India is a land of fairs and festivals. Many festivals are celebrated in India, regularly every year. Holi, Diwali, Dussehra and Raksha Bandhan are the four great Hindu festivals. Though Diwali is celebrated by all the Hindus, it has a special significance for the Vaish community.

The festival is celebrated at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the winter season. Sometimes, it takes place towards the end of October and at other times in the November. According to Hindu calendar, it falls every year in the month of Kartik. The season at this time is pleasant. It is neither hot not too cold.

The festival is celebrated in honour of the goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. It is believed that the goddess blesses those with prosperity, who keeps their houses neat and clean on this day. The goddess is supposed to visit the Hindu homes at midnight. The Jains also celebrated the festival with great enthusiasm because it was on this day that Lord Mahavira achieved Nirvan.

The day before the festival great preparations are made. Houses are white-washed and well-cleaned. Furniture, doors and windows are all polished and varnished. The walls are decorated with curtains and pictures. Buntings and festoons are specially prepared for the occasion and are hung at places. In every house sweets are prepared or purchased from the market. Sweets are exchanged among friends and relatives.

The day itself is marked with great rejoicing and merry-making. The work 'Diwali' is derived from the Sanskrit work "Deepawali" which means a "row of light". The illumination at night is a sight to see. There are rows of light to be seen on the roof of every house building. Earthen lamps are lighted in large numbers. Many people now use multicolored electric bulbs to illuminate their houses. The festival ends with the worship of goddess Lakshmi at about ten or eleven p.m. A picture or a small idol of the goddess is bathed in milk, prayers are offered, and sweets are distributed.

The Hindu festival of light has many advantages. Houses are all cleaned and white-washed on this occasion. The burning of sarson (mustard) oil purifies the atmosphere and kills insects that breed during the rainy season. It provides an occasion for merry-making for all. The children specially enjoy it. They get toys, sweets and delicious dishes to eat. As sweets are exchanged on this occasion, the festival also serves to increase mutual love among friends and relatives.

The festival also has certain disadvantages. Sometimes, owing to neglect, or forgetfulness, fire breaks out and much damage is caused to life and property. It is also traditional to gamble on this occasion. Some people suffer heavy losses. In fact, gambling starts several days before the festival. Those who lose, especially among the poorer sections, try to make good their loss through thefts. Hence, there is a marked increase in crime.

In spite of these drawbacks, I like this festival the most of all. Foreigners, who have had occasion to enjoy it, have also praised it highly. There is nothing to equal it in any country or religion.

Diwali is celebrated for five days (six days in some regions):

1. The first day of Diwali: Dhanteras
2. The second day of Diwali: Choti Diwali
3. The third day of Diwali: Lakshmi Puja on Diwali
4. The fourth day of Diwali: Padwa & Govardhan Puja
5. The fifth day of Diwali: Bhai Duj

India being a country with diverse culture, the number of days of Diwali celebration may differ from region to region.

5 November 1972 was the date of Diwali according to Deepavali.net

Diwali falls on the new moon night (Amavasya) between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali is celebrated for five days according to the lunisolar. It begins in late Ashvin (between September and October) and ends in early Kartika (between October and November).

30 October 1940 was the date of Diwali according to Deepavali.net

Diwali falls on the new moon night (Amavasya) between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali is celebrated for five days according to the lunisolar. It begins in late Ashvin (between September and October) and ends in early Kartika (between October and November).

12 November 1985 was the date of Diwali according to Deepavali.net

Diwali falls on the new moon night (Amavasya) between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali is celebrated for five days according to the lunisolar. It begins in late Ashvin (between September and October) and ends in early Kartika (between October and November).

Diwali pooja muhurta year 2013 and how to do pooja on diwali

Pradosh kaal - 05:35- 08:14. Time from 06:15PM - 08:09 PM is also recommended.
Shubh chaughadiyan - 05:35 -07:14 PM After that till 08:54 PM Amrit Chaughadiyan will be there.

Nishith kaal - 08:14 PM - 10:53 PM (From 08:09 PM to 10:23 Gemini Ascendent, After that till 00:46 Cancer ascendent will be there)
Char Chaughadiyan - 08:54 PM - 10:33 PM. In this time chanting of mantra will be beneficial. after this time Chaghardiya time is not favorable.

Maha Nisheeth kaal - 10:53 PM - 01:32 AM, Mahalaxmi poojan one must do before 10:33 PM.

Your guide to perform laxmi puja the most important aspect of the festival on Diwali

Preaparation-

First and foremost step is to clean the house. Through the puja we are inviting Goddess Lakshmi to our house and she likes everything to be neat and clean. Make a rangoli on front door at least. Offer few clay diyas in temple than lighten your house and start the puja.

Important Items Needed For Lakshmi Puja-

Kalash, Mango leaves, nariyal gari ( peeled coconut )

Idol or picture of Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesha, Shivling and Shri Yantra if you have

Milk, curd, honey, ghee, gangajal for Panchamrat

raw rice, dry fruits, ), incense sticks (agarbattis), vermilion (kumkum),

puja Sweets, Red cloth, Red and other color flowers, Seeds of kamalgatta, Hawan samagri ( fire sacrifice), Samidha for Navgrah, Kalawa ( a skein of thread ), supari ( Betel nut ), Coconut, Paan ke patte, Rangoli

Lakshmi Puja Process

• First decide on a place to perform the puja. It should be in East or North

• Spread a clean red cloth on a chouki ( a small stool for offering ) and create a bed of rice on lt and rt side.

