Diwali Celebration........Fourth Day......... Padwa & Govardhan Puja

The day following the Amavasya is "Kartik Shuddh Padwa" and it is only on this day that the King Bali would come out of Pathal Loka and rule Bhulok as per the boon given by Lord Vishnu. Hence, it is also known as "Bali Padyami". This day also marks the coronation of King Vikramaditya and Vikaram-Samvat was started from this Padwa day.

Gudi Padwa is symbolic of love and devotion between the wife and husband. On this day newly-married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals and given presents. In olden days brothers went to fetch their sisters from their in-laws home for this important day. 

Govardhan-Puja

Govardhan-Puja is also performed in the North on this day. Govardhan is a small hillock in Braj, near Mathura and on this day of Diwali people of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar build cowdung, hillocks, decorate them with flowers and then worship them. This festival is in commemoration of the lifting of Mount Govardhan by Krishna. As per Vishnu-Puran the people of Gokul used to celebrate a festival in honor of Lord Indra and worshiped him after the end of every monsoon season but one particular year the young Krishna stopped them from offering prayers to Lord Indra who in terrific anger sent a deluge to submerge Gokul.

People were afraid that the downpour was a result of their neglect of Indra. But Krishna assured them that no harm would befall them. He lifted Mount Govardhan with his little finger and sheltered men and beasts from the rain. This gave him the epithet Govardhandhari. After this, Indra accepted the supremacy of Krishna.

This day is also observed as Annakoot meaning mountain of food. Pious people keep awake the whole night and cook fifty-six or 108 different types of food for the bhog (the offering of food) to Krishna. In temples specially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the deities are given milkbath, dressed in shining attires with ornaments of dazzling diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones. After the prayers and traditional worship innumerable varieties of delicious sweets are ceremoniously raised in the form of a mountain before the deities as "Bhog" and then the devotees approach the Mountain of Food and take Prasad from it.


Krishna jinka nam, gokul jinka dham, aise Shree Krishna bhagwan ko, ham sab ka pranam, jai shree krishna.

HAPPY Govardhan Puja!!
(Compiled from Internet )

Diwali Celebrations......Third day...Lakshmi Puja..

The third day of Diwali festival is the most important one for Lakshmi-puja and is entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. On this very day sun enters his second course and passes Libra which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Despite the fact that this day falls on an amavasya day it is regarded as the most auspicious.
The day of Lakshmi-Puja falls on the dark night of Amavasya. The strains of joyous sounds of bells and drums float from the temples as man is invoking Goddess Laxmi in a wondrous holy "pouring-in" of his heart. All of a sudden that impenetrable darkness is pierced by innumerable rays of light for just a moment and the next moment a blaze of light descends down to earth from heaven as golden-footed Deep-Lakshmi alights on earth in all her celestial glory amidst chantings of Vedic hymns. 
A sublime light of knowledge dawns upon humanity and this self enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the palaces of thewealthy as well as the lowly abodes of the poor. It is believed that on this day Lakshmi walks through the green fields and loiters through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings on man for plenty and prosperity. 
Lakshmi Pooja, or the worship of the goddess of wealth, is the main event on Diwali in North and West India. It is extremely important to keep the house spotlessly clean and pure on Diwali. Goddess Lakshmi likes cleanliness, and she will visit the cleanest house first. This is also the reason why the broom is worshiped on this day with offerings of haldi and kumkum (turmeric and vermilion). Lamps are lit in the evening to welcome the goddess. They are believed to light up Her path. Lakshmi Puja consists of a combined puja of five deities: Ganesha is worshiped at the beginning of every auspicious act asVighnaharta; Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in her three forms - Mahalakshmi (the goddess of wealth and money), Mahasaraswati(the goddess of books and learning), and Mahakali; Kuber (the treasurer of the gods) is also worshiped.


A festival full of sweet childhood memories,
sky full of fireworks,
mouth full of sweets,
house full of diyas and heart full of joy.
Wishing you all a very happy Diwali!

Choti Diwali.........Narak chaturdashi.........

