Tag: #India# amazing facts

Diwali, our festival of joy!

 

Source: by Freepik

Days come and go, festivals pass by in a jiffy. But there’s something special about the festival of lights. It begins with a loud bang from the crackers, goes on with serial lights and rockets lighting up the skies, and ends with a sweet note in courtesy of the laddoss and chaklis made and shared among friends and families. 

This is Diwali for us! Diwali is celebrated with great pomp and harmony, usually in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu in India. It falls between the months of October and November and becomes the reason for dressing up, eating traditional sweets, bursting crackers, and family gatherings. 

The origin of Diwali, the festival of lights.

As we celebrate, let us look at the origins of this beloved festival and learn what makes this an auspicious occasion. There aren’t any definite origins as there are several reasons behind celebration of this festival across different states of India. 

  • According to the epic Ramayana by Valmiki, Diwali is celebrated on the account of Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya with his wife Seeta and brother Lakshmana after spending 14 years in exile and defeating the evil king Raavana. 

  • According to the most popular beliefs, Diwali marks the birth of Goddess Lakshmi from Samudra Manthan, the cosmic ocean of milk churned by gods and demons alike. Goddess Lakshmi had chosen Vishnu as her husband on the night of Diwali, forming an unbreakable bond. 

  • In the epic Mahabharata, the five pandava brothers were deceived into losing a bet while gambling and got banished by the Kauravas from Hastinapur for 12 years. According to the epic, Diwali is celebrated on the account of their return to Hastinapur during the Kartik Amavasya. 

  • In Sikhism, Diwali is celebrated on the account of Guru Hargobind being released by Mughal emperor Jehangir.  

  • In Jainism, the festival is celebrated as an anniversary of Mahavira’s soul finally seeking Nirvana. 

  • In many states of the western India, like Gujarath, Diwali is regarded as the beginning of a new year. 

  • In eastern India, comprising West Bengal, Diwali is celebrated in the honor of their Goddess Kali. Who is well known for her destructive rampage against the demons of the earth. 

How is Diwali celebrated?

With countless memes being reiterated regarding cleaning your household during this festive season. It becomes an important preparatory requirement for Diwali celebration. Dry fruits and sweetmeats are also exchanged ahead of the main Diwali celebrations. Outdoor and indoor parties as well as craft shows begin to create the ambiance for the forthcoming festival of lights. Gambling, as seen in Mahabharata being enacted by Pandavas and Kauravas, is a traditional festive game that is played during the week before Diwali alongside card games. 

Finally! the five days of Diwali

Let’s begin with Choti or little Diwali. It’s the day before the main event that is dedicated to preparations for the festival. We can’t be out buying crackers and sweets right in the middle of our Diwali right? There is fun and anticipation as we await the day of the main festival to be greeted with loud crackers and sweet smelling gulab jamuns, laddoos, and other delicious snacks. Oh, and also watch your step, because you might be the subject of someone’s wrath if you step on one of the painstakingly made rangolis. 


Source: By Unsplash


And now comes the main event, people greet the festival with a loud bang as the sun sets. Both the land and the skies are lit by fireworks. As usual, there begins an opposition against usage of firecrackers by environmentalists and naysayers. But they could never dampen the festive spirits of the true enthusiasts. By the end of the day, both the so-called environmentalists as well as the enthusiasts are united by festive delicacies. Thanks to the prior purchases, exchanges and preparations. 

The final days of the festive season witnesses sisters praying for the well being for their brothers and, hopefully receiving generous returns from their siblings. 

What should I do during Diwali?

Most probably you wouldn’t be having that question. But if your friends bailed out on you and you have no plans, then maybe you could write content like me. Just kidding! On a serious note, there will definitely be a movie releasing every Diwali which you can watch along with your family. If you are one of those naysayers to fireworks, you could take a trip to a nearby exotic location. You can use the holiday and the bonus to meet up with some old friends which you have been putting off for another day. 

Happy Diwali! May the festival bring lots of joy into your hearts! 

Incredible India!

“This is indeed India!… The land of
dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendor and
rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and
Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country
of hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two
million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of
history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of traditions, whose
yesterday’s bear date with the moldering antiquities for the rest of nations-the
one sole country under the sun that is endowed with an imperishable interest
for alien prince and alien peasant, for lettered and ignorant, wise and fool,
rich and poor, bond and free, the one land that all men desire to see, and
having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows
of all the rest of the world combined”  –  Mark Twain                                                                                   

As beautifully described my Mark
Twain, Keith Bellows and Ella Wheeler, India is a fabulous country which is a
must visit nation for anyone. But do you know what makes India an intriguing
place? Here are some unknown facts about our beloved nation :

1. Largest Post office network

India is known for having the largest network
of post offices in the world. It has over 1, 55,015 post offices. There is a
floating post office too in India which is situated at Dal Lake, Srinagar.

                                                                        

2. Kumbh Mela festival visible from space

Kumbh Mela or Kumbha Mela is grand and
important festival which is celebrated among Hindus. During 2011, over 75
million pilgrims were present at the festival! The number of people who
attended the festival were so huge that the crowd was visible from space!

                                                                     

                                                                  

 

4. Bandra Worli Sea link has steel wires equal to the earth’s
circumference

This architectural masterpiece was completed
by the hard work of a total of 2,57,00,000-man hours. The weight of such
masterpiece is equivalent to that of 50,000 African elephants.

 

                                                                       

          

5. World’s Highest cricket ground

India is the biggest fan of cricket. The
highest cricket ground in the world was also located in India. Built at an
altitude of 2,444 meters in 1893, the Chail Cricket Ground of Himachal Pradesh
is a part of the Chail Military School which is the highest cricket ground in
the world.


                                                                        

 

6. Shampoos were invented in India

Shampoos were first
introduced by India. They were made by herbal methods in initial stages.  Shampoos were derived from “Champu” which
means massage in Sanskrit.




                                                                     

 

7. A kabbadi pro nation

India is an incredible nation and is pro at
Kabaddi. The country has talented teams (both men and women), who won all
Kabaddi World Cups bravely and victoriously!


                                                                         


                                                                         

 

8. India’s first President only took 50% of his salary

Even though the salary of India’s first
President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, used to be Rs. 10,000, he only accepted 50% of
his salary stating his belief that the amount which he had accepted was
sufficient for him and he didn’t want more. He accepted only 25% of his salary
when his 12-year tenure ended!


                                                                           

                                              

9. The first consumer of sugar

 Extraction and purifying techniques of sugar
was first developed in India. Refining and cultivation of sugar was also taught
by our country to many visitors from abroad.


                                                                       

                                                                   

  10. Havell’s: A purely Indian brand

Long time ago, Havells was bought for just Rs.
10 Lakhs which is now a famous and well-known electrical goods company making
billions. It is a purely Indian Company which was named after its original
owner Mr. Haveli Ram Gupta.


                                                            

 

11. A special polling station is set up for a lone voter in the
middle of Gir Forest

A special polling booth was set up in the Gir
forest exclusively for a lone voter, Mr. Mahant Bharatdas Darshandas, who has
been voting since 2004. He is the sole voter from Banej in Gir forest.


                                                                         

                                                                         

12. Snakes and Ladders was invented in India

The game of “Snake
and Ladders” was first introduced in India and was previously known as Moksha
Patamu. The game was invented to teach the children about Karma. It was later commercialized
and has become one of the most played board games in the world.