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Happy Diwali !!

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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cuts a cake as part of the Diwali celebrations in Karachi on November 11, 2015.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said all the religious communities living in Pakistan enjoyed equal rights and reiterated his stance to safeguard them against injustice.

“Every community living here whether Hindu, Muslim or Parsi, belongs to me and I belong to them. I am the prime minister of all communities,” he said, while addressing a ceremony to mark the Hindu religious festival of Diwali.

Conveying his greetings to the huge gathering of Hindu community, the premier underlined the need for forging unity among all the communities.

“It’s my duty to help and facilitate you. If you are in distress, I will stand with you. Even if a Muslim commits an injustice, I will stand with the victim,” he added.

He said he felt immense pleasure in attending the event and told the organisers to invite him to all religious events of various communities.

“Even I would like to be among you in the colourful event of Holi,” he added.

Meanwhile, PM Nawaz announced the construction of Bhagat Kunwar Ram Medical Complex in Hyderabad and the Guru Nanak Gurdwara.

He lauded the role played by the Hindu community in the development of the country, saying they played a significant role in the realms of education, judiciary, health and sports.
 
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Happy Diwali to all my hindu friends in real life and here and to all hindu members may GOD's blessings shine upon all of you and your families :)
 
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If you are not really a fan of vegetarian food, you should try to get invited to a non-Brahmin Tamil Hindu's house. Deepavali, although is a religious festival, for Tamil Hindus that is the day we go on a meat overload (sans the beef of course). Every animal/bird/reptile will be on your plate from morning till evening.

I love food.. period. Vegan or non -vegan. The exception is pork.. and beef too except when it is in one of the token dishes where it does taste good.
 
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I love food.. period. Vegan or non -vegan. The exception is pork.. and beef too except when it is in one of the token dishes where it does taste good.
true beef has a strange taste to it if you eat it where its not prepared nicely. I'm guessing you love chicken and don't lie.
 
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Happy Diwali to all Hindu friends and foes on this forum. Hope you had great fun

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Deepawali or Diwali is certainly the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals.

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It's the festival of lights (deep = light and avali = a row i.e., a row of lights) that's marked by four days of celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy. This year Diwali falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.

The Origin of Diwali
Historically, the origin of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali or 'Deepawali.' Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day. In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana.


Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers.

These Four Days
Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell. The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasimarks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.


Amavasya, the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed to return to earth once a year, to light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and ignorance, and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is on the third day of Deepawali — Kartika Shudda Padyami that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya(also called Bhai Dooj) and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.

The Significance of Lights & Firecrackers
All the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to tell. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an expression of obeisance to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. According to one belief, the sound of fire-crackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the crackers kill a lot of insects and mosquitoes, found in plenty after the rains.

The Tradition of Gambling
The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva, and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali is associated with wealth and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of 'Dhanteras' ('dhan' = wealth; 'teras' = 13th) is celebrated two days before the festival of lights.

From Darkness Unto Light...
In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities. If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya, sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light and illuminate the soul.

Happy Dipawali, Folks. :guns::guns:
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