Happy Wednesday, happy Hump day and Happy Diwali! I hope you are well and getting ready for the day ahead.
For those of you who aren't aware it is Diwali, you are not alone....
Deepavali or Diwali, popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a feel-good festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-November for different reasons. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. However, in recent times it is an occasion that is celebrated by Indians of all religions living in India and abroad. The day also has significance for other religions in India. For Sikhs, Diwali is also the celebration of Bandi Chhorh Divas (the Day of Freedom), celebrating the release from prison in 1619 of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, and 52 Hindu princes with him. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC.[1][2]
Deepavali is an official holiday in India,[3] Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore,[4] and Fiji.
A Thai historic artwork depicting the battle which took place between Rama and Ravana
The name "Diwali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvalī), which translates into "row of lamps".[5] Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas or dīpas) in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.
The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the third day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the Bali, and banished him to Patala. It is on the fourth day of Deepawali, Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went to patala and took the reins of his new kingdom in there. The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.
Rangoli, decorations made from coloured powder, is popular during Diwali
While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman).
This information was retrieved from Wikipedia. I have disabled the links so the words in blue are just words in blue font color :)
Diwali locations in Southern California:
Norwalk
Name: Diwali Dinner 2011 - Music program
Date: Friday, October 21, 2011 - 5.00pm-11:55pm
Location: Sanatan Dharma Temple, 15311 Pioneer Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650
Hosted by: Indo-American Senior Heritage (IASH)
Website: www.iashla.org
Name: Diwali Celebrations 2011 & Annual General Meeting
Date: Saturday, October 29, 2011 - 12pm-7pm
Location: Castro Valley Community Center, 18988 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546
Hosted by: Shree RamKabir Bhakta Samaj of Southern California
Website: www.bhaktasca.org
Name: Diwali Dinner & General Meeting
Date: Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 11:00am-5:30pm
Location: Hindu Matiya Patidar Samaj, 15311 Pioneer Blvd.,Norwalk, CA 90650
Hosted by: Hindu Matiya Patidar Samaj of Southern California
Website: www.matiyapatidarcenter.org
Pasadena
Name: Diwali Cultural Program
Date: Saturday, November 5, 2011 - 6:00pm
Location: Cliffton Middle School Auditorium, 226 S. Ivy Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016
Hosted by: Pasadena Hindu Temple
Website: www.pasadenahindutemple.com
Montclair (Los Angeles)
Name: Diwali 2011
Date: (to be announced)
Location: Nithyananda Vedic Temple, 9720 Central Ave, Montclair, CA 91763
Hosted by: Nithyananda Vedic Temple
Website: www.nithyanandavedictemple.org
Simi Valley
Name: Diwali 2011
Date: Sunday, October 30, 2011
Location: Simi Valley Senior Citizen Center, 3900 Avenida Simi, Simi Valley, CA 93063
Hosted by: San Fernando Valley Gujarati Association (SFVGA)
Website: www.sfvga.org
Milpitas
Name: Grand Diwali Celebration 2011
Date: (to be announced)
Location: New Heritage of India Restaurant, 167 South Main St., Milpitas, CA 95035
Hosted by: Chhattisgarh Association of North America (CHANA)
Website: www.chanagroup.org
Los Angeles
Name: AIS Diwali Night 2011
Date: (to be announced)
Location: University of Southern California, Bovard Auditorium, 3551 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089
Hosted by: The Association of Indian Students at the University of Southern California (AIS)
Website: http://www.aisusc.org/Events
Beverly Hills
Name: 5th Annual Festival of Lights - Indian New Year
Date: Friday, 21 October - Sunday, 23 October 2011
Venue: Tanzore Restaurant, 50 North La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Hosted by: Tanzore Restaurant Beverly Hills
Website: http://www.tanzore.com
