A brief and concise presentation about DIVALI and the significance of the four days of celebration.

1. DI VA LI

2. The word Divali means a row of lights. Divali is celebrated in fall on a New Moon day (amavashya) in the month of Kartika. It is the happiest of all Hindu festivals. Every city, town and village is cleaned and decorated with numerous little oil lamps. This festival is celebrated for five days and each day has its own significance with interesting mythological stories, legends and beliefs drawn from the various Puranas.

3. D I W A L I What Christmas is to America Diwali is to India Diwali is usually celebrated for 5 days. Diwali is celebrated in the months of October or November. Diwali means decorating the house with tiny lamps. Small earthen clay lamps are lit in and around the house to welcome the Goddess Laxmi

4. The first day is called "Dhanteras or Dhanatrayodashi". The word "dhan" means wealth. Wealth is spiritualized on this day by performing puja and praying to goddess Lakshmi in the evening. The second day is called "Narka Chaturdashi”. On this day Lord Krishna killed the demon Narkasur.

5. The third day falls on "amavasya" or no moon day and people perform "Laxmi Pooja". Mythology: Almost 5000 thousand years ago Hindu scholars noticed that at the start of the fall season, when the sun crosses the equator, the length of the day and night become equal. --------------------------- They observed that at this time the sun also crosses the constellation Libra and believed that our solar system came to a state of balance..

6. They also noticed that the pattern of the stars of the constellation Libra looked like a scale of justice held by Goddess Lakshmi. This moment when the sun crosses Libra is believed to be a very auspicious time and is used by people in India to balance their accounting books andworship Goddess Lakshmi who is not only the goddess of wealth and prosperity but also the one who maintains balance of wealth on this earth. The ritual of “Lakshmi Pooja” signifies the conversion of “Dhan” to “Lakshmi”.

7. Interestingly the Greek worshipped Libra as Astraea the Goddess of Justice. and the Romans honored Libra as Goddess Themis for the same reason.

8. The fourth day is "Varshapratipada or Padwa" which is the coronation day of King Vikramaditya. The Hindu "Vikram-Samvat" calendar also starts on this day. Hence this day is also the begining of a New Year. The fifth day, the second day of the year, is "Bhavbeej or Bhayyaduj". This day is observed as a symbol of love between brothers and sisters.

9. Wishing you a very happy DI VA LI