Deepavali

Hello Friends…

We are free now – I will tell you about another joyful festival, on coming 17^th i.e. Deepavali. It comes every year in the month of Ippasi (Tamil), after 15 October to November 15. On the month’s full moon day Deepavali comes, some times a day before the full moon day it occurs.

There is a story behind why we celebrate Deepavali but I am going to talk about how we need to celebrate the festival. It is a very enjoyable festival.

The whole country of India celebrates this festival. People celebrate in their own style.

In Tamil Nadu (Chennai) first day all people fire crackers and take dinner with all the relatives or family members, the dinner includes potato, sambar, bajji’s, sweets etc.

The next day early morning i.e. on 17^th of this month, people take oil bath, wear new dress and fire lot of crackers again – boys, girls, elder ones everyone join the fun.

In Andrapradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra the first day (16^th) is Cow Pooja i.e. called Govartsya Paras, next day is much like Tamil Nadu. People make sweets and give to poor people. Some people buy jewels and some people do Gubera Pooja, Guber is the richest God according to Hindu Mythology. Sri Lakshmi Pooja is also done, they keep money as Lakshmi and do Pooja.

In Punjab they celebrate the Pooja for Guru (Vijay Diva). They decorate the Amristar temple and girls pray for their brothers long life and wealth.

In Karnataka brothers give sisters gift and sweets on next day of Deepavali.

Another thing is that the early morning snanam (bath) which is called Ganga Snanam. This will wash away all pava karmas of people. We cannot go to Ganga to take bath so we will think godess ganga and take bath in our home. We wish friends and relatives.

Now I will tell you what to do for Deepavali. Before a week or two we go to shopping to buy dresses for kids, wife and all in family. We also buy crackers.

The day before festival we do sweets at home. On D-Day people get together in their parents place and start celebrating the festival. Enjoy the morning and get the elder parent will get the pooja room clean for pooja, they will then put the new dresses in a wooden plank near the God. Everybody will have oil bath and come to the pooja. They all pray to the God and wear the new dress and start eating the things prepared for the day.

For newly married couples it is their first deepavali (called Thalai Deepavali) the son in law goes to their in laws house to celebrate deepavali, where the girls parents gift their son in law and celebrate deepavali.

This is a big pooja to enjoy and have a great get together with the whole family. Enjoy the festival.

A very happy Deepavali to you all…