** Happy Diwali 2014 ** Celebrations

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BlueEyes

@GulaabiAakhein.

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 11 years ago

D i w a l i , also known as Deepawali, is the most widely celebrated Indian Festival. It is characterized by l i g h t i n g up of earthen diyas and candles around the homes and bursting crackers throughout the evening. The festival is c e l e b r a t e d for 5 days and is the occasion for relatives and close friends to meet and spend time together, usually playing cards and exchanging sweets.

Deepawali is a conjugation of two words "D e e p" (meaning a lamp or light) and "a w a l i" (meaning a row or line). Deepawali signifies a line or row of lights which is a significant feature of the festival. According to the Hindu Calender, Diwali is celebrated in the month of K a r t i k which marks the end of summer harvest.

Although the entire country celebrates Diwali, primarily Hindus, Jains and Sikhs; their way of celebrations differs slightly.

Jainism
The Diwali night in Jainism is of great i m p o r t a n c e . According to their beliefs, Lord Mahavira, the last of the Jain Tirthankar of this era, attained bliss of Nirvana on this day at Pavapuri on 15th October 527 on Chaturdashi of Kartika. In the 3rd century, many gods were present there to i l l u m i n a t e the darkness and bring out the lightness. And therefore, Jains celebrate Diwali as a remembrance day of Mahavira.

Sikhism
For Sikhs, Diwali is known as B a n d i C h h o r D i v a s . On this day, Guru Har Gobind Ji freed himself and Hindu Kings from Gwalior Fort, from the prison of Islamic ruler Jahangir and arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Even since the freedom, Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, to remember the act of b r a v e r y and f r e e d o m of Guru Har Gobind Ji.

Hinduism
The festival of Diwali is celebrated amongst the Hindu for v a r i o u s reasons. Some people believe that it is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Ram, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshamana from the 14 years of exile. There is also a belief amongst the people that this day also marks the r e t u r n of Pandavas after 12 years of Vanvas (exile) and one year of A g y a t a v a s. Some people relate the festival of Diwali to wealth and prosperity. This festival usually lasts for 5 days for the Hindus. The Bengalis worship Mata Kali, North Indians Goddess Lakshmi, The Brijwasis and South Indians worship Lord Krishna on this day.

The 5-days of the Festival are as follows:
Dhanteras: This is celebrated 2 days before Diwali. People usually clean their homes and offices and their surroundings and go for shopping. The purchase of gold, silver and steel is considered very a u s p i c i o u s on this day. S i l v e r C o i n s are the main items of purchase during this day. The evenings are distinguished by gatherings in houses where cards are played and sweets are exchanged.

Choti Diwali: This day, just before Diwali is also called N a r a k C h a t u r d a s h i . The houses are further cleaned and polished. In the night, diyas are lit in all the entrances of the house which also include the drainage pipe holes. This s i g n i f i e s that if Goddess Lakshmi is entering your house, the entrance must not be dark.

Diwali: The main day of the Festival. People wear n e w c l o t h e s and decorate their houses with floral and flour rangolis all around. In the evening, people offer puja to their respective Gods and after that the children burst c r a c k e r s . Jains worship Lord Mahavira. Sikhs decorate the Golden Temple with lights and diyas and those away from Amritsar visit Gurudwaras and then distribute s w e e t s .

All the entrances of the house are kept open because it is believed that the goddess of prosperity- Devi Lakshmi is around during the evening and one should never close their door to her. The diyas are set burning till wee hours of morning.

Padwa/Govardhan Puja: This day marks the e n d of Hindu Financial Year. All the tradesman close their account and slips.

Bhai Dooj/Kalam Dawat Puja: This day is significant in the lives of s i b l i n g s . After bathing, the sisters apply tikka to their brothers. The brothers take their sisters' b l e s s i n g s and in return promise to keep them safe. This day marks the commencement of the financial year when the tradesman open n e w a c c o u n t books for the coming year.

And with that let us kickstart our Diwali Celebrations. Scroll down for a lot of fireworks we've put up just for you.

Edited by Angel-Jot. - 11 years ago

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Frequent Posters

Shivangi.

@caffeineaddict

Trailblazer

+ 6

Posted: 11 years ago

Diwali, t h e f e s t i v a l o f l i g h t s , brings happiness in everyone's life. It brings the light of victory, removing all the darkness of evil. So this Diwali, let's celebrate this joyous festival by having a safe and eco friendly Diwali.

Let's protect o u r e n v i r o n m e n t and p r o m o t e Green Diwali.

Illuminate house by l i g h t i n g it with diyas all over instead of using the lights run by electricity.

Use the environment friendly free cracker which causes l e s s pollution surrounding you.

Look for o p e n spaces before lighting the fire crackers and keep a safe distance.

