Shub Diwali

[Naina]

http://www.come2india.org/images/diwali-festival.jpg

[brag]

Shub Divali with love to all.

[Solachica]

Diwali greetings from me to you :mrgreen:

[Somebody007]

Naina, are you hindu? Anyways Happy Divali to the hindu community of Trinidad and Tobago.

Somebody007.

[dhal]

whats the right spelling? cuz i see "shubh" everywhere :?: :?:

[sapodila]

whats the right spelling? cuz i see "shubh" everywhere :?: :?:

Mere Dost aur Parivaar ki Jagad, Shubh Deepaavali do hazaar che........fire crackers poping...pow pow pow

[Naina]

Thanks all ....:)

Yes I am HIndu ...

Dhal I don't what's the correct spelling I've seen both as I've seen divali,diwali,deepav(w)ali....

[Somebody007]

I always use to hearing people saying Divali.... :mrgreen:

[Mivo]

Happy Diwali to everyone

[sapodila]

Saltwater.......ah no yuh coming to greet everyone here.......PM the fax # so that I can send you the "Hawan" for Divali and everyday... it too long to write and I can't spell half de time...............

ah done clean the house make de chutney, cut up and peel up the veggies, sew de jhanda /i, clean de alter, did de shopping, linens clean....let's see what's left...........dat bag ah curtain sitting on de couch hav to go up, sweets hav too make, pooja thali and bedi to prepare, rangoli to design.......have tuh pick up sari slip and blouse from de other seamtress :) .......how alyuh preparations coming along.......

[Mivo]

The house and pooja room done clean,ah making d chutney and ras gulla tonight, I doh peel nothing ahead of time. I do that before cooking
soak and rinse/dry deeyas tonight
wash and dry all meh prayers dishes
cut and soak wicks in coconut oil tommorrow morning
buy fresh flowers tonight

[vaio]

Mother lakshmi's blessings to all.. :)

[Sly1]

Shubh Divali to all my sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews & cousins....May the Goddes of Light, love and wealth fill our minds and souls with her gifts...And may we be ready to recieve and share them all.

[Solachica]

:?
Rain come for a 20seconds
Deeyas looking and lighting nice :mrgreen:

[sapodila]

Diwali Thread Resurrection!.............Amelia for you


Five Days Of Diwali

Diwali is a festival of joy, splendor, brightness and happiness. It is the festival of lights and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all Indians all over the world. The uniqueness of this festival is its harmony of five varied philosophies, with each day to a special thought or ideal. People celebrate each of its five days of festivities with true understanding, it will uplift and enrich the lives.

The first day of Diwali: Dhanteras
The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. It is in fact the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh, the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik. On this day, Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for mankind. This day marks the beginning of Deepawali celebrations.

On this day at sunset, Hindus should bathe and offer a lighted deeya with Prasad (sweets offered at worship time) to Yama Raj, the Lord of Death and pray for protection from untimely death. This offering should be made near a Tulsi tree, the Holy Basil or any other sacred tree that one might have in their yard.

The second day of Diwali: Choti Diwali
The second day of Diwali is called Narak Chaturdasi. On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear. On this day, one should massage the body with oil to relieve it of tiredness, bathe and rest so that Diwali can be celebarated with vigour and devotion.

On this night, Yama Deeya should not be lit. The Shastras (Laws of Dharma) declares that Yama Deeya should be offered on Triodasi night with Prasad. Some people mistook it to mean that because Yama Deeya was lit on that night, that it should always be lit on the night before Diwali. This is absolutely not true. It is advisable that one consults with a learned Pandit or Hindu Astrologer for proper guidance on this matter.

The third day of Diwali: Lakshmi Puja on Diwali

This is the day when worship unto Mother Lakshmi is performed. Hindus cleanse themselves and join with their families and their Pandit (priest) and they worship the divine Goddess Lakshmi to achieve the blessings of wealth and prosperity, the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. On this day entire communities are well lite with deyas, lots of festivities take place, fireworks and bamboo cannons are blasted off, lots of foods, sweets, gifts are exchanged and endless well wishes are extended.

The fourth day of Diwali: Padwa & Govardhan Puja

On this day, Govardhan Pooja is performed. Many thousands of years ago, Lord Krishna caused the people of Vraja to perform Govardhan Pooja. From then on, every year Hindus worship Mount Govardhan to honour that first Pooja done by the people of Vraja.

The fifth day of Diwali: Bhai Duj or Bharatri Dooj

This is the day after Goverdhan Pooja is performed and normally two days after Diwali day. It is a day dedicated to sisters. Many moons ago, in the Vedic era, Yama (Yamraj, the Lord of death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day. He gave his sister a Vardhan (a boon) that whosoever visits her on this day shall be liberated from all sins. They will achieve Moksha or final emancipation. From then on, brothers visit their sisters on this day to enquire of their welfare.
This day marks the end of the five days of Diwali celebrations.

[saltwater]

Saltwater.......ah no yuh coming to greet everyone here.......PM the fax # so that I can send you the "Hawan" for Divali and everyday... it too long to write and I can't spell half de time...............

ah done clean the house make de chutney, cut up and peel up the veggies, sew de jhanda /i, clean de alter, did de shopping, linens clean....let's see what's left...........dat bag ah curtain sitting on de couch hav to go up, sweets hav too make, pooja thali and bedi to prepare, rangoli to design.......have tuh pick up sari slip and blouse from de other seamtress :) .......how alyuh preparations coming along.......

I now seeing this...what can I say. Happy diwali back for 2007
Saps, I tried the Hawan last year. It was live from radio jagriti. I managed to follow some of the steps. You have a lot of info here that I will use this year.

[sapodila]

Saltwater.......ah no yuh coming to greet everyone here.......PM the fax # so that I can send you the "Hawan" for Divali and everyday... it too long to write and I can't spell half de time...............

ah done clean the house make de chutney, cut up and peel up the veggies, sew de jhanda /i, clean de alter, did de shopping, linens clean....let's see what's left...........dat bag ah curtain sitting on de couch hav to go up, sweets hav too make, pooja thali and bedi to prepare, rangoli to design.......have tuh pick up sari slip and blouse from de other seamtress :) .......how alyuh preparations coming along.......

I now seeing this...what can I say. Happy diwali back for 2007
Saps, I tried the Hawan last year. It was live from radio jagriti. I managed to follow some of the steps. You have a lot of info here that I will use this year.

whappen gyul..........like you wuking 24/7/ 366/365 o wat? :lol: Radio Jaagriti is a blessing ......

[brag]

For some reason, I felt the true spirit of Divali this year as I have never felt it before. I don't know what got into me. I made kajar (l) and put some in my eyes as my mother did when we were kids. I remember how embarrassed I used to be going to school the day after Divali with kajar on my eyed lids. I guess my late mother was visiting in the home this Divali night to remind me of old traditions. It is aso a time to renew old healing prayers and mantras by repeating them.

[sapodila]

For some reason, I felt the true spirit of Divali this year as I have never felt it before. I don't know what got into me. I made kajar (l) and put some in my eyes as my mother did when we were kids. I remember how embarrassed I used to be going to school the day after Divali with kajar on my eyed lids. I guess my late mother was visiting in the home this Divali night to remind me of old traditions. It is aso a time to renew old healing prayers and mantras by repeating them.

Jai Hare Krishna!

[brag]

The love of God is in the air.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/29627

Butterfly Satsang

Last night when I came home, I noticed a very delicious
fragrance enveloping me. The jasmine is not in bloom,
so I knew it couldn't be that stealing through window drafts,
and the incense had long gone out.

Was it Lakshmi? Her heavenly fragrance perfumes the three
worlds and I sensed an unusual lightness in the atmosphere.
This morning I still detected a unique aroma, though not as pronounced.

I went outside, in the backyard, to let the dog out and observed two
orange speckled butterflies dancing near her doghouse. I shooed
them away protectively. As I did this, they moved over to another
location, but one hovered near my hands.

It fluttered around my hands for a good minute.
I was able to hear, witness and breathe in
the amazing oscillation of it's fragile wings.
Gorgeous mosaic patterns glittered between the rays of sunlight
bathing our golden communion. I could clearly see
it's ebony face peering curiously up at me.

Soon a third butterfly joined the party, and a trinity of sweetness pulsated
close. After awhile they all took off in different directions.

Later, I reflected while swinging in the garden jhoola
how wonderfully connected we all are.
This Unity transcends the mental, emotional and physical barriers,
preconceptions and dimensions of our ordinary awareness.
Love has a lot to do with it, respect, peace, truth and right conduct too.

Heaven is at our doorstep.
"All Nature sings and round us rings the music of the spheres"

Lots of Prema
sonya ki

[brag]

Sunday at Trafalgar Square. Divali is being celebrate in T&T on October 17th.

http://globespotters.blogs.nytimes.com/ ... ar-square/ (http://globespotters.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/a-hindu-festival-takes-over-trafalgar-square/)

A Hindu Festival Takes Over Trafalgar Square
By Gary Moskowitz

LONDON | For several hours on Sunday, Oct. 4, London’s heavily-trafficked Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross or Leicester Square tube stops) will be HQ for the city’s ninth annual Diwali on the Square, a cultural observation of the Hindu Festival of Lights that will include fireworks, live music performances, and dancing. The festival, also celebrated by local Sikh and Jain communities, is open to the public.

The festival symbolically celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It’s thought of as a time to reflect on how to live a life of a peace, love, happiness, and forgiveness. And so from 2 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, the event hosts will aim to provide an experience appropriately contemplative and celebratory.

They are also hoping to provide a good, well-lit party. Trafalgar Square will be properly gussied up with light displays and decorations. From 2 to 3:15 p.m., there will be traditional circular Garba dancing and live music performed by Shama and Friends, a Britain-based group that performs Hindi music. An official opening ceremony, from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m., will include special Diwali messages.

A string of performers will get the party started at 4:15. British music and dance groups like the Beeja Dance Company, the Shamaa Dance Company, Shri Academy of Dance, the Sujata Banerjee Kathak Group, and Tridhara will perform Bollywood hits, South Asian classical dance, and Dhol drumming, as well as more contemporary urban and street dance.

Members of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness will close the festival with devotional music from 6:30 to 7 p.m.

The event organizers are aiming to be as inclusive as possible, hoping the celebrants will embrace the common Diwali wishes for forgiveness, love, and reflection.

[grapesweetie]

For NY'ers (saltwater whey yuh?)
the annual diwali celebration at south street seaport is this sunday

[Mivo]

Shubh Diwali everyone!

I can definetly feel the love and presence of Mother Lakshmi

[brag]

In the City of Coral Springs, South Florida, a three night celebration begins tonight at the sports complex on West Royal Palm Blvd. Shub Divali to all.

[brag]

Thousands Mark Hindu Holiday At Cowboys Stadium

http://cbs11tv.com/local/diwali.celebra ... 27457.html (http://cbs11tv.com/local/diwali.celebration.cowboys.2.1227457.html)

The drizzle and cooler temperatures were not a problem for thousands at Cowboys Stadium on Sunday.

The crowd, estimated at nearly 100,000, wasn't there for a football game or a concert.

Instead they gathered for a celebration of a Hindu holiday Diwali.

"Since childhood we've been celebrating and it's always been very special to us just like Christmas here in America, Diwali is for us," says Manju Nivsarkar from Plano.

Music could be heard across the parking lot of the new stadium.

Dancers lined up three stages for a string of performances.

The Festival of Lights symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

Diwali celebrates the homecoming of Lord Rama, hero of the epic poem the Ramayana. Lord Rama and wife Sita returned home along a path lit with small oil lamps.

"In India lamps shine in rows along homes on the holiday," explains Ojas Nivsarkar.

The festival brought vendors from across the country with their most colorful things. They were hoping the big crowd would mean a good day for them.

"Shows like this in my experience I can sell everything in my truck, but if the weather helps," says Amarjit Singh.

Singh just got in from Atlanta with his truck load of art work imported from India. Beautiful jewelry and booths packed with traditonal colorful clothes lined the parking lot.

There was no shortage of spicy curries and dozens of other authentic Indian dishes. When the weather got a little chilly cowboys stadium was open for tours.

"I just wanted to see the stadium to be very honest with you," explains Nivsarkar.

The festival also included fireworks, elephant and camel rides as well as cultural displays.

[brag]

Divali celebrations in New Jersey

http://guardian.co.tt/features/life/200 ... ge-turnout (http://guardian.co.tt/features/life/2009/10/15/ny-divali-draws-huge-turnout)

A crippled transit system did not prevent Caribbean nationals living as far as New Jersey from attending the Divali Nagar in Jamaica, Queens. The colourful exposition of Hindu culture in this New York community was the first for the American Sevashram Sangha.

