all!!

member_23677 · Post by **member_23677** » 14 Nov 2012 01:19

दीपावली की शुभकामनाये

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 14 Nov 2012 05:28

krisna · Post by **krisna** » 14 Nov 2012 05:30

Happy Deepawali to all. May the good vanquish the evil.
Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavantu