Deepavali or diwali (festival of light )Deep(light) + avali ( a row of ) Involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas

or dipas) filled with oil.Celebrated between mid october and mid

december for difference reasonTo commemorate the story of rama and sita.Means the triumph of good over evil.These lamps are kept on during the night and

one‟s house is cleaned, in order to make the goddess lakshmi feel welcome.

The celebration of Diwali last for four to five Days

Each day has its own ideologies and special thoughts

The five days: 1st day: Dhanteras 2nd day: Choti Diwali 3rd day: Lakshmi Pooja 4th day: Padwa & Govardhan Pooja 5th day: Bhai Duj

Also known as; Dhantrayodashi (seek blessing of Goddess Lakshmi)

Falls on 13th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Kartik (Oct – Nov)

“Dhan” = wealth

A Diwali eve

Lakshmi is worshipped to provide prosperity & well-being

Observe a fast – broken only after sunset with sweetmeats, puri & other delicacies.

In villages – cattle are adorned & worshipped by farmers

In South India – cows are offered special veneration and they are adorned & worshipped on this day

Story of Yamadeepdan

houses & business premises are renovated & decorated

Entrances are made with motifs of Rangoli designs

small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermillion powder all over the houses

Lamps are kept burning all through the nights

HISTORYNarak ChaturdashiWorshipping Kali, goddess of

strengthSpecial emphasis

• Defeating Lord Indra• Snatched Aditi, the Mother Goddess• Imprisoned 16000 daughters of Gods and saints in his harem

• Lord Krishna killed the demon before Choti Diwali• Liberated the women• Recovering the Aditi

• Lord Krishna smeared his forehead with demon‟s blood• Back home in wee hours of Narak Chaturdashi

• Womenfolk scented oil on the Lord‟s body and gave him a special bath

• Then, the custom of taking bath before sunrise on NarakChaturdashi began

Wake up early in the morning, break bitter fruit, apply „ubtan‟ (kumkum oil paste) and take bath

Lighten the diyas and candle in the evening and burst the crackers (mark the celebration)

Badi DiwaliMain day of Diwali15th of the lunar month

Goddess of wealthy and generosityWorship to acquire/preserve

wealth“Iswarigm Sarva Bhootanam”-

supreme goddess (Sri Vaishnava)

Put small oil lamps outside homes and hope Lakshmi will comes and gives blessingLamps are lit in the eveningDraw Rangoli at the doorstepLakshmi only goes to the clean

house and hardworking people

Celebrated on a day after Deepavali

GUDI PADWA-celebrated as a symbol of love and affection between husband and wife.

THE CELEBRATION OF GUDI PADWAExchanged of gifts between married couple

Parents will invite married daughter and son-in-law for a special meal and giving them gifts

GOVARDHAN PUJA-celebrated to commeratethe lifting of mount Govardhan by Lord Krishna

Lord Inda(god of rain) was so angry,thenhe sent a deluge to submerge the village called Gokul

Lord Krishna,lifted the amount of Govardhan,so that the villagers could take shelter under it and save from the torrential rain

Lord Indra accept the supremacy of Lord Krishna

Also celebrated as “Annakoot”People will stay awake for the whole night

and cook 56 or 108 different type of foods as “Chappan Bhog” to offered to Lord Krishna

Deities are given milk bath and dressed in shining attires

People start to raise various of sweets in shape of mountain

Devotees can take Prasad from the mountain of sweets

Celebrated on a day after Deepavali

Other names: Yamadwitheya Bhai Foto Bhai Tika

Celebrated to: cultivate the love between brothers and

sisters spirit of love and togetherness

According to religious scriptures Yamaraj, the God of Death went to visit his sister‟s house

His sister,Yami was happy to see him and welcomed him by putting an auspicious mark on his forehead for his welfare

Yami and Yamraj then shared a meal

He proclaimed that every year on the dumday,if a sister puts a tilak on her brother‟s forehead,then no one can harm her brother

Sister pray for their well-being and prosperity of their brother

Sister put tilak on forehead of their brothers

Brothers in return give gifts to their sisters as a taken of love

Hindu Muslim

No right to divorce husband Has the same right as the

muslim man

Has no property or

inheritance

Enjoys property or

inheritance

Choice of partner limited Choice of partner unlimited

Family of the girl has offer

enormous dowry

Dowry is a gift from husband

Commit sati Encouraged to remarry

Cannot remarry Mixed marriage is encouraged

Considered to be a curse and

cannot be seen in public

Given highest form of respect