Reenita's Wisdom

The five-day-long festival of Diwali ends with the celebration of Bhai-Dooj.

This final day of Diwali cherishes the affectionate relationship between brothers and sisters. A sister prays for her brother’s longevity and in return the brother promises to protect her for life.

In Punjab, the festival is referred to as Tikka named for the mark of vermilion that a sister applies to her brother’s forehead to symbolize her affection for him. Legend tells us that this tradition was started by Yami (the sister of Yama, the Lord of Death) who prayed for her brother’s well being with the auspicious vermilion mark on his forehead. So a brother who receives a tikka from his sister will escape an untimely death.

Like many other Hindu festivals, Bhai Dooj is about family ties and social attachments. It is a time when a married sister reunites with her own family.

Other posts about Diwali that you might enjoy reading:

• Diwali – A Holiday For Children in India And All Over The World

• Diwali – Celebrating The Inner Light Of Your Soul

• Diwali, India’s Holiday Celebrating Wealth And Prosperity

• Diwali, Indian Holiday, An Opportunity for Eco Business

• Diwali, India’s Festival of Light

The Indian tradition believes in the concept of atman, an inner light of strength that resides in the individual soul. Just as each individual celebrates the birth of his physical being each year, Diwali celebrates the inner strength of the soul. One reason why the darkest night of the Krishna Paksh, (the month of the Diwali holiday) is lit with a row of lights outside each home is to remind individuals of their inner strength, one that can light up even the darkest night.

India is celebrating Diwali, a major holiday not only for Hindus, but for Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, too. Check out this beautiful picture of Diwali light in the UK Telegraph.

read more | digg story

Diwali, India’s Festival Of Light, is the largest and most important holiday for the global Indian community. Considered to be the Indian new year, it is a time when the entire family gets together to participate in wellness traditions and festivities that hark back to the days of ancient India.

Today we celebrate Laxmi Devi, the Goddess of Wealth. Legend tells us that she visits all homes that offer a prayer to her before dusk. But before the prayer can take place, the whole family prepares by spring cleaning the home and indulging themselves in an elaborate Ayurvedic oil routine. An excuse for a spa ritual? Sure, it’s what will bring prosperity into you home. After that, it’s all about the diyas or clay lamps and the sparklers to light night and the new year.

read more | digg story

A picture says so much more than words and a moving picture speaks straight to the heart. Watch this wonderful video to understand Diwali, India’s Festival of Light that celebrates wealth, happiness and prosperity. Wishing You All The Very Best for the New Year.