Chhath is mainly a festival celebrated in Bihar twice a year – once, in the summers (May-July), called the Chaiti Chhath, and once in the winter (September-November) around a week after Deepawali, called the Kartik Chhath.

This is a ritual bathing festival which is celebrated for 3 days. During this period, the worshiper observes ritual purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. Once they decide to do it, it becomes their duty to perform it every year. In Hindu religion, sun is worshipped as a god and in Chath, the Sun God and the rivers are worshipped.

On the eve of Chhath, houses and surroundings are cleaned. One the first day of the festival, the worshiper cooks a traditional vegetarian meal and offers it to the Sun God. This day is called Naha-Kha (which means ‘Bathe and eat’!). The worshiper allows herself/himself only one meal on this day.

On the second day, a special ritual, called Kharna, is performed in the evening after Sun down. On this day also, the worshiper eats his/her only meal from the offerings (Prashad) made to the Sun God in this ritual. Friends and family are invited to the household on this day to share the Prashad of the ritual.

On the third day and main day devotees go to the rivers and ponds, singing folk and devotional songs and offering prayers to the rising sun. The same day the devotees also offer prayers to the setting sun.

All city schools will now start their nursery admission after December 15 according to Directorate of Education. The Education Director has stipulated that the admission schedule will have to start from Dec 15 to 31. But some schools in the Capital have already announced the dates for sale of forms. As per the court orders, the schools are free to decide the dates for sale of forms, provided the DOE has no objection to it. But, no school shall start their admission procedure before December 15.

The guidelines for nursery admissions will be finalized in a week and circulars will be sent to the schools soon afterwards. While the schools are within their rights to follow their own admission schedule, they are required to intimate the DOE, in case they plan to deviate from the said set of guidelines. DOE will issue more directives about admissions in early next week. All this is done to ensure the convenience of the parents regarding the admission process, as DOE feels that the parents will benefit more, if all schools issue forms within the same timeframe.

Deepak ki roshni Mithayio ki mithas
Patako ki bochar Dan Daan ki barsat
Har pal Har din Aapke liye laye Danteras ka tyohar
Happy Danteras.

Dinodin badhta jaye apka karobar,
pariwar me bana rahe sneh aur pyar,
hoti rahe sada apar dhanki bochar,
aisa ho apka DHANTERAS ka tyohar.
HAPPY DHANTERAS!!!

Laxmi devi ka nur aapke upar barse,
har koi apse loan lene ko tarse,
Bhagvan aapko de THELE bhar bhar ke paise,
ki aap chiller pane ko tarse.”HappyDHANTERAS..”

Khub meete meete pakwan khaye,
sehat me char chand lagaye,
log to sirf chand par gaye hai
aap us se bhi upar jaye,
Diwali par hamari yahi hai shubhkamnaye
Happy Dhanteras!!

Deep Jalte Jagmagate rahe,
Hum aapko Aap hame yaad aate rahe,
Jab tak zindagi hai, Dua hai hamari
Aap Chand ki tarah Jagmagate rahe.
Happy Dhanteras!!

Dhanterash
give 10 thngs in lyf
D=Dhan
H=Health
A=Anand
N=Nature
T=T alent
E=Enjoyment
R=Romance
A=Aitbar
S=S aubhagya
H=Honesty
wish u & ur family
Happy Dhanterash!!

God’s blessing may cum as
a surprise
And how much U receive
Depends on how much
Ur Heart can believe.
May U be blessed beyond
wat U expect..
“Subh Dhanteras”.

Happy Diwali

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Rangoli

Click Here For More Rangoli Patterns

Here are some yummy recipes for Diwali

BESAN LADDU
Ingredients:
500 gm besan, sifted
500 gm ground sugar
200 gm ghee
1 tsp green cardamom or elaichi , powdered

Preparation :
Heat the ghee until it smokes, then lower the heat. Add the besan and fry on a medium heat until it is of golden colour. Take it off the fire for two or three minutes and add the sugar.

When it is cooled to a comfortable temperature, grease your palms with ghee and form the mixture into balls.

Set aside to cool and harden. Store in air-tight containers.

MALPUA
Ingredients :
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups wheat flour
4 tbsp yogurt or curd
10-15 whole peppercorns
Milk
Water

Preparation :
Make a batter of all of these dry ingredients and the dahi, using 1/2 milk and 1/2 water till it is thick and of pouring consistency, similar to pancake or dosa batter. Whip till smooth. Add the 10 peppercorns. Keep aside and allow it to rise for about two hours.

Heat oil on medium flame. Drop large ladlefuls into the oil to form circles of 6-8 inches. Typically the dough will sink and line the bottom of the karhai and rise up in the shape of a disc. Fry till golden. Drain and pat off the oil. Serve with cream or garnished with pista. Serves five.

