Diwali is popularly known as the
“festival of lights”, the most significant spiritual meaning is “the awareness
of the inner light”. Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is
something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and
eternal, called the Atman. The celebration of Diwali as the “victory of good
over evil” The word “Diwali” is a contraction of a word translating to “row of
lamps,” as the holiday involves the lighting of small clay lamps to symbolize
the victory of good over evil. Firecrackers are burst and, during the festival,
all those celebrating wear new clothes and share sweets with family and
friends.
The word “Diwali” is a contraction
of a word translating to “row of lamps,” as the holiday involves the lighting
of small clay lamps to symbolize the victory of good over evil. Firecrackers
are burst and, during the festival, all those celebrating wear new clothes and
share sweets with family and friends.
There
are infinitely more worldwide celebrations that you may not have ever heard of,
but taking time to learn about just a few more when possible could be
invaluable to gaining a better understanding of the world. Keeping that in
mind, hopefully now you can extend your holiday season even longer!
As crowds and colourful elephants,
camels and horses traverse the streets, Lakshmi Sharath understands the scale
of the Teej Festival
Celebrated all around the world,
Christmas falls on December 25th each year to celebrate the birth of Jesus
Christ. The word “Christmas” literally means “Christ’s Mass,” and is a feast
central to the Christian liturgical year. Furthermore, it is a civil holiday in
many of the world’s nations and an integral part of the Christmas and holiday
season. Celebratory decorations typically include “decking the halls” with
holm, ivy, and other greens, and nativity scenes are popular in several
countries. And of course, a Christmas tree decorated with lights and ornaments
is usually a staple to the house, particularly in the United States.
Ganesha
Chaturthi is the most democratic festival in
spirit. Every community – caste, religion, region notwithstanding, comes
together to welcome Mumbai’s reigning deity. The songs typically start with the
standard and very catchy “Tujhko phir se jalwa dikhana hi hoga, agle
baras aana hai aana hi hoga,” the musical
version of the Marathi phrase,“Ganpati Bappa Morya! Pudhchya
Varshi Lavkar Yaa!” asking Lord
Ganesha to return every
year.
The Shivaratri festival is celebrated
every year in Kathmandu in reverence of Lord Shiva with offerings of Bel leaves
and fasting for the day and night during a long vigil. This festival is centred
on the Pashupati Temple complex located on the Bagmati river not far away from
the international airport. This area is crowded with pilgrims from Nepal and
India as well as many holy men (or saddhus) who walk around naked with their
bodies smeared with ash. A ritual among Saddhus is to smoke marijuana in
worship of Lord Shiva and certainly lots of this drug is smoked during
Shivaratri.
Holi is celebrated with fun and joy
where revellers normally hold a bonfire, throw coloured powder at each other
and celebrate wildly. The reason for using coloured powder is to take away
sorrow and sadness and literally bring colour into everyone’s lives. People
sometimes throw water balloons from roof tops of buildings so be aware if you
are walking in the streets below! It is certainly a good idea to wear old
clothes ones you do not mind being covered in coloured powder and getting wet.
Dussehra, also known as
Vijayadashmi, is a major Indian festival celebrated on the tenth day of Ashvin
month according to the Hindu calendar. This day falls in the month of September
or October. The day culminates a 9 day fasting period of Navratri in the Hindu
culture. The day also coincides with immersion of the idol of Goddess Durga.
The day is celebrated to commemorate the killing of Ravana by Lord Rama. The
day also celebrates the killing of demon Mahishasur by Goddess Durga. Dussehra
celebration spreads the message of the victory of good over sin.
This is how we Indians celebrate no
caste no creed just unity!!!
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