Happy Diwali

[ChennaiFan]

Not sure Bro.

On another topic

I attended a Diwali party last night.

The gracious host had laid out veg & non-veg for us.

One gentleman told me that its quite normal to have non-veg at such gatherings. Are things changing in India?

For us in Tamil Nadu, Diwali is today, 24th. For the pooja and prayers, we include only vegetarian food. But for the parties, we do include non-vegetarian food. This is the custom I am used to for many years.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Happy Diwali to all those celebrating.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Happy Diwali.

 

[shaz619]

Happy Diwali.

Happy Diwali mate

 

[James]

Happy Diwali to those celebrating!

 

[topspin]

Happy Diwali

 

[SalimBhai]

Happy Diwali everyone

 

[Hassan A]

Happy Diwali to All!

May this festival of lights brighten your lives with joy, peace, and prosperity. Wishing everyone a sparkling Diwali!

 

[Asad T]

Happy Diwali to those who are celebrating!

Diwali: Indians celebrate the sparkling festival of lights
Millions of Indians are celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which is one of the most important festivals in the country.

People pray, enjoy festive meals and light fireworks; sweets are distributed among neighbours and friends and a feeling of joy permeates the air.

However, the celebrations also spark concerns about air pollution, including in the national capital Delhi, as many people burst firecrackers despite state governments imposing curbs or banning the practice.

Delhi has seen an alarming rise in air pollution levels for the past week, and on most mornings and evenings the city has been enveloped by a thick layer of smog.

Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil. People light up their homes with small oil lamps called diyas and paper lanterns to signal the victory of light over darkness and joy over sadness.

People also decorate outdoor spaces with vibrant rangolis - designs made with colourful powders - to welcome guests and to bring good luck and prosperity into their homes.

The exact dates of the festival change each year and are determined by the position of the Moon, but it typically falls between October and November. This year, Diwali is being celebrated on Sunday.

In the days leading up to the festival people throng shops to buy festive garments, devotional items and gifts for family and friends. People also visit relatives and often take a box of mithai - the Hindi word for sweets - with them.

Many people also light firecrackers over several days and this affects the quality of the air. In Delhi - one of the most polluted cities in the world - the air gets particularly bad during the winter months because farmers burn stubble in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana states.

The state government has banned the sale and use of firecrackers this year, but many people flout this rule.
BBC

 

[JaDed]

Thank you guys Bandhi chor divas and Diwali- Deepavali to everyone celebrating!

 

[FearlessRoar]

Happy Diwali to all hindu community around the globe.

 

[globetrotter]

HAPPY DIWALI

 

[BouncerGuy]

25 lakh diyas lit, 1,121 people performing aarti: Ayodhya sets two Guinness World Records on Deepotsav 2024

Ayodhya saw the setting of two Guinness World Records on Wednesday during the eighth edition of Deepotsav. One record was of most people performing aarti simultaneously and the other record was the largest display of oil lamps. Over 25 lakh earthen lamps were lit and 1,121 'vedacharyas' performed the 'aarti' together.

The Deepotsav events took place on 55 ghats, including Ram ki Paidi along with the Saryu river. Drones were deployed to count the diyas that set the world record.

Pravin Patel, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, along with consultant Nischal Bharot, announced the records in Ayodhya. "With a total of 1,121, UP Tourism, District administration of Ayodhya and Saryu Aarti Samiti, you are the Guinness World Records title holder for most people performing diya rotations simultaneously. Congratulations!" Patel declared.

Regarding the second record, Patel stated, "With a total of 25,12,585, UP Tourism, Govt of UP, District Administration of Ayodhya, and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, you are the new Guinness World Records title holder for the largest display of oil lamps."

Patel said that the record for "most people performing diya rotations simultaneously" is new, requiring a minimum of 250 participants. The previous record for the largest display of oil lamps was 22,23,676, set during Deepotsav in 2023.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Ayodhya’s transformation was ‘just the beginning’ and part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the development of the heritage of Sanatan Dharma and taking it to the global stage.

"This is the first festival of lights after 500 years, after our beloved Lord Shri Ramlala has been re-installed in his grand temple. This divine and magnificent form of Shri Ayodhya Dham, illuminated with a wonderful and supernatural aura, is making all of us feel the Treta Yuga. Today Ayodhya is happy, entire India is proud. Hearty congratulations and salutations to all Ram devotees participating in 'Deepotsav 2024'! Hail Lord Ram!" Adityanath said in a post on X.

The entire city was decorated, with temples, narrow lanes, main streets, and all government and religious buildings illuminated with dazzling lights. Houses were adorned as part of the celebrations, with 500 drones, laser lights, cultural programmes, and tableaux on Ramayana added to the festivities.

Artistes from states including Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Telangana, Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Nagpur, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Chandigarh, Goa, and Odisha showcased their unique folk cultures, enriching the Deepotsav experience with diverse traditions.

Government estimates indicate that over 35 lakh lamps lit up Ayodhya. Of these, 25,12,585 lamps were placed on the 55 ghats.

SOURCE: https://www.businesstoday.in/india/...d-records-on-deepotsav-2024-452150-2024-10-31

 

[Bhaijaan]

Happy Diwali to all Sanatanis (Hindu, Sikhs, Buddhists, and other branched religions of Sanatan) in the world wherever they are and also to well wishers of Sanatan Dharma and its birth place Bharat.

Happy Diwali also to the Pakistanis and Bangladeshi friends whose forefathers are still celebrating Diwali in the heavens.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Happy Diwali to all those who are celebrating