Deepavali

First Day of Karthika Maasa Vikram Samvat 2066

Deepavali (or Diwali in north India ) is perhaps the most important Hindu festival of the year .

It is celebrated by all hindus , Jains , sikhs etc .

Deepavali ( which means row of lights )

marks the victory of good over evil ,

the victorius return  of Lord Rama to Ayodhya , marked by lighting of thousands of lamps   ,

of the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura .

 is celebrated by lighting lots of oil lamps ,lighting fire crackers ,

wearing new clothes , eating sweets , celebrating with friends and family , and prayer .

Its a three day festival , starting with Narakachaturdasi and ending with Balipadyami .

In the north , the first day is called Dhanteras and ends with Diwali on the third day .

In many parts of south India , people wake at 4 am ( 4 am to 6 am is the auspicious Brahma Muhurta )

take an oil bath with a few drops of water added from the river Ganga

and celebrate with lights and fire crackers before dawn .

The hindus have several calendars ...

Perhaps the most important is the Vikram Samvat , which began in 57 BC

when the celebrated Emperor of India Vikramaditya defeated the Sakas .

Deepavali marks the beginning of the new year in the Vikram Samvat calendar ,

the first day of the first month of Karthika .

Businessmen open their new account books on this day with Lakshmi Puja , and pray for prosperity .

Deepavali is a day of joy , of forgiveness , of starting afresh , of hope in the future .

It is a day of gratitude to the Gods and life itself .