Deepavali (also: Depawali, Dipavali, Dewali, Diwali, Divali, Dipotsavi, Dipapratipad ) marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year according to the Lunar Calendar. It literally translated means ‘Row of Lights’ (from Sanskrit: dipa = lamp / awali = row, line). It celebrates the victory of Goodness over Evil and Light over Darkness – it ushers in the new year. Especially for this event people are cleaning their houses and wear new clothes. Deepavali is a 4 day festival as Deepavali, Lakshmi Puja, Kartika Shuddha Padwa and Yama Dvitiya. There are many different names for the days of Deepavali (or Diwali) in different regions of India (South & North India, East & West India) and in the different languages spoken in that regions (i.e. Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Bengali). During Deepavali people pray to Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth, light, prosperity and wisdom, but also to Ganesha, the ‘Remover of Obstacles’ and the ‘Lord of Beginnings’…
Firecrackers, party lights, a goddess of prosperity, sweets, feasts, and celebrating prosperity as we wrap up the harvest and head into the dark days… what’s not to love?
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Apart from all that, what’s on the agenda for the evening?
Amir Khalid
Petronas makes such nice festival videos, don’t they? If only Malaysia was like that 365 days a year. Still, all the blessings of Deepavali to my friends at Balloon Juice, especially Schrodinger’s Cat and everyone else celebrating the day.
Elizabelle
Lovely holiday. We should appropriate it, in our multicultural land. Lights, prosperity, a new start, sweets, and family and friends is good.
Diwali, as explained by National Geographic Kids (my speed tonight).
Anoniminous
Upbeat Bollywood Happy Diwali
schrodinger's cat
@Amir Khalid: Thanks! and Happy Diwali to you too.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
Well, “Finding Phoebe” (which I’m thinking of retitling “Becoming Phoebe”) is off to the editor. So now I anxiously await her verdict/suggestions. She’s scheduled to get the first read back to me on November 21st. Until then I’ll be something of a wreck.
Elizabelle
Cooking chicken with apricot-mustard sauce, with couscous and a green of some sort.
Enjoying the rainy weather in DC. We’re expecting a gorgeous (peak leaf) weekend.
Elizabelle
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):
Congratulations! Champers all around.
schrodinger's cat
Actually the Hindu New Year starts in spring, usually sometime in April. Many businesses close their books on Laksmi Pooja Day and start the next day as the new business year.
P.S. Your write-up leaves out Bhau-beej, its a day for brothers and sisters to get together and celebrate their bond and exchange gifts.
scav
May Lakshmi and Ganesha have a transportation-sharing deal with Santa so that they can visit all of us. Light those sparkly things.
WereBear
@Amir Khalid: Blessings of Deepavali back at ya, Amir!
And to all my fellow juicers!
WereBear
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): Congrats to the progress.
Elizabelle
@schrodinger’s cat:
Yeah, thanks. I remember some Indian-heritage folks (colleagues) celebrating in the Spring a few years back. That’s partially what made me confused about this being Holi instead ….
I do not see you publicizing Diwali Kitteh.
Pogonip
I’m in favor of importing Diwali to the U.S. have a happy, Hindu readers!
Quaker in a Basement
I enjoyed the hospitality of friends this past Saturday for Diwali, complete with Laxmi puja, feast,fireworks, and the company of many. Jai Rama!
schrodinger's cat
@Elizabelle: I have put a post on Diwali, but unfortunately it does not have kittehs. May be tomorrow, I has a tired today.
Original Lee
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): Yay! That seems to be going very well. Good for you!
Original Lee
Meanwhile, I’m having a FB “debate” over the Michael Brown autopsy report with a wingnutty acquaintance. She is baffled that libruls are refusing to admit that they were wrong because there was a “close encounter” bullet wound on the hand and is demanding I stop playing the race card. Le sigh. Maybe I should go watch hockey instead.
Tara the Antisocial Social Worker
May the Goddess of Prosperity bless you all with good fortune and happy homes.
Bob In Portland
The BND clears the Russians. But the story of the rebels shooting the BUK doesn’t hold water.