• A Kalash (pot), is placed after tying three rounds of kalawa on the bed of rice.

• Fill the Kalash with water.

• Put a betel nut, flower, a clean coin, and some rice in the Kalash.

• Now arrange mango leaves around the opening of the Kalash in 7 or 9 number.

• Place a coconut after tying three rounds of kalawa on the Kalash.

• In the front of your right hand, draw a lotus with turmeric powder and flour and place the idol or small photograph of Goddess Lakshmi, Ganesha , Shri Yantra on bed bed of rice. Shiv ling you can keep on side also'

• Take some water and sprinkle on all puja items to purify them.

• Do puja with haldi, kumkum and flowers on the Kalash.

• Light a four faced lamp ( dipak ) . It should be for the whole night. The diyas serve a dual purpose. Their primary purpose is to drive away all the shadows of evil spirits present in the area. At the same time awakening of the light of good within each individual.

• The incense sticks are burnt while the clay lamps are filled with ghee and their wicks are lit

• Now remember the following deities in given order and offer each one the following set of offering- flower, 1 paan leave, loung, supari and some sweet .Guru is remembered before every pooja first. Than start with Ganesh ji , Navgarah ( Surya, Chandra, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu, Ketu), Kuber devta, Sthan devta and Vaastu devta.

• No puja is performed without paying customary tributes to Lord Ganesha. Lord Kubera, represents wealth, and he is the treasurer of Gods. In homes, usually the locker or safe in which gold and cash is kept symbolically represents the seat of Kubera.

• A panchamitra is made using five ingredients including milk, curd, honey, gangajal, and clarified butter (ghee). Offer this panchamrit to Lord Shiva with Mahamritunjay mantra-

" Om Tryambakam yajamahe

Sugandhim pushti-vardhanam

Urvarukamiva bandhanan

Mrityor mukshiya mamritat"

• Now sprinkle the flowers and rice on the idol of Goddess Lakshmi.

• Take out the idol of Goddess Lakshmi and place it on a Thaali. Clean the idol with panchamrit. Then clean the idol again with water.

• Place the idol back. Now offer fruits, sweets, betel nuts and betel leaves.

• Next make offerings of Batasha and puffed rice ( lahi).

• Chant " Om Mahalaxmaye Namah" for some time.

• Now do hawan. Offer hawan samagri to each diety you welcomed in above mention order with the hawan samagri. When you start offering for Goddess Laxmi, the head of the family will do with the kamalgatta and ghee and other family members with the hawan chanting "om mahalaxmaye namah" mantra for 108 times.

• When finished all family members should stand up and offer nariyal gari for purnahuti.

• .Now you are ready for the Aarti. Light the Aarti diya. Light camphor. Sing the aarti to the tune of 'Om Jai Jagdeesh hare' along with the accompaniment of the jingle of the bell. (You will find the words of the Aarti at the end of this note)

Here are the Diwali aartis, to be sung at the time of Diwali puja, in order to please the gods and ask for their blessings.

Shri Ganesha Aarti

Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh deva

Mata jaki Parvati, Pita Mahadeva.

Ek dant dayavant, char bhuja dhari

Mathe sindur sohai, muse ki savari, Jai

Ganesh...

Andhan ko ankh det, kodhin ko kaya

Banjhan ko putra det, nirdhan ko maya, Jai

Ganesh....

Pan chadhe, phul chadhe, aur chadhe meva

Ladduan ka bhog lage, saht kare seva, ,Jai

Ganesh....

Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh deva,

Mata jaki Parvata, Pita Mahadeva.

THE MAHALAXMI AARTI

Om Jai Laxmi Mata, Maiya JaiLaxmi Mata,

Tumko nis din sevat, Hari, Vishnu Data

Om Jai Laxmi Mata

Uma Rama Brahmaani, Tum ho Jag Mata,

Maiya, Tum ho Jag Mata,

Surya ChanraMa dhyaavat, Naarad Rishi gaata.

Om Jai Laxmi Mata.

Durga Roop Niranjani, Sukh Sampati Data,

Maiya Sukh Sampati Data

Jo koyee tumko dhyaataa, Ridhee Sidhee dhan paataa

Om Jai Laxmi Mata.

Jis ghar mein tu rehtee, sab sukh guna aataa,

Maiya sab sukh guna aataa,

Taap paap mit jaataa, Man naheen ghabraataa.

Om Jai Laxmi Mata

Dhoop Deep phal meva, Ma sweekaar karo,

Maiya Ma sweekaar karo,

Gyaan prakaash karo Ma, Moha agyaan haro.

Om Jai Laxmi Mata.

Maha Laxmiji ki Aarti, nis din jo gaavey

Maiya nis din jo gaavey

Dukh jaavey, sukh aavey, Ati aananda paavey.

Om Jai Laxmi Mata.

Do the above with faith and devotion and don't worry too much if you do not do it very correctly. Even after finishing your puja do maximum chanting of mahalaxmi mantra.

For more information submit your details here- http://www.bagulamukhijyotishtantra.com/

3 November 1975 was the date of Diwali according to Deepavali.net

Diwali falls on the new moon night (Amavasya) between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali is celebrated for five days according to the lunisolar. It begins in late Ashvin (between September and October) and ends in early Kartika (between October and November).