Happy Deepawali,

So today is this auspicious date of 21st October 2006. But there is more to this date then just 21st October.

Well, one has to look through Indian Panchangam (Calender) which is based on moon cycles. According to this calender today is Kartika-Amavasya (Kartik is the name of month, and Amavasya is the date when there is no moon). This is the day when all hindus celebrate Deepwali festival.

Deepawali, literally mean Deep+ Awali. Deep are earth lamps in which cotton wicks are burnt in oil, while Awali mean a line. Therefore Deepawali mean lamps in a line. And justifying to its name people actually light such lamps in a row and thus decorate theie premises.

Now, there must be some reason as why is this festival being celebrated as all other festivals in the world have. There are many stories behind the causes of celebration of this festival.

According to most popular belief, several thousands year ago Lord Vishnu had incarnated as Rama, The king of Ayodhya. Ravana, king of Lanka who was demon by nature stole Rama's wife Sita to make her his wife. Rama took the help of monkeys and other animals to kill Ravana and this was on this very day of no moon night of Kartik month that he returned to his kingdom. Upon his return all the residents of Ayodhya welcomed him by lighting earth lamps. It is said that so much was the light created out these lamps that one could not say, if it was a moon night or a day with sun shining.

On this day people clean up their premise and worship Lord Ganesha and Godess Lakshmi. Godess Lakshmi is believed to be godess of wealth. Therefore people worship her and pray her to come to their place to make it her adobe, so that they always have plenty of wealth.

The day carries special significance for businesmen. Businessmen close down their accounts on this day and open new one. So is the significance of the occasion that a special 75 minute trading session called MAHURAT session is organized in the stock exchanges (Bombay Stock Exchange & National Stock Exchange) in India.