happy dhanteras and diwali

DHANTERAS AND LAXMI PUJA : Though the celebration of DIWALI spans over four days but in some parts of the country, as in the western India, the curtain for the period of the celebration is raised with DHANTERAS or Dhantrayodashi which falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Kartik. The word "Dhan" means wealth. As such this day of the DIWALI festival has a great importance for the rich mercantile community of Western India. Houses and Business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights. Believing this day to be auspicious women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils. "Lakshmi-Puja" is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. "Bhajans"-devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Lakshmi are sung and "Naivedya" of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya.

In villages cattles are adorned and worshipped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day.

The pre-DIWALI day is of great importance to the rich community of western India Houses and Business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights. Believing this day to be auspicious women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils.
Lakshmi-Puja is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits, devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess.

Diwali or Deepavali : The day of Amavasya or the new moon which usually falls on the 15th day of the month of Kartik as per Indian lunar calendar sees the hub of the week long festive period. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped as it is believed that on this day Goddess Lakshmi would be in her benevolant mood and would fulfill all the wishes of her devotees. One version says that it was on this day Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagara when the Gods and demons were churning the ocean world for raising of Amrita, the mythical elixir of life.

On this day there is a traditional practice specially in Maharashtra of taking bath before sunrise with oil and "Uptan" (paste) of gram flour and fragrant powders.
There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya In villages cattle's are adorned and worshipped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day.
In South India that victory of the divine over the mundane is celebrated in a very peculiar way. People wake up before sunrise prepare blood by mixing Kumkum in oil and after breaking a bitter fruit that represents the head of the demon King that was smashed by Krishna, apply that mixture on their foreheads. Then they have an oil bath using sandalwood paste.

Celebrating Diwali

Over the years, DIWALI has become more of a social celebration. It has come to stay as an occasion when the family sits down together for prayer, meet friends and relatives and distribute sweets. In the northern part of India, DIWALI festival is celebrated over four days. DHANTERAS - This day of DIWALI holds great significance to the business community.

Traditional DIWALI rangolis find place at doorsteps. DEEPAWALI diyas or lamps burn brightly to welcome Lakshmi. Doorways are strung with brightly colored marigolds and mango leaves. Lamps are kept burning all through the night. It is considered auspicious to buy some gold or silver on this day. Lakshmi Puja is performed to worship the Goddess. This puja is traditionally performed in the evening after sunset.

In southern India, DIWALI begins in the wee hours of the morning with a bath with scented sandalwood paste. New clothes are worn and crackers are burst at the crack of dawn. Cattle are venerated in the villages as they are considered an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.

Children and adults alike will be looking forward to celebrating DIWALI 2008. There will be new clothes and firecrackers to buy, sweets to make and gifts to shop for. The days leading to the festival see hectic activity in most houses. It is a time for spring-cleaning to ring in the New Year and welcome the Goddess into the home and heart. The delicious smell of home-made sweets and savories waft through the air.

Diwali diya

What a pretty site the simple yet elegant Diwali diyas make on a dark night! The traditional mud diyas have now undergone a transformation. The market is flooded with artistically decorated and crafted diyas. Embellished with mirrors and zari and filled with colored wax, diwali diyas are a sight to behold. DEEPAWALI diyas also make wonderful gift items. Ethnic designs, etching and gaily-painted diyas add to the festive spirit.

Diwali rangoli

DIWALI rangoli motifs are colorful and attractive and are specific to different regions. Though many of the DIWALI rangolis are circular, many patterns reflect zodiac symbols or geometric patterns forming the lotus. Conch shell, footprints, swastik and birds are also used in Diwali rangolis. Rangolis during DEEPAWALI are made of white powder or rice flour. Colorful diwali rangolis adorn most houses during this festive season.

Govardhan-Puja : is also performed in the North on the next day that follows the day of DIWALI. It is the first day of the following fortnight of full moon. This day is also observed as Annakoot meaning mountain of food. In temples especially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the deities are given milkbath, dressed in shining attires with ornaments of dazzling diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones. After the prayers and traditional worship innumerable varieties of delicious sweets are offered to the deities as "Bhog" and then the devotees approach and take Prasad.

In many Hindu homes it is a custom for the wife to put the red mark of tilak( made up of vermillion powder pasted with oil) on the forehead of her husband, garland him and do his "Aarathi" with a prayer for his long life. In appreciation of all the tender care that the wife showers on him, the husband gives her a costly gift. This Gudi Padwa is symbolic of love and devotion between the wife and husband. On this day newly married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals and given presents.

Bhayya Duj : The festival of DIWALI is not complete without yet another festival, known by the name of "Bhayya-Duj" in the Hindi-speaking belt, "Bhav--Bij" in the Marathi-speaking communities, "Bhai Phota" to the Bengalees and in Nepal by the name of "Bhai-Tika". It is observed on the second day following DIWALI or the new moon. As the legend goes Yamraj, the God of Death visited his sister Yami on this particular day. She put the auspicious tilak on his forehead, garlanded him and led him with special dishes and both of them together ate the sweets, talked and enjoyed themselves to their heart's content, while parting Yamraj gave her a special gift as a token of his love and in return Yami also gave him a lovely gift which she had made with her own hands. That day Yamraj announced that anyone who receives tilak from his sister will never be thrown. That is why this day of Bhayyaduj is also known by the name of "Yama-Dwitiya" Since then this day is being observed as a symbol of love between sisters and brothers. It became also imperative for the brother to go to his sister's house to celebrate Bhayya-duj.

Nice thread ekta.............Thanx........Keep it up😊

A very Happy Dhanteras and Diwali to all of u😛

Diwali Greetings for all my sweet friends and whole Ramayan cast😛

'

'

'

thanx jingling

here r some more