Mini Samosa

Here is the recipe of Mini Samosa that can add a salty flavour to your Diwali Sweets.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of all purpose flour (maida)
• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• Salt (depending upon the taste)
• moong daal (soak 6-8 hrs in Plenty of water with baking soda)
• 1 tbs red chili powder
• 1 tbs garam masala
• 1 tbs coriender powder
• 1 tbs salt
• tbs amchur
• 3-4 pinches asafoetida powder
• tbs cumin seeds
• Vegetable oil for frying

Method

• Grind the moong daal with minimum quantity of water.
• Add oil in heavy pan.
• Add cumin seeds, asafoetida powder and daal paste in it.
• Stir it properly. Add salt,garam masala,coriender powder,chili powder and amchur powder.
• Stir it until the mixture dried very well.

Preparation for cover

• Sieve all-purpose flour, add salt.
• Add vegetable oil (so that you can make bowls) and mix it very well.
• Then add small quantity of water and make smooth dough.
• Make small round rolls with dough.
• Roll it like chapatti (chapatti should be around 4-5 inches in diameter).
• Cut it into 2 equal halves along the diameter.
• Put small water along the diameter.
• Join and press together to make a cone.
• Place a tbsp. of filling in the cone and seal third side as above.
• Make five to six. Put in hot oil, deep fry on low to medium till light brown.
• Do not fry on high, or the mini samosas will turn out oily and soggy.
• Drain on rack or kitchen paper
• Serve hot with green chutneys.

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus, celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in India. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days, where the third days is celebrated as the main Diwali festival or ‘Festival of lights’. Diwali is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin (October / November).
The First day of Diwali : Dhanteras
The five day long celebrations kick off with the 1st Day being celebrated as Dhanteras. Dhanteras or Dhantryaodashi, which falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin, is day of shopping for steel utnesils and is considered very auspicious.

The Second day of Diwali: Narak Chaturdasi
It is the 14th lunar day (thithi) of the dark fortnight of the month of Kartik and the eve of Diwali. On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear.
The Third day: Diwali – The Festival of Lights
On the dark new moon night, the entrances to all homes are lit up and decorated with rangoli patterns to welcome Lakshmi, the radiant consort of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth and lustre. Also Lakshmi Puja is performed on this day.
Diwali is the last day of financial year in traditional Hindu business and businessmen perform Chopda Pujan on this day on the new books of accounts. Diwali is the festival when the new business year begins.
The fourth day: New Year day or Bestavarsh or Govardhan Puja
The Fourth day is called Padwa or VarshaPratipada that marks the coronation of King Vikramaditya and Vikaram-Samvat was started from this Padwa day.
The day after the Laxmi Puja, people celebrate the coming of the New Year by dressing in new clothes, wearing jewellery and visiting family members.
On this day, Goverdhan Pooja is also performed. As per Vishnu-Puran, the people of Gokul used to celebrate a festival in honour of Lord Indra and worshipped him at the end of the monsoon. But Lord Krishna stopped them from offering prayers to Lord Indra, who in anger sent a deluge to submerge Gokul. Then, Krishna saved Gokul by lifting up the Govardhan Mountain and holding it over the people as an umbrella.
Also, this day is observed as Annakoot and prayers are offered in the temples. In Mathura and Nathadwara temples the deities are given milk bath and dressed in shining attires with ornaments.
The Fifth day of Diwali: Bhai Dhooj
The second day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksh) of Kartik is called “Bhaiya-Duj”. It comes once a year – after Diwali. The name itself is an explanation of the festival. Diwali falls on the dark night of Amdvasya or the new moon and Bhaiya Dooj comes just two days after Diwali.
There is an old story which tells us why Bhai Dhuj is celebrated. Yamraj, the Lord of death visited his sister Yami one day. To welcome her brother, Yami put the auspicious tilak on his forehead, they ate, talked and enjoyed together and exchanged gifts as a token of their love for each other. Yamraj was very happy and hence announced that anyone who receives tilak from his sister on this day will never be thrown in hell.
Since then it became imperative for the brother to go to his sister’s house to celebrate Bhaiyaduj. On Bhai Dooj, the teeka is applied on the brother’s forehead. It is a day dedicated to brothers and sisters.

Deepawali symbolizes the victory of truth over evil. Fireworks are one of the things always associated with this festival, which kids and adults both, can’t do without! On this auspicious day, people light up diyas and candles all around their house. They perform Laxmi Puja in the evening and seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. The festival of Diwali is never complete without exchange of gifts. People present Deepawali gifts to all near and dear ones. Generally Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesh are gifted on the occasion as Goddess Laxmi is known as the Goddess of Wealth and the puja is done to appease her and to seek her blessings throughout the year.
According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Rama was a great warrior King who was exiled by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya, along with his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman, on his wife’s insistence. Lord Rama returned to Ayodhaya after 14 years of exile after killing demon King Ravana of Lanka, who was a great Pundit, highly learned, but still evil dominated his mind. On this auspicious occasion to honor Rama’s victory over Ravana, the people of Ayodhya, welcomed King Ram, Laxman and Sita by lighting rows (avali) of clay lamps (dĭpa). And from there came the name “Dipawali”. Over time, this word transformed into Divali in Hindi and Dipawali in Nepali, but still retained its original form in South and East Indian Languages.