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Re: Arsham 32- Festivals of India - Deepavali

From the Bhakti List Archives

Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan • November 6, 1999 


Some more information on deepavali. Incidentally, deepa means lights and 
avali means 'a row'

In some parts of the north (in India)Deepavali is celebrated as a five-day 
event.

Day 1:  DhantEras or DhantrayOdashi.  This day is observed as 'Yamadeepdaan' 
and lamps are kept burning throughout the night of trayOdashi (2 days prior 
to Amavasya.  There is a story how a pativratA saved her husband's life from 
the wrath of Yama by lighting lamps and keeping vigil through out the night.

Day 2: Naraka Chaturdasi Chotta Divali

Day 3: Lakshmi-Puja on AmAvAsya

Day-4: Annakoot or Goverdhan Puja (more prevalent in GujarAt).  This is the 
day when Krishna protected His people by lifting the Goverdhan mountain.  
'Chappan Bhog' or 56 items without the use of water are prepared for Lord 
Krishna and offered to Him.

Day-5  Bhaiya Dhuj. Brothers go their sisters' house and celebrate this day 
as an expression of their love and affection

Vijayaraghavan
Buffalo, NY





>From: Mani Varadarajan 
>To: bhakti@lists.best.com
>Subject: Re: Arsham 32- Festivals of India - Deepavali
>Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 18:58:14 -0800 (PST)
>
>
>Two days after Naraka Chaturdasi is known as Bali Paadyami
>(prathama). This is also reckoned as part of Deepavali in
>Karnataka and perhaps other regions of India.  The story
>behind this is that it is believed that on this day Bali,
>the grandson of Prahlada, was pushed into the earth by the
>third step of Trivikrama.
>
>For this reason, Deepavali is a three day event for many
>in Karnataka.
>
>ramanuja dasan,
>Mani
>


S. Vijayaraghavan
Buffalo/NY

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