Category: Indian Festivals

Shubh Deepavali

deepavali2

Deepavali Greetings to all sentient beings. May your home be blessed by Lakshmi. For Bengalis especially, may Ma Kali preserve and protect you.

Here’s a prayer for Diwali.
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Mahavir Jayanti Greetings

mahavir-jayanti-idol-of-mahavira Mahavir Jayanti namaskar to all sentient beings. According to Jain tradition, Vardhamana Mahavira (599-527 BCE) was the 24th (and the last) tirthankara. “In Jainism, a Tīrthaṅkara is a human being who helps in achieving liberation and enlightenment as an “Arihant” by destroying their soul-constraining karmas, became a role-model and leader for those seeking spiritual guidance.” (Wiki.)
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Saraswati Puja, Kamadeva Puja & Basant Panchami Greetings

Today is Basant Panchami. It is the day for Saraswati Puja and also Kamadeva Puja. Kamadeva is also known as “Atanu” — one without a body.

The Saraswati vandana goes thus:
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Guru Purnima Greetings

Guru Purnima this year falls on 3rd July. It’s the full moon day we acknowledge the debt we owe to our guru.
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Happy Bengali New Year

Shubho Nobo Borsho. This Bengali new year I am spending in New York City. There’s a conference at the Columbia Business School tomorrow (Saturday 14th April). Rajesh is making a presentation there on “Transforming India.” We will also meet Prof Jagadish Bhagwati and Prof Panagariya.
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During Diwali, worship Kali and Lakshmi

For me, one of the best things about being in India during Diwali – or any Indian festival for that matter – is that it gives me hope, that all is not yet lost, that there is something precious that we have, that we will still endure even though it may look quite hopeless.
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