HOW TO CELEBRATE DIWALI THIS YEAR

Diwali is considered the most auspicious and important festival in India and all over the world not for Hindus as well all the people related to all cast and creed. It is called the festival of lights. It brings the lights and hope in our home and life. Diwali is a five day festival that signifies the start of the Hindu New Year. It determines the victory of good over evil, and brightness over darkness. It also symbols the start of winter. Diwali is celebrated in order to welcome of Lord Rama and his wife Sita returning to their kingdom of Ayoddhya. Lord Rama killed Rawan with the help of brother Lakshman and Hanuman and rescued Sita from his evil clutches. He came back to Ayoddhya on this very day with Sita, brother Laksham and Hanuman. TIME FOR DIWALI CELEBRATION Diwali is celebrated in October or November. It depends on the cycle of the moon. In 2011, Diwali starts with Dhanteras on October 24. Each day of Diwali festival has a different meaning. The main celebrations will be on on the third day on October 26. Fourth day is celebrated as New Year’s Day. Business men open fresh accounts for the New Year, and offer prayers to Lakshami and Ganesh. Fifth and last day, brothers and sisters get together and share food, to respect the bond between them. It is celebrated as Bhaiyya Duj. DIWALI IN DIFFERENT STATES KERALA-Through Diwali is celebrated all over India. But this festival is not widely celebrated in Kerala because it is not the part of their culture. Diwali has conventionally been a festival of wealth for traders and people of Kerala have never freely involved in trade. But they worship Goddess Lakshami and Ganesha this day. JAIPUR-Diwali is widely and enthusiastically celebrated in the "pink city” Jaipur, in Rajasthan. They always have a competition for the best decorated and most brilliantly lit up market. Due to the astounding display it attracts visitors from all over India. VARANASI-If you want to see the traditional Diwali you should visit Varanasi where the river banks are wrinkled with the glow of candlelight, people chant, and bathe in the river in the early hours. It seems like a magic. Attending Varanasi Ganga Aarti is also a best part of Diwali celebration there. GOA-In Goa, the emphasis of Diwali celebrations is on the demolition of demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna. These people have the tough competitions to make the biggest and strangest statue of the demon. Few of them are really very huge. They’re set on fire at dawn on Narakasura Chaturdashi, the day before the main day of Diwali. HOW TO CELEBRATE DIWALI On the third day which is known as Diwali, lots of small clay lamps or diyas and candles are lit and placed everywhere in houses. Children enjoy fireworks. People clean and decorate their homes with Rangoli (Hindu folk art), buy new clothes, gamble, and give each other gifts and sweets during the festival. RITUALS PERFORMED ON DIWALI The rituals are differing according to region. However, special pujas are offered to Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. The Goddess Lakshmi is believed to have been originated from the mixing of the ocean and on the main Diwali day, and she visits every home during the Diwali period. She brings prosperity and good fortune with her. It is our believe that she visits the cleanest house first; therefore people make sure their houses are spotless before lighting lamps to invite her in. Small statues of the Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesha are brought and also worshiped in homes. On the night of Diwali "Lakshmi-Pujan" is performed. A traditional Puja is performed after sunset in all the homes. Five pieces of ghee diyas (lamps) are lit in front of the deities, Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess and Artis are sung in praise of Goddess Lakshmi. After the Puja people light diyas (lamps) in every corner of the home to attendant in light, and clear the darkness from the world. In villages cattle are decorated and worshipped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special worship as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are decorated and worshipped on this day. • First clean the Puja room and then Bathe Lakshmi and Ganesh first with water, then with panchamitra or rose water, followed by water once more. • Make a Panchamitra with five ingredients of milk, curd, ghee (clarified butter), sugar and Honey. • Consider sweets, snacks and fruits as a Prasad. • Offer flowers, abir (red colour), sindoor (vermillion), haldi (turmeric) and light the Agarbatti (incense sticks) and lamps filled with Ghee. • Now offer fruit, sweets, and dakshina which can be given to the poor. • In the end offer paan (betel leaves) and cloves. Now pray to the gods to seek their blessings. • Ganesh Puja is must for Diwali pujan. Ganesh should be worshipped in all pujas before any other god or goddess. • Offer Lotus and other flowers at her feet as an offering. A silver coin is placed in front of the Goddess during the puja. Now perform Arti with flowers in hand. (Aarti) • After the puja get the Prasad and go out to burst crackers. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF DIWALI The candles and diyas make Diwali a very warm and impressive festival, and it's perceived with much happiness and pleasure. However, be prepared for lots of loud noise from the fireworks and firecrackers going off. The air is also filled with smoke from the firecrackers, which can add to breathing difficulties. It is a good idea to protect your hearing with ear plugs during Diwali, especially if your ears are sensitive. Some crackers are extremely loud, and sound more like explosions. The noise can damage your hearing. So stop making the environment polluted with harmful smokes of fireworks. Light a diya and make the world bright and beautiful. You never know when it can light a life. Celebrate this Diwali happily and peacefully and make it pollution free. We wish you a very happy and prosperous Diwali.