Diwali, Jaipur, Rajasthan,
India
Diwali is celebrated over a five-day period from the 13th day of the dark half
of the Hindu month Ashwina to the 2nd day of the light half of Karttika (late Oct
/ early Nov). Derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, or row of lights, the
festival is observed with particular enthusiasm by members of the merchant
communities and honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth (in Bengal the goddess
Kali is worshipped. More on that
here). During the festival, small earthenware lamps filled with
oil are lighted and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and
set adrift on rivers and streams. This commemorates the return of Rama (an
incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu) to Ayodhya and his coronation as king after
14 years in exile. The fourth day-the main
Diwali festival day-also marks the
beginning of the new year according to the Vikrama calendar. Merchants perform
religious ceremonies and open new account books.
Diwali is a time for visiting, exchanging gifts, decorating houses, bursting
firecrackers, feasting, and wearing new clothes. Gambling is encouraged in this
season, [ostensibly] to invite good luck for the year ahead and in remembrance
of Lord Shiva and Parvati's games of dice on Mount Kailasa.
Diwali is also an
important festival among members of the Jain community, many of whom belong to
the merchant class. For the Jains, the day commemorates the passing into Nirvana
of Mahavira, the most recent of the Jain Tirthankaras, or saints. The lighting
of the lamps is explained as a material substitute for the light of holy
knowledge that was extinguished with Mahavira's passing.
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Diwali 2006 |
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Fireworks
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C-Scheme
neighborhood
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SMS Stadium
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Rajmandir
cinema hall
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Johri Bazaar (LMB)
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Nehru Bazaar
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MI Road
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Paanch Batti
square
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"Gold Palace"
store
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Mini Taj
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Pyramids of
Egypt
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Leaning Tower
of Pisa
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Statue of
Liberty
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Anaar
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Puja shrine at
home
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Diwali puja
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Patakhas (inside)
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Spinning top
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More coming soon... |
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Diwali 2004 |
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Paanch Batti
square
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Johri Bazaar
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Jewelry shop
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Laxmi Misthan
Bhandaar
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Birla temple
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Mall 21
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Chandpol
market
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Street
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Nehru Bazaar
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C-Scheme
neighborhood
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Rajmandir
cinema hall
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Sangaaneri
gate
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Earthenware
oil lamps
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Festival
shrine at home
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Beaming Ms. in
new clothes
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Family &
friends
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Firecracker
shop
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Firecrackers
...
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or patakhas
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Marketing
laris
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Firecrackers
... 1
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2
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3
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4
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Fireworks ...
1
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2
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3
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4
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Flare
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Mithai shop
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Menu
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Yummy?!
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