Happy Dhanteras And Happy Diwali !!!

            334th BLOG -->>

        Day before yesterday, we celebrated Dhanteras. I am late but still a Happy Belated Dhanteras to you and to your family and close ones. Love to all. As I have always been an informative medium of festivals, I would like to share something about Dhanteras before going to Diwali. ;-).
Dhanteras is the first day of the five-day Diwali Festival as celebrated in parts of north India. The festival, also known as "Dhantrayodashi" or "Dhanwantari Triodasi", falls on the auspicious thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Ashwin (October/November). The word Dhanteras, Dhan stands for wealth. On Dhanteras, the "Owl" form of the Goddess Laxmi is worshiped to provide prosperity and well being. Dhanteras holds special significance for the business community due to customary purchases of precious metals on this day.

            To mark the auspicious day, houses and business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colorful with 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. On Dhanteras Hindus consider it auspicious to purchase gold or silver articles or at least one or two new utensils. It is believed that new “Dhan” or some form of precious metal is a sign of good luck. "Laxmi-Puja" is performed in the evenings when tiny Diyas of clay are lit to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. "Bhajans"-devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are also sung.

            Beautiful festivals enlighten your soul and brings a positivism and optimism in your approach and behavior. I have seen myself being much responsible during the festivals than any other common days. From last 1 week I am engaged in cleaning my house and making it as beautiful and immaculate as possible. I am trying to clean all the glasses and shiny things so neatly that it would reflect as pellucid as ever. I have learned all this rituals from my mother. She has always been a teacher to me whenever the situations and moments are heuristic to religion and festivals. She is a nice mother and trying to make me a good human being. I have changed a lot just because of her approach towards me.

              Its Diwali today. I would like to wish all my dear friends and readers A VERY HAPPY DEEPAWALI. May Goddess Lakshmi bless you with immense and abundant wealth. May you never grant any loan from any bank. Haha. May God bless you with all the powers and intellects on this wonderful day. Diwali is one of the most awaited festival for Hindus. This is a festival when not only Hindus, but the people from all the caste and religion celebrate with us. It is so wonderful to see people from other religion participating in the festival of Hindus without any selfish attitude or hidden perspective. Love to such people. 

              According to Wikipedia, The name Diwali is itself a contraction of the word "Deepavali" (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvali), which translates into row of lamps. Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (divas) (or Deep in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali.
Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day. In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana. Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers. In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha by Mahavira in 527 BC. In Sikhism, Deepavali also commemorates the return of Guru Har Gobind Ji to Amritsar after freeing 52 Hindu kings imprisoned in Fort Gwalior by defeating Emperor Jahangir; the people lit candles and diyas to celebrate his return. Khalsa was formally established by the Tenth Guru Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 on the auspicious occasion of Deepavali. This is the reason Sikhs also refer to Deepavali as Bandi Chhorh Divas, "the day of release of detainees". Deepavali is widely celebrated in both India and Nepal.

               A big definition of Diwali. I hope now you can relate with the festival much better than before. I knew that no one will search for this festival on Wikipedia so I thought of using its information in my blog and hence letting people understand their festival and religion. Hope the blog was useful. A Very Big and Happy Diwali to all my dear friends and readers. Love you all. Celebrate it but with less crackers and more diyas which are peaceful and sweet. 

            Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU