Diwali, the festival of lights

One of the most joyful and beautiful festivals to be celebrated on the Indian subcontinent is Diwali, the festival of lights. The very word Diwali conjures up the image of winking lights and flickering diyas. Not to forget the gorgeous array of sparkling colours emitted by the firecrackers that seem to awaken the night sky.
Coming close on the heels of Dussehra, Diwali is celebrated on the last day of the Gujarati calendar year, and generally comes in the months of October or November, on the English calendar. It is one of the most important Indian festivals and is celebrated on a mass scale by Indians not only in India, but also all over the world.
The story behind diwali:
It is believed that on this day Lord Rama, along with his consort Sita and loyal brother Lakshman was returning to his hometown Ayodhya after 14 long years of exile in the forest. He had just finished battling and overcoming the fierce demon king of Ceylon, Ravana, who had abducted Sita. In this battle he was ably helped by Lord Hanuman and his army of monkeys as well as an army of courageous bears.
The people of Ayodhya lit lamps in every home to welcome their true King as well as celebrate his victory over Ravana and also the safe return of their Queen Sita. They danced and made merry and lit firecrackers to express their joy over his return. And as a mark of respect and worship the festivities continue every year till this today.
As another lesser-known story goes, Lord Krishna had battled a demon called Narakasura and emerged victorious. The people of the city were overjoyed and welcomed Krishna back with lamps in their hands.
Since Rama and Krishna are two of the most popular gods in the Hindu lore, it is only logical that Diwali is celebrated with such pomp and glory.
How is diwali celebrated?
According to an ancient myth, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth travels through all our homes on Diwali night and stops to bless the homes that are shiny and sparkling clean. So as this festival approaches, all houses go through a thorough spring-cleaning in anticipation of her wealth and blessings. She will be greeted by a beautiful gaily painted Rangoli on the threshold of each home while inside too she is welcomed by an array of sparklers and little earthen lamps that light up and considerably brighten the atmosphere.
The actual festivities start from Dhanteras, which is celebrated two days before Diwali. Everybody goes out of their way to make big purchases and buy new clothes and jewellery. This is because this day is considered auspicious for wealth, and it is said that if you buy any silver or gold on this day, you will be lucky throughout the year. The goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this day through a Lakshmipujan, which is performed not only in the homes but in shops and offices as well.
But what would Diwali be without a burst of firecrackers and lights? The sound and light show starts at least a week prior to the actual festival and continues way into the New Year. Of course it reaches a crescendo on the day of Diwali itself, a day when people dress up in their best new clothes and go visiting each other, their relatives and friends with boxes of dry fruits and sweets and loads of love in their huge generous hearts.

Each day of Diwali is known by different names throughout the country.

Diwali is celebrated all over the country. Across every state, the celebrations revolve around the common theme of dispelling the darkness of ignorance and welcoming the light of knowledge. The festival is also associated with wealth and prosperity. Different regions of the country celebrate Diwali in different ways. As such, each day of Diwali often has its own unique name in a different part of the country.

First Day:

Dhanteras is the first day of Diwali. 'Dhan' refers to wealth; hence, this day is celebrated to worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. On this day, obeisance is also paid to Dhanavantri, the doctor of the Gods. This day is also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhan Teyras. Another name for the first day of Diwali is Yamadeepdan. This name is associated with Yama, the god of death. The sixteen year old son of King Hima was destined to die on this day. However, the devotion of his wife impressed Yama so much that he returned back without taking the Prince's life. On this day, earthen lamps are lit for ancestors of the family and the lamps are floated down a river or pond. Lamps are also lit at the entrance of a home. Offerings comprising of water, rice, jaggery, vermillion, and flowers are kept for Yama. In South India, this day is known as Asweyuja Bahula Thrayodasi. It is a very auspicious day and every household celebrates by buying silver or gold items. If this is not financially possible, then at least new utensils are purchased.
Second Day:

In most of northern India, the second day of Diwali is known as Choti Diwali or small Diwali. Since it is Diwali on a smaller scale, only five to seven lamps are lit and placed at the entrance of the house. A few crackers are burst as well. This day is also known as Roop Chaturdasi. Hindus perform a ritual bath and meditate in order to enhance their beauty. In connection with this, the second day is also referred to as Kali Choudas. People apply kajal (black eye liner) to the eyes in order to ward off kali nazar (evil eye). In South India, the second day is called Narkachaturdashi. It is celebrated to commemorate the death of the demon king, Narakasura. In Andhra Pradesh, this day is also known as Divvela Panduga. At the end of this day, people take a bath with oil, accompanied by the bursting of firecrackers.
Third Day :