The day before Diwali is celebrated as Chhoti Diwali / Narak Chaturdasi or 'small Diwali'. It is Diwali on a smaller scale, with fewer lights lit and fewer crackers burst. The morning after Choti Diwali, the women of the house make beautiful, colored rangoli in the doorway and courtyard. Tiny footprints made out of rice paste are a special feature of the rangolis made for Diwali. In Hindu homes, Chhoti Diwali celebrations involve a ritual puja to Goddess Lakshmi and also to Rama in the evening. Songs in honor of the god are sung and aarti is performed. 
Legends behind Chhoti Diwali
The story goes that the demon king Narakasur ruler of Pragjyotishpur (a province to the South of Nepal) after defeating Lord Indra had snatched away the magnificent earrings of Aditi, the Mother Goddess (the ruler of Suraloka and a relative of Satyabhama, Lord Krishna's wife) and imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of the gods and saints in his harem. 
On coming to know about this, Satyabhama was enraged by Narakasura's malevolence towards women, and she appealed to Krishna to give her the golden chance to destroy Narakasura. The legend also says that Narakasura was given a curse that he would be killed by a woman. Krishna granted Satyabhama a boon to fight with Narakasura. With Krishna as the charioteer, Satyabhama entered the battle field. During the war, Krishna swooned for a while, a preordained divinely act adopted to empower Satyabhama to kill the demon. After Narakasura was beheaded, the imprisoned women were released, and Krishna accepted to marry them. 
So on the day previous to Narakachaturdashi, Lord Krishna's divine intervention led to the killing of the demon, Narakasura and liberation of the imprisoned damsels as well as recovery of the precious earrings of Aditi. As a symbol of that victory Lord Krishna smeared his forehead with the demon king's blood. Krishna returned home in the very early morning of the Narakachaturdashi day. The womenfolk massaged scented oil to his body and gave him a good bath to wash away the filth from his body. Since then the custom of taking bath before sunrise on this day has become a traditional practice specially in Maharashtra. 
It is interesting to note that Bhudevi, mother of the slain Narakasura, declared that his death should not be a day of mourning but an occasion to celebrate and rejoice. Since then, Deepavali is being celebrated by people every year with joyous celebrations with lot of fun and frolic, and fire works. 
In South India that victory of the divine over the mundane is celebrated in a very peculiar way. People wake up before sunrise prepare a paste by mixing Kumkum in oil, symbolizing blood and after breaking a bitter fruit that represents the head of the demon King that was smashed by Krishna, apply that mixture on their foreheads. Then they have an oil bath using sandalwood paste. 

In Maharashtra also, traditional early baths with oil and "Uptan" (paste) of gram flour and fragrant powders are a `must'. All through the ritual of baths, deafening sounds of crackers and fireworks are there in order that the children enjoy bathing. Afterward steamed vermicelli with milk and sugar or puffed rice with curd is served.
May D Joy, Cheer,
Mirth And Merriment Of Dis Divine Festival
Surround U Forever.
May D Happiness,
Dat Dis Season Brings,
Brighten Ur Life & Fulfills All Ur Dearest Dreams!
HAPPY DIWALI!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diwali Celebrationstarts.........

First Day..........

धनतेरस Dhan Teras falls two days before Diwali. The word “Dhan” means wealth and “Teras” means 13th day of lunar fortnight. God Yama is worshipped on this day to provide prosperity and well being.

As such this day has a great importance for the community of North & Western India . Houses and Business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colourful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli rangolee 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.

Celebrations include shopping of new clothes, jewelry, new utensils, sweets and beautiful lanterns, especially for Dhantrayodashi . On the occasion, corporate and any enterprise find it the perfect time to gift their employees. Gift hampers are marked with corporate name and logo; also used for promotional handouts.

As per a legend, when the gods and demons stirred the ocean for Amrit (the potion which makes one immortal), Dhanavantri – physician of the gods – who is also supposed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu emerged from beneath the waters carrying the jug containing the potion.

According to another legend, King Hima’s sixteen-year-old son was preordained to die on the third day following his marriage because of snakebite, according to soothsayers. On the critical day, his wife illuminated the house by lighting up numerous lamps. She took out all the ornaments and gold and silver coins piled them up at the entrance of her husband’s room. She related tales to the people gathered at their house and also sang songs through the night.

Yama (god of death) arrived at the fated time in the guise of a serpent. However, the bright lighting in the house dimmed his vision. He couldn’t sight the prince’s chamber. So he made himself comfortable by seating himself on the pile of ornaments and coins. As he sat there, he could not help, but get enchanted by the songs rendered by prince’s wife. At daybreak on the following day, he left the place with his mission unfulfilled. Thus, the wife was successful in saving her husband’s life. It became a sacred day, and Dhanteras also came to be referred as “Yamadeepdaan” . So on Dhanteras lamps are aflame throughout the night for the worship of Lord Yama.

Preparation for the Puja

- One Deepak made out of atta/clay with 4 wicks

- Wicks for the Deepak oil/ghee, matchstick

- One shell with a hole

- Flowers, roli, chawal

- Water in panchpatra and a spoon
                                                       
- Some money

- Pata & Aasan

- Kheel & batasha

- Dhoop (sambrani) & dhoop daan

- Chopda with roli, chawal for applying tikka

- Suhali, petha (shaker para)
    

Vidhi / Method of Performing the Puja

• In the evening, after seeing the star, the women of the house get together for puja. In some houses both men & women do the puja.
• The 4 wick Deepak is placed on the pata
• Oil/ghee is put in the Deepak with the Four Wicks.
• The Cowrie shell is placed on the Deepak.
• The Deepak is lit. This is referred as Yamadeep. This Deepak pleases Yamaraj and the pitars/departed ancestors of the family.
• Some water from the panchpatra is sprinkled around the Deepak, puja is performed with roli, chawal and money.
• Four suhali and little pethas are offered.
• Some people offer kheel and batasha also Dhoop is lit.
• Women performing the puja go around the Deepak four times & do pranam.
• The eldest woman of the family or unmarried girl of the house puts tilak from the roli in the chopda to everyone sitting for the puja.
• One male staff member of the house, covers his head with a cloth, takes the lit Deepak and keeps it outside on the right side of the main gate. This person is given dakshina.
• After puja, the family members do pranaam to all the elder people to them. 

