BlogHer - Diwali - Comments

Great Ideas!

A Elliot — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:05:21 -0600

Thanks for the great ideas! It's always nice to be able to combine a good cause and a gift. Perhaps one of the items you mentioned will show up in your mailbox for your birthday.
Alex Elliot, Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting

I love those Geena Davis movies!

super des — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:33:01 -0600

And for the record, if anyone wants cool non-custom (pre-made) jewelry, I also have an etsy shop:

http://desjewelry.etsy.com

So glad...

cherylsnell — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:35:59 -0600

you enjoyed it, Kalyn! Thanks for taking the time to tell me so.

Cheryl Snell
http://www.shivasarms.blogspot.com/

Very interesting!

Kalyn Denny — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:29:34 -0600

Great post. I learned about some of the amazing sounding Diwali sweets last year when I wrote a post called Happy Diwali to Everyone. I have seen a few recipes for Halwa made with carrots and thought it sounded wonderful. Very fun hearing all the variations on how the word is used too.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Sorry for the typo, Snigdhasen

Mata H — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:16:28 -0600

I just noticed that I typo'd your name in my haste to tell the Ganesh story...I am so sorry. Feel free to call me -ata...sigh...my sincere apologies.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs relentlessly at Time's Fool

Fabulous!

snigdhasen — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:10:00 -0600

What a lovely Diwali gift, right? Good to know your mortgage stuff worked out.
Perfect :)

thanks backatcha, Kat

Mata H — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:39:28 -0600

One of the things I really love about BlogHer is the diversity -- I am always learning something out here, too! Thanks for your appreciation:-)

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs relentlessly at Time's Fool

Thanks!

Kat with a K — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:37:37 -0600

Thanks for this post - I knew next to nothing about this holiday and it was great to learn more.

thanks Snigda

Mata H — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:16:29 -0600

Thanks so much for adding your wonderful comments. You may find it interesting that right before I wrote this, I was experiencing big difficulties getting a firm closing date for the new home I am buying -- long story-- but on the day before writing this, I was sorting through some things and came across an old soft -sided briefcase that had been in storage in my closet for years. Inside were papers and odds and ends and suddenly I felt something hard -- it was a 9 inch square copper plate with an enameled image on it that a friend had brought back for me when he had visited home in Bombay -- when I had moved offices I had put it in the soft bag to protect it and then forgot it. . It is an image of Ganesh! The remover of obstacles. That day my mortgage closing cleared. I think Ganesh found my house :-) He is now on view, and no longer in the briefcase.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs relentlessly at Time's Fool

Happy Diwali...

snigdhasen — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:32:26 -0600

..to you, Mata, and all your family and friends :) Will be lunching with in-laws over the weekend (a slightly belated celebration).

A small nugget of information: As you rightly pointed out, the return of King Ram from exile is the most popular Diwali story. Ram, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman were in exile for 14 years. So, traditionally, people light 14 candles or diyas (small earthen/clay lamps) in the courtyard or around the house to mark the ocassion.
Of course these days electric lights and bulbs have found their place along side candles and diyas:)

Traditionally, Diwali was celebrated as the Hindu new year, chiefly by north and west Indian businessmen. Small businesses would sign off on old balance sheets and start a new accounting book for the year. It's regarded as an auspicious day, so many families pray to the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, and the god of well-being, Ganesh.
I have also heard stories about how candles/lamps were lit so Lakshmi and Ganesh wouldn't miss our homes in all the darkness :)

Have a great day :)
Snigdha