Happy Diwali (festival of Lights) to all GSNians

[rcpilotacro]

Happy Diwali to all GSNians, May this festival bring Happiness and more RC stuff to all your lives. It is festival of lights and crackers (cracker show is something like the 4th of Jul). this is how most towns look

 

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[Bartman]

And a Happy Diwali to you too!  

It would have been nice to be in India to see the celebrations tonight (right now actually, +9.5 hours in Delhi from us on the East coast)

from wikipedia;

Diwali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights", is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year.[3][4] The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.[5][6][7] The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate and decorate their homes and offices.[8] On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity. After puja (prayers), fireworks follow,[9] then a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Diwali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.[10]

Diwali is an important festival for Hindus. The name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali vary significantly among Hindus, based on the region of India. In many parts of India,[11] the festivities start with Dhanteras, followed by Naraka Chaturdasi on second day, Diwali on the third day, Diwali Padva dedicated to wife–husband relationship on the fourth day, and festivities end with Bhau-beej dedicated to sister–brother bond on the fifth day. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra.

 

[Ohio AV8TOR]

Thanks for sharing,  who can argue with Peace, Prosperity and Happiness. Happy Diwali to you as well.  

 

[wesley.]

@rcpilotacro; I hope you and your family have a safe and happy Diwali.  Thanks for sharing I learn something new here all the time.  

 

[rcpilotacro]

Though i am a roman catholic and all, India, unlike what people feed on the tube, India is a land of varied culture, language, religion and Skin Color. It's funny, here on Holi (Festival of colors) everyone indulge in little bit of [COLOR= #800000]cannabis[/COLOR] (called Bhaang) (in the form of Pakora (Kind of lentil balls) Lassi (Beaten, thin Yogurt) ) and during Diwali we [COLOR= #800000]Gamble,[/COLOR] the whole damn night (I lost, a lot of money yesterday, normally i win) You all will be surprised to know, GRASS (yeah ! grass) grows in the wild here, except for holi i rarely have seen people plucking them (except some hard core ones prolly )

 

The myth attached to GAMBLING is they say The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Shiva and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Local folklore says that, it's lucky if you loose (that is to placate suckers like me i guess, who lost, Damn). Parvati is supposed to have said, that anybody who does not gamble on the night of Diwali, would be born as a donkey in his/her next birth! (No wonder there is a sizeable increment in the population of donkeys)

 

Cannabis or Bhang was believed to be first used  around 5000- 10000 BC . In the ancient text atharvaveda, Bhang is described as a beneficial herb that "releases anxiety". Bhang preparations were sacred to Gods, particularly Shiva. One of Shiva's epithets was "Lord of Bhang" as he is said to have discovered the transcendental properties of the mixture. so 'Grass away' ( I dont though, i am not that spritual you see )

 

Shiva Parvathi playing Dice