 ---------Compiled from Internet

दिवाली ,.....बदलते परिपेक्ष्य में

दिवाली का  आगमन और ढेर सारी  तैयारियां.......सबसे पहले दिवाली का गृहकार्य निबंध लिखने को स्कूल से दिया जाता  था  जैसे......

" इस उद्धरण के साथ निबंध  की शुरवात होती थी..
..
" घरों का  मैल हटाने को,सफेदी से पुतवाने को :

पुराना नया बंनाने को ,अनेको साज सजाने को :

दिवाली प्यारी आई है,  दिवाली न्यारी आई है"  |

 फिर घर की सफाई , पेंट और सफेदी का सिलसिला शुरू होता था , चारो तरफ एक अलग सी महक होती थी 

समय के साथ विकसित दौर में दिवाली की तैयारियां  भी बदल गईं   ,कहाँ वो मिट्टीके दिए लाना ,रुई की बाती बनाना ,दिए भिगाना और सुखाना फिर शाम के लिए दियों को पंक्तिबद्ध करना वगैरह ........घर में नमकीन एवं मिष्ठान बनाने  में ड्यूटी लगना और जी चुराना तथा कोसना कि त्यौहार इतनी जल्दी क्यों आते हैं!!  ....फिर शुरू होता था नए कपड़ों का सिलसिला ..  दौड़ दौड़ के  दियों  को सजाते हुए रखने की जो ख़ुशी होती थी अद्भुत थी, इतना ही नहीं, पूजा के लिए भी उत्साह कम नहीं होता था | गणेश लक्ष्मी जी की मिट्टी की मूर्ति लाते  थे ..,फिर सबसे महत्वपूर्ण, पटाखे चलाना, माँ ,पिताजी और भाई  बहन के साथ.......दूसरे  दिन का उत्साह था सुबह  उठ के जले हुए दिए इकठ्ठा करना फिर उससे तराजू बना कर खेलना.......

आज की पीढ़ी  की दिवाली कितनी परिवर्तित है पर ये भी उनके लिए उतनी ही प्यारी है जैसे हमे हमारी दिवाली..

आज तकनीकी युग में छोटे छोटे बल्बों की कतारें खूबसूरती में  में चार चाँद लगाती हैं ,चांदी के गणेश लक्ष्मीजी,

सब कुछ जगमगाता है....अब तो ऑनलाइन पूजाभी चलन में है..पर सच है इन सबके पीछे भी इंसान का मस्तिष्क अगर लगा है तो निश्चय ही कहीं तो संस्कार आज भी कायम है.....इस परिवर्तन के आगे नतमस्तक होना लाजमी है.....कौन कहता है की अब वो संस्कार नहीं रहे.......ज़रूरत है सिर्फ उने अहसास दिलाने की ......जो हर  पीढ़ी का धर्म हैं .....आज भी जाम्बवंत को हनुमान का बल याद दिलाना है कुछ इस तरह . 

"कवन सो काज कठिन जग माहि,जो नहीं होत तात तुम्ह पाहि .".....अंत में आप सभी को दिवाली की हार्दिक  शुभकामनाएं!!!!!!!!!!!

Its Time To Say Good Night.......

Its time to say good night...
After the long day that was bright,
After the evening that was calm,
After the dusk that was quiet;

From dawn to dusk,the day passed,
The flowers bloomed,
The birds hammed,
The stars shone
Its time to dream.....

And its time to say Good night.............

Old vs New Generation.......

NOWADAYS THE older people and the younger population complain of generation gap and of breaking down the communication between these twos. But who is to blame? I think both go amiss now and then. 

There is a great hue and cry raised by the elders and the young both that the communication between them has broken down and they accuse each other for and bemoan this state of affairs. They attribute it to generation gap. Majority in the society carries along with this moroseness and never pauses to think the why and how of the problem.

The elders are more critical of the younger generation with a big inventory of complaints against the young and the young mostly tend to ignore the grumbling, mumbling and occasional loud protestations of the older generation. But now and then they do protest. They resent the petting attitude of the elders. 

The generation gap, however, is a deeper malady than viewed superficially. There may be the following differences between the old and the young: 

1. Of ideas on general conduct comprising dress, food habits etc.
2. Morality, marriage & career
3. Of tastes on art, music, literature, and in short total outlook.
4. Family unit breaking up and gradually losing the importance it once had. 
5. Imposition of the self-righteous attitude of the older generation on the young.
6. Biological evolutionary difference.

It is generally observed that the old behave like a frog in the well. They are fully convinced that the ideas they have had throughout their lives are the ultimate and ideal. They ignore certain vital factors that are no longer valid in the case of the modernity. There always has been generation gap since the dawn of civilization. The young have always deviated from the older standards and it was well that they did or there wouldn’t have been any progress today.