Deepavali - Diwali - Lakshmi Puja

Deepavali or Diwali - Festival of Lights or Array of Lights or Row of Lights. Deepavali is the major Indian festival celebrated by all religious people. This festival is mainly celebrated by Hindus. Deepavali is celebrated as Lakshmi Puja or Lakshmi Pooja by North Indian people. This year Deepavali festival falls on October 27, 2008 (Monday). There are so many reasons to celebrate this Diwali. Major events associated with this festival are:

Killing of Narakasura - Narakasuran a devil destructing the world who is the son of Sathyabama an incarnation of Bhumadevi (Goddess of Earth). Purana says, Lord Krishna provokes his wife Satyabhama to kill Narakasuran by pretending to be injured by the demon. Narakasuran can only be killed by his mother. Narakasuran was killed by Lord Krishna himself on the day of Chaturdasi. People celebrated this day as "Naraka Chaturdasi". Before death, Narakasuran requested a boon from his mother, that everyone should celebrate his death with colorful lights. Also he requested that on this occasion, everyone should take oil bath (Naraka Chaturdasi Snanam or Ganga Snanam), wearing new clothes and dresses, intake sweets and fire crackers.

Return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya - On this day, Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and a war between the devil Ravana and himself. People lit on the oil lamps when Lord Rama arrived Ayodhya.

Kedhara Gowri Vrata - Skanda Purana says Goddess Shakti observed 21 days of vrata to get half of the body of Lord Shiva. The completion day of this vrata is celebrated as Deepavali. Lord Shiva accepted Shakti into the left half of the form and appeared as Ardhanarishwara. Hence all the women in India believe this Kedhara Gauri Vrata in order to get half of the rights from their husbands.

Wish You A Very Happy Deepavali - Diwali 2008

Vijayadasami symbolizes the day of victory

Maha Ambe

Vijayadasami is the final day of Navratri festival. It will be on Thursday, October 09, 2008. Vijayadasami is celebrated as the day of victory, because if any work starts on this day, that will be achieved. The story behind this is Goddess Durga Devi, Lakshmi Devi and Saraswathi Devi combined into one form and incarnate as Lord Mahisasuramardhini to destroy the devil Mahisasuran, Purana says. Also, the world famous Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata specify the importance of this day. Lord Rama defeat and destroy Ravana on this day to protect his wife from him. The Mahabharata war also come to an end on this day, Pandavas killed the Gouravas. Such an important occasion is this Vijayadasami. Hence the people believe that when they start the education of their children on this day, the children become well-versed in life. So everybody be happy and enjoy your life on this occasion.

Saraswathi Pooja - Ayudha Pooja - Durga Pooja

Saraswathi Pooja and Ayudha Pooja

Saraswathi - God of Spiritual Knowledge and Intelligence sit in white lotus. Goddess Saraswathi is the wife of Lord Brahma, who is the creator of the whole universe and one of the divine deity of Trimurti. During Navratri Festival, Saraswathi Devi is worshipped by all devotees on the last three days of Navratri. The nineth day is celebrated as Saraswathi Pooja and Ayudha Pooja in South India. This year, Saraswathi Pooja and Ayudha Pooja is on Wednesday, October 08, 2008. There is a specific shrine for Goddess Saraswathi Devi in Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple which is at the outer Pragaram of Lord Shiva's shrine. Special Pujas and Aaradhanas are perfomed to this deity on the Saraswathi Pooja festival occasion. Another important thing on this day is the Ayudha Pooja. All Educational institutions, Automobile shops and other companies will be perfomed Pooja on this day. At every home, Saraswathi Pooja is celebrating very grandly with various fruits and sweets. Similarly, in the north zone of India the festival is celebrated as Durga Pooja or Durga Puja.


Koothanoor Saraswathi

Koothanoor is an abode and dedicated temple to Goddess Saraswathi Devi. Generally there are no specific temples on the earth for Lord Brahma, since he tell lies he was cursed, Purana says. But the Goddess Saraswathi has a temple on the earth called as Koothanoor. The Purana says that Goddess Saraswathi Devi appears here to give divine blessings and grace to a dumb person who is later called as "Ottakoothar". Goddess Saraswathi Devi is performed by various Abhishekams and Deepa Aaradhanas on the Saraswathi Pooja festival occasion. Thousands of devotees visit Koothanoor on this festive occasion.

Saraswathi Maha Mantra

Saraswathi Namasthubyam Varade Kamarubini
Vidhyaarambam Karisyami Siddhir Bhavatume Sadha!

Chant this Maha Mantra on this festive occasion and get the plenty of divine grace of Goddess Saraswathi Devi.