\n NHSF (UK) Learning Team<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
The Diwali period includes a series of 8 joyful festivals. These festivals are:<\/p>\n
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- \u2018Ramaa Ekadashi\u2019<\/i> \u2013 31<\/span>st<\/span> October 2013 (<\/span>11th<\/sup> Aashwin<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n
- \u2018<\/span>Govatsa Dwadashi\u2019<\/i> or <\/span>\u2018Vagh Baaras\u2019 <\/i>\u2013 31<\/span>st<\/span> October 2013 (<\/span>12th<\/sup> Aashwin<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n
- \u2018Dhan Trayodhashi\u2019 <\/i>or <\/span>\u2018Dhan Teras\u2019<\/i> \u2013 1<\/span>st<\/sup> November 2013 (<\/span>13th<\/sup> Aashwin<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n
- \u2018Kali Chaudash\u2019<\/i> \u2013 2<\/span>nd<\/sup> November 2013 (<\/span>14th<\/sup> Aashwin<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n
- \u2018Diwali\u2019<\/i> \u2013 3<\/span>rd<\/sup> November 2013 (<\/span>15th<\/sup> Aashwin<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n
- \u2018New Year\/ Nutan Varsh\u2019<\/i> (Gujarat) \u2013 4<\/span>th<\/sup> November 2013 (<\/span>1st<\/sup> Kartik<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n
- \u2018Bhai-Dhuj\u2019<\/i> or \u2018<\/span>Bhai Beej\u2019 <\/i>\u2013 5<\/span>th <\/sup>November 2013 (<\/span>2nd<\/sup> Kartik<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n
- \u2018Labh Pancham\u2019<\/i> \u2013 7<\/span>th<\/sup> November 2013 (<\/span>5th<\/sup> Kartik<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Deepavali<\/span><\/p>\n
3rd<\/sup> November 2013 (15th<\/sup> Aashwin)<\/i><\/p>\n
Deepavali, also known as Diwali is commonly called the festival of lights. If there is one occasion which is joy and jubilation for one and all, it is Deepavali.<\/p>\n
Origin<\/h3>\n
There are five origins to the auspicious celebrations leading up to and including Diwali:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Lord Prthu extracted goodness from the Earth<\/span><\/li>\n
- During the Samudra Manthan, the Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean<\/span><\/li>\n
- Lord Krishna vanquished Narakasura, releasing people from misery<\/span><\/li>\n
- Lord Ramachandra returned to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana in Lanka, ending 14 years of exile<\/span><\/li>\n
- The Pandavas returned from their forest exile<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Before Diwali<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"Diwali](\"http:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Diwali-2013-Part-2-2-206x300.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nOn the first day of the celebrations, \u2018Vagh Baaras<\/i>\u2019 or \u2018Govatsa Dwadashi<\/i>\u2019, the cow and calf are offered worship because of their sacred position in Hinduism. King Prthu was a pious King and the son of an evil tyrant, King Venu. After years of torment, the Earth inflicted grave famine on the people, and King Prthu chased after Mother Earth, which metaphorically assumed the form of a cow, to protect his people from death and starvation. After negotiating with Her, King Prthu milked the cow, and thus Mother Earth granted us Her grains, water and other earthly valuables. This story can be found in the Bhagavatam, and explains the significance of the cow as a life sustaining form of the Earth.<\/p>\n
On the next day, the emergence of the Goddess Lakshmi, the bestower of virtue, wealth and prosperity during the churning of the ocean is celebrated as \u2018Dhan teras<\/i>\u2019.<\/p>\n
This is followed by \u2018Kali Chaudas<\/i>\u2019 when the demon Narakasura was slain by Lord Krishna. The demon King of Assam in the East, Narakasura had stolen many celestial and divine objects. After imploring Krishna, the Gods had their prayers answered as Krishna attacked and defeated the demon, marching from Dwarka (Gujarat) in the West. Lord Rama was exiled from the North and defeated Ravana in the South, and so it can be seen that together they symbolise the unification of our motherland, Bharat.<\/p>\n
- During the Samudra Manthan, the Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean<\/span><\/li>\n
- \u2018<\/span>Govatsa Dwadashi\u2019<\/i> or <\/span>\u2018Vagh Baaras\u2019 <\/i>\u2013 31<\/span>st<\/span> October 2013 (<\/span>12th<\/sup> Aashwin<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n
![\"Diwali](\"http:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Diwali-2013-Part-2-1.jpg\")
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