The festive season is here!!!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2002
The festive season is here!!!!!
8
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 12:25pm

okie I'm speaking for India and it actually started with Ganesh's B-day around the end of August (I alwways fail to remember the date as people celebrate it over several days) Early Septmeber was dedicated to Holy Mary the Virgin as her B-day was also coming, my neighbourhood is craking with fireworks almost every night, ther are drums, conqs, and bollywood hits playing all around. Tomorrow Ramadan is starting, then a few minor Hindu festivals to culmiate into Diwali and Id-Ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan) to progressivly fall into Christmas and New Year and will end with Pongal in Januray and be completely over with Holi and Easter in March April...

I used to love the End of the Year in Switzerland, but here it's even better, it's as if evrybody woke up from the heat of the Summer and the monsoon to be reborn durniong that fertile time of the year.

Sorry I had to share it, because I'm more and more getting into a very festive mood, and actually can't wait for Diwali to come :-)









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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 5:01pm

Wow!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 6:33pm

Hey, that sounds like a lot of fun, with lots to look forward to, clear through next year! :))

I'm looking forward to the UU church's Pagan Circle tomorrow night for Mabon/Fall Equinox. Then Samhain, the spiritual Wiccan New Year, on Halloween, 10/31. Thanksgiving here in November is a large family gathering for us. Some we haven't seen since Christmas/New Year last year... I'm looking forward that, and then Yule and Christmas and New Year's. :))

I like how it seems where you are, the diversity of religions and their holy days, seems harmonious and peaceful. Here there are people who put down my Wiccan holidays, that Samhain and Holloween are evil and Halloween as a secular cultural holiday, isn't allowed for kids, or school celebrations of it, and many don't seem to want to share Christmas as a wide cultural holday/festival all can enjoy. And fight over the inclusive "Happy Holidays" but insist on "Merry Christmas." I wish we had more acceptance and intermingling without resentments here. At holidays I can really feel being an outsider sometimes, in my own country. :( and to see separateness instead of good will is so sad.

I'm glad you don't have that where you live. :))

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2002
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 12:19am

I have a "cousin-in-law" living in US and she told me that celebrating Diwali in the States is really sad as she is not allowed to put "diyas" (litlle oil lamps) outside her homw and there is no fireworks (she can understant this part) so she feel terribly home sick at this time of the year.

In Switzerland it's all about Christmas, and despite the fact the school should be separated from religion, Easter and Christmas are the ONLY things celebrated in school, making my mom's best friend cringe each year as she is Jewish.
I came to discover religions can and do coexist happily when I came to India and that time of the year from September to January is so alive, people are proud of being part of their religion here and show it loud and clear.

DH and I will celebrate Diwali and Christmas as well as New Year. My dad will be there for Diwali too so I want to do it at home and show them a part of India they might not see otherwise.









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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 1:31pm

She must live in a condo or have a neighborhood association that makes the rules, as I can't think of any other reason she couldn't use little oil lamps outside in the United States!


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2002
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 2:11pm

She didn't tell me where she lives, but she said that having pumpkin lit with real candles didn't seem to be a problem.

In India you generally light hundreds of those inside and outside your house (on the door steps, on the window sills, on the terraces and balconies), the light is to guide Lakshmi the goddess of wealth and prosperity into your house (which has been completely cleaned and decluttered prior the festival), bringing Lakshmi in your house at that time of the year which for some hindus is considered the new year, guarantees you a prosperous year to come.

basically it's the festivals of new beginings, you throw out old clutter, buy new clothes, make sweet out of flour sugar and ghee (clarified butter) bringing in the goddess, good fortune and financial prosperity and start on fresh bases, light fireworks, the 5 days and diwali plus the week before and after are very very very noisy nights and sometimes makes me wonder if it might not feel the same on a war field LOL. I know in the region where DH's come from Diwali is also about celebrating the return of rama to his kingdom after 13 years of exile and the firework is a symbol of joy, while in South India the festival is said to celebrate the victory over a demon who's last whish after being defeted is that his defeat had too be celebrated with noise and light. hense the fire crakers.









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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 4:15pm

That sounds like a wonderful holiday!


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 5:51pm

Diwali sounds so cool!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2002
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 11:28pm

This year Diwali is on 21st October the date changes every year. I know it's still a month ahead, but I'm getting exited :-) and the first shop in towns are starting their Festive seasons offer and special free gifts with purchase Diwali promotions :-)

I'm starting to tackle the household budget report, a thing i pushed DH to do in an effort to see where our money goes, he is a spendrift, and the loans we had to take for that wedding are crazy, what's more I realised that DH is just writting down his expenses and not really planning anything, so i'm starting to straighten his mess and make a clearer to read account book in exel...I want to make the most out of Diwali's promises of prosperity and I believe a clear account book is as important as a clean house LOL









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