Diwali -Subh Deepavali

Deepawali or Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus. In India, Diwali is celebrated all over with lots of enthusiasm and happiness but now it's celebrated everywhere where Indian are located whether it's USA, United Kingdom (U.K), Australia almost all parts of the world. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on 28th October 2008. Deepavali is celebrated for five continuous days, and the third day is celebrated as the main Diwali or as "Festival of Lights". Fireworks are always associated with this Diwali festival. The day is celebrated with people lighting diyas, making Rangolis (colours of design) candles all around their house. Ganesha-Lakshmi Puja is performed in the day (evening time) with ladoo (sweets), khoi, putul etc. to seek divine blessings. Diwali gifts are also exchanged among all near and dear ones. Peolple do lots of shopping before Diwali specially in Norther part of the India.

With Diwali, Kali Puja is also celebrated specially in West Bengal. Maa Kali is the ferocious & fearful form of the Goddess Durga. She is assumed the form of a most powerful goddess. Kali Puja is generally done to vanish the ego and negative tendencies that hinder. It is performed on the night of Kaartik Amavasya, which generally falls in October-November. The basic purpose of the puja is to get the help of the goddess in diminishing evil both from the outside world and within us.
Kali Puja at Naihati
The tallest Kali idols of the India, as well as of Asia are made in Naihati - Kankinara (situated at West Bengal in the dirstrict of North 24 Paraganas), which is claimed by a member of Deul Para Adhibashi Brinda Puja committee. Most of the pujas here at Naihati are famous for the heights of the Goddess Kali idols. Naihati has more than 40 puja committees, which they worshipping huge idols for the more than 3 decades. Some of the committees have planned to install hidden cameras to observe and prevent from any terrorism or any unexpected incident.

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Perform Laxmi Puja (Diwali) at home
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I have noticed in the search engine (specially in google and yahoo) that people just before searches for "how to perform diwali / kali puja / Ganesha-laxmi puja" so here I have come up with the answers but still there is no straightforward answer to this queries as the ritual varies from state to state. I wish it will help to sort out all youur queries regarding Diwali:
First and foremost thing is to clean your house. Through the Laxmi puja, we are inviting Goddess (Maa) Lakshmi to house and she likes each and everything to be neat and clean in all respect. Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Durga and Goddess Saraswathi –Lord Ganesha and Lord Kubera are also worshipped on the day of Diwali. Generally, puja is not performed without paying customary tributes to our Lord Ganesha.

Important things and items needed For Lakshmi Puja

- Kalash (pot),
- Puffed rice,
- Cumin seeds,
- Idol or picture of Goddess Lakshmi,
- Milk, curd, honey, ghee
- Coriander seeds,
- Usual puja Sweets,
- Mango leaves
- And other daily puja items

Lakshmi Puja Process
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***** First decide the place (clean) where you have to perform the puja.
**** Spread a clean cloth & create a bed of rice.
*** A Kalash is placed all over on the bed of rice.
** Fill around 70 percent of the Kalash with water.
* Place a betel nut, flowers, a clean coin (silver coin, if possible), and then some rice in the Kalash.
** Now then arrange mango leaves (5 leaves) around the opening (top) of the Kalash.
*** Place a Thali (a small plain plate) on the Kalash
**** Now, on the Thaali, draw a lotus with turmeric powder & place the idol or you can also place small photograph of Goddess Lakshmi.
***** Put some coins on the Thaali.
**** On the right side of the Kalash, place the idol of Lord Ganesha.
*** If you need, then you can also place the idols of Saraswathi and your favorite deities.
After arranging all these, then maintain a peaceful and calm atmosphere in that particular place. The best way is to close your eyes and meditate or chant on "OM"

# Take some Gangajal (water) and sprinkle on all puja items to make them purified.
# Perform puja with yellow haldi, kumkum & flowers on the Kalash.
# Light a lamp to illuminate the place.
# Now take some flowers & rice on your hands and close the eyes again and meditate on Goddess (Maa) Lakshmi. You are now invoking Goddess Lakshmi. If you know mantras by heart, recite them. Otherwise you can hust just simply meditate on Goddess Lakshmi. I have a simple Sanskrit mantra for you, dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi.

Namosthesthoo Mahaa Maaye,
Shri padi, suraa pujithye,
Shaanka, Chakraa, Gadhaa haasthe,
Mahaa Laxmii Namostuthye

Chath Puja

Chath Puja is celebrated all over India for thanksgiving dedicated to Sun. During the Chath Puja, people use to gather on the banks of the River Ganges (sacred water) to bathe, pray & make ritual offerings to the Sun of God. Chath Puja is also known for its impressive display of colorful costumes, traditional music, dancing and extravagant rituals. Chath Puja is celebrated all parts of the India but it's most popular in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other Hindi speaking state. It's also celebrated in Indian major cities like Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai, New Delhi where people of U.P and Bihar are settled for the purpose of jobs. I would also like to share with you that at my home town Kankinara, West Bengal, Chath Puja is very famous. The whole Kankinara and Jagatdal are illuminated for 2-3 days and many singing and dance program are scheduled at Kachari Raod, Kankinara whole night. "Thekua" (made of Flour, sugar, saunf) is the main "prasad" of Chath Puja.

When Is the Festival of Chath Puja?
Chath Puja generally takes place, sometime during the months of October-November every year, immediately after the sixth day festival of lights known as Diwali. Chhath Puja lasts for almost 3 days. There is also a festival called "Chaiti Chhath" celebrated just after the Holi festival.

Jagdharti Puja

After Chath Puja, Jagdharti Puja comes. Jagdharti Puja is very much famous at Chandannagar (Chandannagore) for may beautiful pandals but more than that it;s famous for it's lighting decoration. In India, Chandanagore is very much famous for its lighting decorarion. It is said that Mr. Indranarayan Choudhury introduced the first Jagadhatri Puja in Chandannagar in the respect of King Krishnachandra of Krishnanagar. The whole Chandanagar is fully illuminated. People from all over the West Bengal comes here and visit the place whole night. Chandan is an hour distance from Kolkata (Calcutta), if someone is coming from the train then they have to catch the train from Howrah Station. And it can also be reached from Kankinara by local boat or ship. Chandannagar was ruled by French Government while other parts of India was under British before 1947.

Illuminated Chandennagore

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