The third day is the most important day of Diwali. This day is dedicated to the worship of goddess Lakshmi. For Jains, this day is known as Deva Diwali. On this day, homes are brightly lit, and scriptures are read in order to worship Lord Mahavir. Kashmiri Pandits celebrate this day as Sukhsuptika, which literally means sleep with happiness. Badhausar is the name given to this day in Gujarat. It is believed that on this day, goddess Lakshmi visits all homes that are brightly lit. In some south Indian states, Diwali is known as Balindra Puja. On this day, a puja is performed to Lord Krishna and an offering of oil is made. Sikhs celebrate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas. This day is celebrated as a day of freedom by the Sikhs. Sindhis celebrate Diwali as Diyari. They too perform a Lakshmi puja on this day.
Fourth Day:

The fourth day of Diwali is usually celebrated as the New Year for most Hindus and is called as Bestavarsh. It is believed that Lord Krishna gave his protection to a cowherd family in Vrindavan to save them from the anger of Lord Indra. Hence this day is also termed as Annakoot. In Karnataka, this day is celebrated as Bali Pratipada. On this day, the demon king Bali descends to the earth to visit his loyal subjects.
Fifth Day :

The fifth day of Diwali is dedicated to celebrating the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. This day is mainly known as Bhai Dooj. However, there are variations in this name depending on the different parts of the country. In Bengal, this day is called as Bhai Phota while in Maharashtra, it is known as Bhau-beej. The fifth day is also referred to as Yamadwitheya. On this day, Lord Yama visited his sister Yamuna. This is also why this day is special for brothers and sisters.

Ganesha Chaturthi

The Ganesha festival is celebrated on the fourth day of the month of Bhadrapad in the Hindu calendar. According to the Gregorian calendar, this falls between the months of August and September. Clay idols of Lord Ganesha are lovingly brought home and worshipped with great devotion. He is propitiated with great reverence particularly in the state of Maharashtra.
It was Lokmanya Tilak who realized that community celebration of religious festivals would bring people together. He introduced the tradition of celebrating the Ganesha festival in Maharashtra on such a grand scale. Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva. He is considered the most auspicious God to worship at the commencement of any occasion. He is considered to be the remover of all obstacles and hindrances that may arise in any work undertaken.
Therefore, it is a well-known custom to pay obeisance to him before one undertakes any task. That is the reason one finds Lord Ganesha's image adorning most wedding invitations. Lord Ganesha is considered to be a most benevolent God and one of the most popular. He has the head of an elephant, an animal of great stamina and intelligence. Thus, he is the Lord of great strength and intellect. He is also considered the master of all academic subjects as well as all the arts and crafts. He is usually depicted with four hands: one holds a modak, another a lotus flower, a third an axe and the fourth, a trishul.
There is the great shloka:

Vakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha.Nirvighnama kurumedeva shubhakaryeshu sarvada

When translated into English, it reads as:

"O mighty God with a trunk, your brilliance is like that of a thousand suns; free my path of all obstacles in all auspicious works that I undertake."

Every Hindu god is known by numerous names and Ganesh is no exception. What is the significance of each of these terms? 'Ganpati Bappa Morya' (O Hail Lord Ganesh!) is the raucous refrain heard in every street of Maharashtra during the festival called Ganesh Chaturthi. The famous astrologer Bejan Daruwala holds 'Lord Ganesh' to be his guiding force. 'Gajanan' is the loving name that many attach to this food-loving Hindu god. According to Hindu tradition, all the names of Ganesh are to be uttered before embarking on a task, for success. However, there is a fascinating story behind every moniker.

1. Sumukh:

This is a Sanskrit term meaning 'one with a beautiful face'. Ganesh is said to possess the beauty of the moon. His trademark long trunk indicates wisdom and intelligence, small eyes denote seriousness, and long flat ears (Deergha karma) signify that he gives equal attention to important events as well as complaints of devotees.

2. Ek Danta:

This literally means 'one with a single tooth'. Apparently, once, before taking a bath, Parvati instructed Ganesh to guard the entrance. Lord Parashuram arrived while Ganesh was standing guard. He became furious and abused Ganesh which incited him to attack Parashuram in return. The Lord returned his attack and Ganesh ended up losing one of his teeth. Thereafter, Ganesh came to be associated with the doctrine called Adwaita, which maintains that reality is non dual.

3. Kapil:

Kapil means 'of smoky grey colour';This name has a metaphorical significance. Kapila in the scriptures is a cow of this colour. A cow provides us with healthy foods like milk, ghee, curd, etc. In the same way, Ganesh is said to give us knowledge (ghee), wisdom (curd), and expression (milk). This would make us mentally healthy and devoid of any worries or negative influences.

