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

Navratri Kolu Festival 2008 - Durga Puja - Dandia

Navratri Festival - Festival of Nine Nights (Nav - Nine Ratri - Night) often referred to as "Navratri Kolu Festival" major festival of Hindus celebrated by South Indian People. This festival is celebrated as "Durga Puja", "Dandia", "Dusshera or Dassera" by North Indian People. At Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, this festival is celebrating splendidly nine days every year. This year Navratri Kolu Festival begins on 30 September 2008 and ends on 9 October 2008.

Navratri Kolu Festival - Festival of Dolls. In the Second Pragaram of Meenakshi Amman Temple, the left side is fully decorated with color lights and various dolls and on the right side so many vahanas referred as vehicles carrying God and Goddess during festivals or utsavams are standed. Apart from this the whole Meenakshi Amman Temple towers (Gopurams) and Golden Lotus Tank are illuminated with color lights which looks like the heaven in the earth.

Significance of Navratri:

1st day to 3rd day of Navratri - Dedicated to Durga Matha (Durga Puja), Goddess of Power and Energy
4th day t0 6th day of Navratri - Dedicated to Lakshmi Matha (Lakshmi Pooja), Goddess of Wealth
7th day to 9th day of Navratri - Dedicated to Saraswati Matha (Saraswathi Puja), Goddess of Knowledge and Intelligence
10th day - Vijayadasami, symbol of victory. On this occasion, Lord Rama killed Ravana. Goddess Durga killed the devil (Asura) Mahisasuran. Hence, most of the people wish to start the education of their children on this day which would bring the brainpower and knowledge.