Srad Kublall, the event organiser, stressed the importance of religion and culture to “our people in a distant land.”
Sevashram Sanga, established in 1986, is the spiritual home for many immigrants, the majority of whom are from the Caribbean. It is there that I met Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj, spiritual leader and a native of Guyana, who was a member of a religious mission to Felicity, Trinidad, in 1951. He spoke of Divali’s “inner meaning,” the “duties of life,” and “the four main religious observances.” It was only a few hours earlier that Pundit Rakesh Maharaj, formerly of the Barataria Vishnu Mandir, shared his views on Hinduism, the immigrant community, and life in the Big Apple. He was nostalgic and at the same time hopeful that this first Divali Nagar will generate greater awareness and unity of Caribbean Hindus. According to this well-known pundit, Caribbean nationals, for the most part, remain steadfast in their religious practices, but find themselves affected by the demands of New York living. And this reality continues to shape how Divali and other religious observances, such as Navratri, are performed.

“Divali here is so different. You cannot do anything really elaborate. There are major restrictions by the City and the Fire Department on how many deyas you can light,” Pundit Maharaj said. Clearly, Pundit Maharaj also missed the cultural homogeneity of Trinidad and the rest of the Caribbean. “You know how back home everyone would celebrate and light deyas, regardless of your religion and race? Well, here, you don’t have that. You don’t have your neighbours celebrating with you if you don’t share the same background.” Even preparing for a puja during this auspicious time can prove challenging.

“It’s sometimes difficult to get fresh flowers, paan (leaves) etc. Even the jhaandi—the bamboo is really a kind of Chinese bamboo that some people paint green,” Pundit Maharay added. Everything for the puja must be bought and can easily cost more than back home. Here, Caribbean nationals without the convenience of a back yard must also flock to mandirs to make their offerings. But devotees are unbowed.

At this Divali Nagar, these encumbrances took a back seat and the bounty of Divali—prosperity, peace, togetherness, health, and wealth, were sought through bhajans, dance and invocations. The universal philosophy of light over darkness resonated in every performance. As singers, dancers, and musicians went through their paces for an animated audience, the best of Indian food was served outside. The electricity of tassa music also erupted, seemingly from nowhere, as if to seal the event with that unique Caribbean touch. As Caribbean nationals continue to migrate and make this Queens district their second home, Divali and other festivities, so much a part of their religious and cultural DNA, will continue to grow. For now, there is no Maha Sabha to effectively regulate and represent the scores of Trinidad and Guyanese who manage mandirs. “There is still a lot of work to bring about unity,” Pundit Maharaj told me. But maybe some day, the light of Divali will bring about that change. Maybe then, hundreds of deyas will emblazon the sidewalks and adorn every apartment building. And maybe everyone will get into the act, as they do back home. Maybe.

[brag]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=554565

Friday 16th October, 2009

Hindus laud Obama for celebrating Diwali in White House

ANI Thursday 15th October, 2009

Nevada (US), Oct 15 : Hindus have applauded US President Barack Obama for celebrating Diwali in White House in Washington DC on Wednesday.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA), commended Obama for becoming the first US President to personally grace the occasion, which was held in the historic East Room.

Obama reportedly lit the ceremonial diya (oil lamp) amidst chanting of mantras and bowed respectfully before a Hindu priest.

Obama reportedly said on the occasion: "This coming Saturday, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, here in America and around the world, will celebrate this holiday by lighting Diyas, or lamps, which symbolize the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance... And in that spirit of celebration and contemplation, I am happy to light the White House Diya, and wish you all a Happy Diwali, and a Saal Mubarak."

"penn MASALA", world's first Hindi a-cappella group of students at the University of Pennsylvania which combines South Asian music with a Western musical style, performed. Indian mithai (sweetmeat) was distributed on the occasion, according to reports.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, in this statement, invited Obama to visit a Hindu temple in the near future and participate in arti (ceremony performed in adoration of a deity by circular movement of a lighted lamp). Zed also urged him to issue a US postal stamp marking Diwali festival.

Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

[brag]

President Obama's Diwali Message

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPm_zhx7ZEY

[grapesweetie]

Happy Diwali! :)

[Solachica]

Happy Diwali :D

[grapesweetie]

thanks Solachica..hope u have a blessed day!