Avoid using oil lamps or crackers in your home to so that any kind of m i s h a p s do not occur.

Keep the stock of crackers a w a y from fire in order to avoid any kind of accident.

In case of e m e r g e n c y keep the staircase and fire escapes free from crowding.

Check the fire extinguishers if they are w o r k i n g properly.

Keep the children away from fire crackers if they are n o t accompanied by any elder member.

Do not use matches or lighters to burst the crackers as they have d a n g e r o u s open flames.

Avoid w e a r i n g loose clothes are fire catches in them fast.

Now here are some tips for eco friendly celebration :

R a n g o l i is a great way to start the festive celebration. Adding the colours to the festival of lights will only bring more joy to the faces of your loved ones.

A full house family g e t t o g e t h e r can never go wrong during the festival.

A game of cards and some m i t h a i , the night is all set!

While decorating your house for the festival, use r e c y c l a b l e products. And also while cleaning the house, give the unnecessary things to the under privileged people (i.e. your favourite charity)

Try the e c o - f r i e n d l y Diwali and protect our environment from any kind of h a r m f u l pollution .

Fill our homes with lights of happiness, not of flames.

Have a g r e e n Diwali. Have a c l e a n Diwali.

Have a happy and safe diwali.

Edited by Angel-Jot. - 11 years ago

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616377

Hibernated

Posted: 11 years ago

Diwali is about l i g h t , which brightens not only the gullies and the balconies but the souls who inhibit these varied dorms. The chiming laughter, the dancing eyes, the naughty playmates and the e c c e n t r i c celebration is the heart of Diwali. Calmness doesn't have much role to play on this day and the haywire high voltage energy just needs ways to pour out. And if you have created some out of the box traditions for yourself to c h a n n e l this quirk, well you are not the only one doing it. Diwali has found many a devotees who have been trying to wide spread all the happiness that Diwali brings about in some re v o l u t i o n i z e d traditions of theirs.

And we bring to you some of these many Diwali traditions:

It is said that if we do not play cards on Diwali, then we will turn r a t s in the next birth😳🤣

The second day of Diwali, that is Govardhan Pooja is considered as the end of the financial year. So, many a b a n d o n the use of pens on the day of Diwali after the Puja and then they cannot touch anything related to b o o k s. (Happy news for all students na?😉😆)

On the third day, Bhai Dooj as well as Kalam-Dawat Puja is celebrated, where pens and pencils are worshiped and people w r i t e in all languages they know in a d i a r y with their right hand ring finger dipped in crimson powder (liquefied with Ganga Water).

On Diwali, the women of the house perform aarti of the men, gifts are exchanged, a bitter berry called k a r e e t is crushed under the feet in token of killing Narkasur, symbolising evil and removal of i g n o r a n c e in Goa & Konkan.😃

Certain villages in Maharashtra have a local singing ceremony. This is when children go round the houses holding hand-made l a n t e r n s made of sticks and twigs and they sing Marathi songs for the benefit of residents of the homes. In r e t u r n they are given oil and grain.👍🏼👏

The day after Diwali, is celebrated as Padwa. This day ritually celebrates the love and mutual d e v o t i o n between the wife and husband.The husbands give thoughtful gifts, or elaborate ones to respective spouses. In many regions, newly married daughters with their husbands are invited for s p e c i a l m e a l s .😳

Edited by Angel-Jot. - 11 years ago

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haminasto

@haminasto

Alumni

+ 7

Posted: 11 years ago

Alright guys! It's time for some fun now. We have come up with a small contest to add on to the sparkling celebrations of Diwali.
A t a g contest.

Before you set the fireworks to light, please read these rules:

The tag must be b a s e d on Diwali.(you can use rangoli, diyas, crackers etc).

It shouldn't be like a siggy but a t a g. An example has been added for reference.

Size of the tag must not exceed 550*500 pixels. If not followed, this could lead to disqualification.

Each member can send upto only Two entries. Any more will not be considered.

It can be either A n i m a t e d or N o n - A n i m a t e dor both, depends upon you.

Do not add your c o p y r i g h t . This could lead to disqualification.

All entries must be sent via PM to the crazycreative

Send in your entries before November 1st, 2014

[Sample of a tag]

So what are you waiting for? We can't for the fireworks show!!!

Edited by Angel-Jot. - 11 years ago

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Zoah

@xbeyondwordsx

Alumni

+ 5

Posted: 11 years ago

Diwali is the celebration of happiness, a j o y that is magnum to all that humans achieve by fighting off evil and attaining their goals with truthfulness, righteousness and f a i t h.

The brightened homes, the open hearts and the s w e e t e s t smell
of sharing is what makes Diwali a
S h u b h Deepawali.