4. Gajakarna:

The meaning of this name is 'one with ears of an elephant'. Ganesh's large ears denote that he is ever ready to listen to everyone's troubles. He, however, is said to pay no regard to useless matters such as gossip, which do not benefit mankind in any way. Devotees of Ganesh are to avoid hearing evil things, just like the god.

5. Lambodar:

It means 'one with a large stomach'. This again is a metaphoric name. Humans can be divided into two categories. Some people can digest and retain in their minds all things of goodwill. But others are unable to assimilate anything. Ganesh's huge stomach denotes a treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom.

6. Vikat:

'Vikat' means ferocious or 'to be feared': Ganesh has a fearful form as his torso is that of a human while the face is an elephant's. However, this fear is inspired merely to deter all evil forces and defeat them. It is a classic demonstration of the motto that people must be treated in the way that they themselves employ. Thus Ganesh is the lord of bravery.

7. Vighnanash:

This means 'destroyer of all evils and calamities'. A related name is 'Vinayak' which means the same. Ganesh is said to remove obstacles in the path of those who pray to him honestly. Devotees also look to him to rid their minds of fear and cowardice.

8. Dhoomra Ketu:

This means Agni (fire) or a shield of smoke. Just as Agni can destroy everything in its path, Ganesh demolishes all that hampers the philosophical and scientific progress of mind. A devotee seeks to gain strength from Lord Ganesh to achieve success in his endeavours.

9. Ganadhyaksha:

This name has two meanings. The first is 'a controller of those things that can be counted'. The other is a controller of ganas (general public), nar (men) asurs (demons), nag (snakes), and chaturveda, that is, all the four Vedas. The popular name Ganapati is a diminutive of Ganancha Adhipati, which means, controller of the entire universe.

10. Bhalchandra:

Bhalchandra means 'one who holds the moon on his head.' With the moon on his head, Lord Ganesh is said to ensure pleasure, peace, and coolness in the world. A peaceful mind doubles one's efficiency and chances of success. The moon is said to be a king of Brahmins (priestly caste of Hindus). Thus another symbolism would be that Ganesh holds with him all the knowledge of Brahma (The Creator).

11. Gajanana:

The twelfth and the last name of Ganesh means 'one with the face of an elephant'. The small eyes imply that Ganesh misses nothing and views everything critically and acutely. It also points towards a generous nature. In a book called the 'Ganapat Sambahav' it is stated that both man and elephant have longevity of 120 years. Even men can reach this limit with dedication. Thus, Ganesh is believed to have formed a link between men and elephants through his incarnation. Thus, known by any name.

"Ganesh remains as lovable and as inspiring as ever"

Makar Sankrant

The meaning and significance of Makar Sankrant - the first Hindu festival in the beginning of every year.
Come January, Come Makar Sankrant. Sankrant is the first Hindu festival of the solar calendar year, falling on January 14. It is one of the most auspicious times for the followers of the Hindu religion. This festival coincides with the Sun's northward journey (Uttarayan).

On Jan 14, the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Makar ( Capricorn). Sankrant means the movement from one zodiac sign to another. It is a special date when the day and night are of equal duration. Henceforth, the duration of the day becomes longer thereby providing a reason for celebration.
Significance and history :
Sankrant symbolizes the onset of the harvest season and the end of winter. It has been celebrated as the harvest festival right from the times of the Aryans. The Sun God, Surya, is said to turn his back on winter with his chariot of seven horses marching forward. In Mahabharata too, the auspiciousness of this period is mentioned. Bhishma Pitamaha, in spite of being wounded and lying on a bed of arrows, waits for 'Uttarayan' to set in before breathing his last. It is believed that a person who dies in this period attains 'moksha' (salvation) and escapes the cycle of birth and death.
Celebration :
There is a wide variation in the celebration of Makar Sankrant throughout India.
In Gujarat and Maharashtra, Makar Sankrant is a festival of the young and the old. In Maharashtra, all married women have a get together called 'Haldi-Kumkum' on this day. A 'puja' is offered after which women and their families exchange 'tilgud' - a sweet made out of sesame seeds as a gesture of goodwill and sisterhood. In Gujarat, kites take on a new meaning, as kite-flying fever grips everybody. The sky is dotted with kites of different shapes and colours as the fun- loving natives fly them with great enthusiasm. The spectacular symphony of colours is the best feature of this lively festival. Although tilgud and kite-flying were peculiar to celebrations in Maharashtra and Gujarat respectively, these features have become totally Indianised now. The Sankrant festival is a good example of the national integration of customs and traditions.
In Punjab, Makar Sankrant is called 'Lohri'. A family get-together around a bonfire combined with a food fiesta and `Bhangra' (a famous Punjabi dance) mark this festival. Sugarcane, rice and sweets are tossed into the bonfire as an offering to the Sun God.
In Uttar Pradesh, this period is celebrated as 'Kicheri'. Every year there is the famous Kumbh Mela at the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati. Hordes of people throng to this mela and take a dip in the holy waters to cleanse themselves of their past sins.
In the southern parts of India, Sankrant is the harvest festival 'Pongal'. The celebration of Pongal lasts for three days. On the first day, a preparation of rice boiled with milk is offered to the Rain God. On the second day, it is offered to the the Sun God and on the third day, the family cattle are given a bath and dressed with flowers, bells and colours. The cattle are honored for their hard work in the fields.