[travelbug]

Shubh Divali 2009 Everyone!

Have a good day regardless of what you're doing.

[sylvestter]

happy divali to all. may light triumph over darkness in your lives, always.

[brag]

Deepavali is a festival which is designed to celebrate the suppression of the Ego by the Higher Self. Man is plunged in the darkness of ignorance and has lost the power of discrimination between the permanent and the evanescent. When the darkness of ignorance caused by Ahamkara (ego) is dispelled by the light of Divine knowledge, the effulgence of the Divine is experienced.

- Baba

[vaio]

shubh divali, may mother lakshmi's blessing shower on you :P

[snowbird]

Saltwater.......ah no yuh coming to greet everyone here.......PM the fax # so that I can send you the "Hawan" for Divali and everyday... it too long to write and I can't spell half de time...............

ah done clean the house make de chutney, cut up and peel up the veggies, sew de jhanda /i, clean de alter, did de shopping, linens clean....let's see what's left...........dat bag ah curtain sitting on de couch hav to go up, sweets hav too make, pooja thali and bedi to prepare, rangoli to design.......have tuh pick up sari slip and blouse from de other seamtress :) .......how alyuh preparations coming along.......

Lemme kno when yuh done everything so ah cud come over :lol:

Happy Diwali to all :bounce:

[simplecandice]

Happy Divali!!!

[Solachica]

Rain fall real heavy for a 5seconds. But rain is always expected on Diwali day. :lol:

My relatives said in their area had traffic jam this morning with the amt of people going to the indian grocery to buy their indian sweets. :lol:

I was reading the articles above. For summer I went to a puja in NY and they were buying everything. Mango leaf $1 for one. :lol: for the fire the pundit said if we didn't have the wood he wud have used cotton balls as he normally did, he forgot abt the mango leaf ring becos he said there he didn't really use it. Also they don't use much flowers but we had lots. Whtever we didn't use we gave it to temple since we had carried up lots of things. :lol:
Was a big prayers in their standard, abt 100 people. Didn't realise is so many people from Trini, friend and family.
But free food broght them out. Every one of them wanted food to take home, especially the chataign. :?

[Vinayaka]

Since ah wasn't here to spend it with alyuh, hope you all had a good one..... the link took place in TnT embassy in DC.... enjoy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sL6HEtnQFE

[mivs]

wait na....I was in the audience lol

[guyguy]

Deepavali is a festival which is designed to celebrate the suppression of the Ego by the Higher Self. Man is plunged in the darkness of ignorance and has lost the power of discrimination between the permanent and the evanescent. When the darkness of ignorance caused by Ahamkara (ego) is dispelled by the light of Divine knowledge, the effulgence of the Divine is experienced.

- Baba
brag,
Wey you does come up with dis dotishness? Go tell Sai Bobol that the significance of Diwali is as follows:

Significance of 'Diwali'

This festival is usually celebrated in the months of October or November every year. According to the legend 'Diwali' is celebrated for the return of Lord Rama, The King of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman to Ayodhya from his 14 year old exile or Vanvaas and after a battle in which he killed the demon king Ravana. Legend says that the people lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness. In Northern parts of India, the festival is held on the final day of the 'Vikram Calender'. The following day marks the beginning of the North Indian New Year which is called 'Annakut'.

'Diwali' is not only celebrated as a festival of celebrations of Lights, fire work and crackers, cleanliness, social gatherings to exchange greetings and sharing sweets (mithai) with our loved ones but it is also celebrated as a festival which signifies spiritualism and religious activities such as worship of Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth), worship of Lord Ganesha, worship of Goddess Kali, worship of Lord Chitragupta and worship of Govardhan Parvat (mountain). The Diwali festival is all about shopping, wearing new clothes, happiness all around and togetherness and almost one week of festivity all around. Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of the Northern parts of India. All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. A lunar half-month is 15 days. Diwali as a new-moon day, marking the last day of a 15-day period.

[brag]

We also know that birds reach heights proportionate to the power with which they can use their wings.

[guyguy]

We also know that birds reach heights proportionate to the power with which they can use their wings.Profound! Very profound. Another example of Sai Bobol's divinity?

[brag]

Another example that you do not understand what you read, as I pointed out to you before. Remember the example of fasting and disrespect?

[Vinayaka]

wait na....I was in the audience lol

Nice....lol