HINDU FASTS & FESTIVALS : 2-1.

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2. Deepavali : 1.

DEEPAVALI or Diwali means “a row of lights”.

It falls on the last two days of the dark half of Kartik (October-November).

For some it is a three-day festival.

It commences with the Dhan-Teras, on the 13th day of the dark half of Kartik, followed the next day by the Narak Chaudas, the 14th day, and by Deepavali proper on the 15th day.



There are various alleged origins attributed to this festival.

Some hold that they celebrate the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu.

In Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Kali.

It also commemorates that blessed day on which the triumphant Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.

On this day also Sri Krishna killed the demon Narakasura.


Swami Sivananda

To be continued  ....



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