Presidents of India

Dr. Rajendra Prasad(Jan. 26,1950 - May 13, 1962)

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan(May 13, 1962 - May 13, 1967)

Dr. Zakir Hussain(May 13, 1967 - August 24, 1969)

Shri Varahagiri Venkata Giri(August 24, 1969 - August 24, 1974)

Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed(August 24, 1974 - February 11, 1977)

Shri Neelam Sanjiva Reddy(July 25, 1977 - July 25, 1982)

Shri Giani Zail Singh(July 25, 1982--July 25, 1987)

Shri R. Venkataraman(July 25, 1987- July 25, 1992)

Dr.S.D. Sharma(July 25, 1992 - July 25, 1997)

Shri K R Narayanan(July 25, 1997 - 2002)

Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam (July 25, 2002-2006)

Smt.Pratibha Devisingh Patil (2006)

Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam - was sworn in as the 11th President of India by ChiefJustice of India on July 25, 2002 in the Central Hall of Parliament.

Prime Ministers of India

Shri Jawaharlal Nehru (August 15, 1947 - May 27, 1964 )

Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri (June 9, 1964 - January 11, 1966 )

Shrimati Indira Gandhi (January 24, 1966 - March 24, 1977 )

Shri Morarji Desai (March 24, 1977 - July 28, 1979 )

Shri Charan Singh (July 28, 1979 - January 14, 1980 )

Shrimati Indira Gandhi (January 14, 1980 - October 31, 1984 )

Shri Rajiv Gandhi (October 31, 1984 - December 1, 1989 )

Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh (Dec. 2, 1989 - November 10, 1990 )

Shri Chandra Shekhar (November 10, 1990 - June 21, 1991 )

Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao (June 21, 1991 - May 16, 1996 )

Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee (May 16, 1996 - 1 June 1996 )

Shri H. D. Deve Gowda (1 June 1996 - 12 April 1997 )

Shri Inder Kumar Gujral (21 April 1997 - 19 Mar 1998 )

Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee(19 Mar 1998-mar 2004 )

Dr Manmohan Singh (2004 )


P.S:- Shri Gulzarilal Nanda was caretaker Prime Minister of India twice in 1960s.

Mahabharata

The Mahabharata,Originally Called Jaya - (victory) :

The Mahabharata, perhaps with some justification, is said to be the longest poem in the world. 100,000 stanzas strong, the epic has a story which is as relevant to the world today as it was then. and if the Greek Epics - Iliad and the Odyssey are considered to be long, then it wouldn’t be amiss to mention that the Mahabharata is eight times longer than Homer’s two epics – combined!Tradition has it that the Ramayana (see Ramayana) was written at the date much earlier than the Mahabharata. History, however, tells another tale. Polyandry was an early Aryan concept.

Further, the Ramayana talks about the southern peninsula, which had not been penetrated into in the time of the Mahabharata. The Legendary Tale of MahabharataThe story of the Mahabharata revolves around two families, the Pandavas and the Kauravas who were cousins. They were children of Dhritrashtra and Pandu, the sons of Shantanu. The Pandavas were: Yudhishtra the righteous, Bhima of prodigious strength, Arjuna the warrior and Nakula and Sahdev, the twins who were known for their good looks. There were a hundred Kaurava children, of whom the eldest was Duryodhana who along with his uncle Shakuni are the main villains of the epic.

The whole rigmarole starts when Dhritrashtra, though being the elder son, does not succeed to the throne because he is blind. Pandu does, and that makes fertile ground for future rivalries to gain ground especially when Pandu dies and Dhritrashtra becomes the regent of his children and the throne.The bitterness between the two families starts taking shape early even in school days. and as the children grow, things get progressively worse as the Kauravas repeatedly attempt to assassinate their more popular and accomplished cousins. However, that was nothing compared to the trouble that starts when the Pandavas demand their kingdom back from their uncle.

