Hindu festivals

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 148. Chapters: Diwali, Durga Puja, Karva Chauth, Holi, Makar Sankranti, Onam, Vijayadashami, Durga Puja in Orissa, Chhath, Raksha Bandhan, Devotthan Ekadasi, Mattu Pongal, Maha Shivaratri, Kumbh Mela, Ganesh Chaturthi, Vishu, Navratri, Ayudha Puja, Pitru Paksha, Ratha-Yatra, Ratha Saptami, Rama Navami, Mandi Shivaratri Fair, Thai Pongal, List of Hindu festivals, Guru Purnima, Kumauni Holi, Lohri, Balipratipada, Krishna Janmashtami, Thaipusam, Kartik Poornima, Aranmula Boat Race, Durga Puja 2007, Ugadi, Thrissur Pooram, Gita Jayanti, Lakshmi Puja, Sitalsasthi Carnival, Gudi Padwa, Chaturmas, Ganesh Jayanti, Vaisakhi, Makara Jyothi, Teej, Bonalu, Gadhimai festival, Kanyarkali, Anant Chaturdashi, Bathukamma, Jagaddhatri, Durga Puja 2008, Kanwar Yatra, Mahamaham, Thimithi, Ekadashi, Nag Panchami, Tihar, Kali Puja, Vasant Panchami, Golu, Shigmo, Sharad Purnima, Paryaya, Pancha Ganapati, Ambubachi Mela, Dhanteras, Harela mela, Dasain, Madikeri Dasara, Panchalinga Darshana, Shayani Ekadashi, Gowri Habba, Atla Tadde, Kanya Puja, Dhanurmas, Maiser Khana, Hulivesha, Panguni Uthiram, Bhau-beej, Maghe Sankranti, Cheti Chand, Naraka Chaturdashi, Hindola, Tiruvarur Chariot festival, Nagula Chaviti, Charak Puja, Puthur-Vela, Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi, Vat Purnima, Magh Bihu, Satyanath, Zatra, Bheemana Amavasya, Sri Narayana Jayanthi, Temple Festivals of Kerala, Maghi, Theppothsava, Gaura-purnima, Makarasankranti, Gajan, Nammoor Jatre, Govardhan Puja, Kottankulangara Festival, Ravidas Jayanti, Mitrotsavam, Makaravilakku, Thabal chongba, Onathallu or Avittathallu, Thai Poosam Kavady festival in South Africa, Gaura Festival, Thiruvathira, Ganeshotsav. Excerpt: Diwali (also spelled Devali in certain regions) or Deepavali, popularly known as the "festival of lights", is an important five-day festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, celebrated for different reasons, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. 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. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC.For Sikhs, Diwali is important because it celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, who also rescued 52 Hindu kings held captive by Mughal Emperor with him in the Gwalior Fort in 1619. Deepavali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji. The name "Diwali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" (Sanskrit: ), which translates into "row of lamps". Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas or dipas) in Sanskrit: ) 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. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali. Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, from his fourteen-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst firecrackers. 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 vanquishin...