Friday 5 November 2010

Happy Diwali!

Today is the first day of Diwali, the 5-day Festival of Lights sacred to the Hindu, Sikh and Jain spiritual traditions. The lighting of small oil lamps represents the triumph of good over evil and our emergence from spiritual darkness into the light. This festival also celebrates the inner light of all people.

Many Gods and Goddesses are celebrated during Diwali but two Goddesses in particular are honoured. First of all -- Lakshmi, the Goddess of Abundance, She who gives all the good things of life which money both can and cannot buy. May She smile upon all of us and shower us with Her blessings!

And then Kali is honoured -- She who cuts through all Illusion, She who is Inexorable Time and Change. May She smile upon all of us and shower us with Her blessings! Kali Ma, You rule us all.


[Diwali lamps photo by Rohit Saxena (dhondusaxena). Kali photo by Piyal Kundu.]

25 comments:

Elena said...

Okay this will sound ignorant. I hadn't heard of Diwali and it sounds beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Coming from someone just learning of the beautiful practices around the world. Happy Diwali to you!

Anita said...

A happy Diwali to you as well!

Stella Seaspirit said...

Hi Debra, interesting that it coincides with Dark Moon in Scorpio today and then New Moon in Scorpio tomorrow ~ just posted about that!

Suzie Ridler said...

Fascinating! I had no idea this festival existed and yet on my personal blog I wrote about fire and warmth today. Thank you so much for this! I love the idea of this festival.

Snap said...

I LOVE Diwali. Such a fun time for all my HIndu friends.

Kali on....... ;D ;D ;D

Mother Moon said...

A Happy Diwali to you as well... and thank you for sharing as like Elena I did not know... it is always good to learn something new... beautiful photo of the oil lamps

Wendy said...

I think this is such a beautiful festival. And very interesting what Stella had to say. Kali will be flying around that's for sure. Wishing you, your rare one and of course "Your Royal Highness" much beauty and light.

Jim said...

Thank you Debra and to you too. May you receive the blessings of this day.
Jim

SUZY8-TRACK said...

Happy Diwali! Mmm...I'm getting hungry for a samosa right about now!

Jeanne said...

I was just reading about Diwali yesterday. {hhmmm...great minds and all that...}

Happy Diwali to you and yours!

My Grama's Soul said...

Thanks for sharing this.....I always learn something new when I stop by.

Xo

Jo

mxtodis123 said...

It's such a wonderful festival. I have a friend who is over there celebrating right now.
Mary

laughingwolf said...

great stuff, deb... hope diwali lights your life!

Chris 'Frog Queen' Davis said...

I just love this holiday! Something about all the lights in the fall that makes me smile.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers!

brandi said...

~and may you and yours be blessed as well...will have to bit more reading about this here celebration! thank you for sharing...warm wishes and brightest blessings~

yellowdoggranny said...

my friend shady lane sends me a Diwali card every year...

Mystica said...

In my country we call it Deepavali - same festival and same good wishes to you as well!

Makropoulos said...

Nice. . . thanks! And you have a happy Diwali too!

BelladonnasJoy said...

So beautiful! I love your post and I am touched by it. Thank you for sharing and I love the pictures.
Happy Diwali.

Cindy said...

Happy Diwali, I found this very interesting. have a great weekend.

Natasha said...

Happy Diwali, Debra. I remember it was a photograph of Lakshmi that first drew me to your blog last year.

And Kali is one incredible lady, isn't she?

Laura said...

may we indeed all be blessed and recognize our own inner light shining and cutting though the thick darkness of difficult nights.

fromsophiesview said...

I am learning so much...Happy Diwali to you and all!

Magaly Guerrero said...

How wonderful! I have a special type of affection for Kali. I've always been attracted to her energy and I think you've inspired me to pay a bit more attention to what it might mean. Maybe I'll celebrate Diwali next year...

Thanks for sharing, luv.

Unknown said...

Many Diwali blessings to you and yours Debra. My sons made little candle holders for Diwali at school - wonderful idea :-)