This request is turned down by Duryodhana and just as things seem to be headed for a colossal clash, Krishna the suave master strategist and statesman, intervenes and resolves the crisis. The Pandavas are given the area of the present Delhi (called Indraprastha) to rule. Tales are told of the fabulous city that Indraprastha grew into under the Pandavas. Came the day when the Kauravas decided to pay their cousins a visit, and dazzled by the city decided to get that back too.What happened next is one of the Mahabharata's most well-known and oft-played episodes which has moved many pious hearts. The Pandavas were invited to capital of the Kauravas where Yudhishtra (the head of the Pandavas) is tricked into gambling with them. Duryodhana well knew that with Shakuni, his clever uncle who was an expert at gambling, at the helm things were bound to go his way. After having lost everything in the game – including his brothers – Yudhishtra, in a bid to get back everything he has lost, bids his wife Draupadi. and loses.

In a very emotion-charged scene, Draupadi is dragged into the court by Dhushashan, Duryodhana's younger brother, and an attempt is made to strip her. Which fails. For Lord Krishna performs a miracle – her sari goes on for yards and refuses to come off. Following this, Pandavas are forced into exile and are told to wait thirteen years before they can reclaim their kingdom.Thirteen years and many adventures later, the Pandavas return and are again refused access to their kingdom. Upon which the Pandavas decide that enough is enough and a terrible war ensues. The Bhagwad Gita was expounded by Lord Krishna at the beginning of this war. In the end only one survivor, Manu, remains to keep the dynasty going.

Mahabharata A Wondrous Tale Full of Twist and Curves :

The Mahabharata is an amazing tale full of drama, scheming, jealousy, human foibles and failings. The legendary author of the epic is called Vyasa, which means the compiler so we don’t really know the real name of the writer; although it has been suggested that a whole team of Brahmins composed it under the alias of Vyasa.About his tale Vyasa is supposed to have said, 'that which cannot be found exists nowhere.'Well, as Brahma (of the Hindu Trinity of Gods) would say, tathastu (so be it).

Ramayana-Mythology story of india

Ramayana Creates The Perfect:
If the Mahabharata seems to be about normal flawed human beings with their insecurities and jealousies, the Ramayana is about Utopian ideals and lofty principles. Ramayana creates the perfect: the virtuous elder brother, the obedient, ever-devoted younger brothers and the self-sacrificing, ever-loving wife. All those who appear to be flawed in some way – like Dhashratha, the father of lord Rama, Keikeyi, the step-mother, and above all Ravana the villain – seem to have been put in the story only as examples of how-not-to-be and to enhance the goodness of the principle characters.The Legendary TaleThe central plot of the Ramayana is quite simple.
The king of Ayodhya, Dhashratha's heir apparent is Rama, the righteous man, respectful son, brave warrior, loving brother and doting husband. His brothers, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughana, were from the various other queens of the king. The king's favorite consort is Keikeyi, Bharat's mother.Things begin to swiftly fall from ideal when Keikeyi is instigated by her lady-in-waiting to ask Dhashratha to make her son Bharata the heir-apparent instead. She convinces the king to send Rama to vanvaas (exile) for 14 years. The king tries to reason with her – to no avail and in the end has to give in.Rama, being the model son, obeys his father's wish without question. However, Sita being the ideal wife and Lakshmana, being the ideal younger brother, insist on following Rama to exile.
When they are gone, Bharata returns home to find his brother gone and when he comes to know of what has gone on behind his back, he chastises his mother and refuses to accept the kingdom. He insists on following his brother to exile too and living in ascetic conditions. Then Lord Rama himself has to step in and talk him out of this – for someone has to rule the kingdom. Bharata then agrees to rule on his brother behalf.In the forests, Rama and his entourage go through several interesting experiences and insights. Disaster strikes as late as their last year in exile. In the shape of Ravana. Actually Ravana pretty much leaves them to their devices, until Shurpanakha his sister gets enamored by Rama. She tries to seduce him; however Rama rejects her and indeed gets so impatient doing this that he cuts off her nose.Stung by this, Ravana decides to take revenge and abducts Sita. Now starts the trouble.Rama, of course, decides to get his wife back. He organizes a force and attacks the capital of Ravana, called the golden Lanka.
Ravana is talked about as a brave, powerful and very wise king whose only flaw was vanity, which of course does him in, in the end. In the fierce war which ensues, Ravana is defeated and killed, along with his brothers and son. Sita returns to the fold. and then they all come back happily to Ayodhya, where Rama takes over as king again.

"Good Always Wins Over Evil"

By the way, the festival of Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya.