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From Bengal to Nepal, Happy Diwali

Where: India
October 28, 2008 at 10:30 AM | by | Comment (1)

Today marks the start of the five-day Diwali celebration, or The Festival of Lights.

The holiday has different meanings to Hindus depending on where they live, an educational site from the BBC explains. In northern India, Diwali commemorates Rama's return to India after defeating the demon king Ravana and getting his girl Sita back. In Nepal, it celebrates Krishna defeating his demon foe, Narakaasura. In Gujarat, it honors the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi.

For everyone, Diwali signifies the renewal of life. Hindus today are celebrating by waking up early to take morning baths in oil, lighting candles around their homes, feasting with family, buying fancy new clothes, exchanging sweets and setting off fireworks. Sounds like the best of Halloween, Christmas and Independence Day combined. Pardon the blasphemy, but this and the infinite chances at do-overs makes this religion quite the offer for the purely opportunistic.

Related Stories:
· Diwali 101 [BBC]
· Goddess Travel: Child Deified in Nepal [Jaunted]

[Photo: P. Malik]

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Put on your saris...

If you haven't seen "The Office"'s Diwali episode (written by a cast member who celebrates it!) you are missing out.
egw on October 29, 2008 at 7:52 AM #Permalink

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