TODAY’S BLOG IS VERY SPECIAL BLOG OF MY ART SUNDAY… I used to present you a pearl from treasure of India, today I will allow you the real glimps of that whole treasure ! Yes, today I am feeling very proud to say that in my country where all festivals are celebrated by every Indian including me! It doesn’t matter for us that festival is of which religion! We mainly celebrate Baisakhi & Lodhi (festivals of Sikhs.) Holi & Diwali ( festivals of Hindu religion) Eid-ul-fitr or Ramazaan ( Ramadan) & Eid-ul-zuha ( Bakri-eid) (festivals of Muslims.) Christmas, Easter, Halloween (festivals of Christians) Besides this Ganesh Utsav, Pongal, Onam, Durga-puja & Navratri are other regional celebrations with Valentine & New year too !!! You can say Indians keep celebrating one or the other celebration through out a year LOLOLOL
DIWALI OR DEEPAWALI
Now a days Diwali festival is going on here … Having all those variety of sweets & cracker busting Ahhh so much FUN…The word "Diwali" is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali. This is a compound of two words "Deepa" and "Avali". Deepa means light and Avali means row or line. Thus the literal meaning of the word is 'line of lights'. The festival marks the victory of good over evil. So Sanskrit word Deepavali means array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. The lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind .
Diwali also celebrates the return of Lord Ram, King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya from a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness. This is the reason, why the festival is celebrated a day earlier in South India since Lord Rama travelled from the south to his kingdom in the north. In North India, the festival is held on the final day of the Vikram calender. The following day marks the beginning of the North Indian new year, and is called Annakut. On the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes, share sweets and light firecrackers. The North Indian business community usually starts their financial new year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day.
RAMADAN :The Fast of Ramadan
This time Ramadan festival called Eid-ul-fitr is just after Diwali… So enjoyment is DOUBLE… Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The Month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation" It is during this month that Muslims fast. It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning. According to the Holy Quran: One may eat and drink at any time during the night “until you can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight : then keep the fast until night" Five things can destroy the good that is acquired through the fast –
- The telling of a lie
- Slander
- Denouncing someone behind his back
- A false oath
- Greed or covetousness
These are considered offensive at all times, but are most offensive during the Fast of Ramadan. During Ramadan, it is common for Muslims to go to the Masjid (Mosque) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran. In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (Night Prayer). The length of this prayer is usually 2-3 times as long as the daily prayers. Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.
On the evening of the 27th day of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of Power). It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year When the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals. In some cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan.
For Muslims, Eid ul-Fitr is a joyful celebration of the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and unity. Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but thanking God for the help and strength that they believe he gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control.
India is world's biggest democratic country having so many religions & so many cultures living together in harmony... It's an ART in itself of the humanity....!!! YES, "Humanity", the religion I follow myself & wish everybody should do the same.... HAVE A GREAT WEEK-END EVERYBODY.... I am leaving for holidays for 4-5 days...will be back & visit you all I promise!!!! HUGS.
MORE LINKS FOR DIWALI & RAMADAN OR RAMZAAN :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali
http://members.tripod.com/~jennifer_polan/diwali.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul_Fitr
( Source of all information in this blog - Internet.)
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