|
|
In the BAPS Santha's shikharbaddh
mandirs it is a tradition for sadhus to perform the Vedic Sharda Pujan
rituals of the devotees, account books. People light divas in their homes
every evening. During Diwali it is a tradition in every Hindu home for the
housewife to decorate a 'Rangoli' at the entrance or near the doorway,
after washing the floor. A Rangoli is an intricate and artistic design or
sketch, using colored powder. It represents an auspicious welcome for
Lakshmiji who visits people during Diwali to grant wealth. It has been an
annual tradition to light thousands of divas at the "Akshardham" memorial
and its parikrama, from Diwali till Labh Pancham, since its inauguration
in 1992. Every evening people throng to have darshan of this dazzling
sight, the only one of its kind in India. Sentiments People forgive and
forget misdeeds of the past year and resolve to spend the coming year in
peace, harmony, purity and to earn Lakshmi by observing dharma On this the
darkest (moonless) day of the month, people light divas symbolically,
praying to the Lord for inner enlightenment. Diwali is a festival to
resolve personal discord and familial conflict, to increase love, unity
and harmony in the family and society. Since our lives are dedicated to
God and Guru, we should cultivate deeper love and 'divyabhav' - divine
regard for both. This is the ultimate sentiment of
Diwali, poetically described by Brahmanand Swami - a poet paramhansa of
Bhagwan Swaminarayan: 'Raaj maare din din Diwali re, vala maltaa tamane
Vanmali re, jiho Giradhari.' DAS NA DAS
KRUPA KAMDAR (13)
CAROL
STREAM, UNITED STATES
|
I LIKE DIWALI TNE MOST BECAUSE ON THIS DAY THE SKY IS FILLED WITH
LIGHTS ON THIS DAY SHRI RAM CAME BACK TO HIS HOME AFTER LIVING IN FOREST
FOR 14 YEARS
ekansh (11)
hosiarpur, INDIA
|
|
|
Ramnavmi(Harijanti When maharaj was born) I like Harijanti because it
was when my god, maharaj was born. Because it is when we do fast, it is
one of the niyamat Days. I like fasting because it makes maharaj happy And
Everyday we eat so it donsn't Really matter if we miss one day.
Hamish
Hira (9)
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
|
My favorite festival is Holi because there is so much color.My friends
and I have a lot of fun.We also get really wet.The food that they serve is
tasty.I cannot wait until the next Holi.There is also music and dancing.I
love Holi!
Neesh Patel (10)
Ft.Myers, UNITED STATES
|
|
|
My favorite hindu festival is Holi. I like Holi because when Swami
Bapa does it, he is always extremely happy. Another thing that I really
like about Holi is that HariKrishna Maharaj sprays Bapa while Bapa sprays
everyone else with rang-It's SOOO Cool!!!! Everyone is always so happy on
Holi! People dance and jump and so do the santos. It's a great labh if you
go to Bapa's celebration of Holi! That's why Holi is my favorite hindu
festival.
Janki Patel (11)
Barre, UNITED STATES
|
Jai Swaminarayan My favourite festival, is Diwali and Annkaut because
we all get to do lots of seva and we all enjoy it, we get to meet new new
haribhaktos from acroos the globe who share their knowledge with all of
us, also on Annkaut and Diwali maharaj is dressed beautifully and all the
haribhaktos put alot of effort in making the samiyo successful and the
haveli look beautiful and colourful.Diwali and New Years Day mostly
reminds me to begin a brand new fresh and pure year, forget what has been
done in the past and think about the future and always remember that
Maharaj and Swami is always with us and will always guide us towards the
bright path of life. Jai Swaminarayan
Rameshvari Patel (15)
London,
UNITED KINGDOM |
|
|
My favorite holiday is Diwali. I like Diwali because it was when Ram
Bhagwan became a king. Although our town is small, we still celebrate
Diwali and do garba on Navratri.
Nimit Gandhi (9)
Little Rock,
UNITED STATES
|
I like diwali the most cuz on that day everyone is happy and we thank
god and our family and friends for whatever they have done for us and
everyone gets together and has fun.
Riya (13)
toronto,
CANADA |
|
|
Jai SWaminarayan all the festivals are fun and special for me but i
like diwali more because its festival of LIGHTS and is a great fun.i like
celebrating diwali alot but sometimes i cant really celebrate it. diwali
is a really a great thing. Jai Swaminarayan
Priyanka .S. Tandel
(11)
Adelaide SA, AUSTRALIA
|
My favorite holiday is Janmastami. I like Janmastami because it is
Krishna Bhagvan's birthday. If we celebrate our birthdays and of famous
people, then why not bhagvan's? After all he plays a major role in our
life so we should atleast celebrate his birthday. Normally, on our
birthday, we eat what we like so my mom prepares Krishna Bhagvan's
favorite foods such as makhan.
Nidhi Gandhi (13)
Little Rock, UNITED
STATES
|
|
|
my favorits festival is holy because its a time where you get to have
fun and dance to the best music ever and all the powder!!! its awsome you
get sooooo colorful
krishna (10)
chelmsford, UNITED
STATES
|
Jai Swaminarayan, When Festivals come near,the feeling of the air
becomes differant, everybody is getting ready for the festival and
remembering god. My Favourite festival is Diwali. It remids me that light
always controls darkness, even if its a candle or the sun. Seeing all that
illumination makes me feel protected and happy. All festivals are
wonderful.
Axu Patel (15)
Manhattan, UNITED STATES
|
|
|
Jai Swaminarayan, All Hindu festivals have a reason that why they
celebrate it. My favorite festival is Uttarayan, because the happiness you
get when you fly the kite, cut everybodys & catch some when it comes
to you. Uttarayan is my favorite festival.
Yogi Brahmbhatt
(14)
Atlanta, UNITED STATES
|
I like Diwali as my favorite festival because of several reasons. One
thing I like about diwali is that we hve fun. Second of all, we do
fireworks because it's the festival of light. You can also get good food
and presents. But best of all, we can pray to maharaj and swami for
anything what we want.
Dhaval Patel (11)
North Brunswick, UNITED
STATES
|
|
|
My favorite festival is Diwali. I love to look at the colorful lights
that cover our houses. They make love cover our soul. I also like to burst
fireworks if I am in India. They burst into color and make the hearts
burst with joy. Diwali is such a bright festival and that's why I like
it!!!!!!!!!!
Roma Gujarathi (10)
Boston, UNITED STATES
|
I like fuldol because i like the mandir of sarangpur and because i
like coulours.I also like it because you get to have colour
fights
bhavin (10)
london, UNITED KINGDOM
|
|
|
Jay swaminarayan. To me in my life my favorite indian festival is
diwali.I love it because that's when maharaj wake up and we have a new
year. For new year my family and i go to mandir every year we stay there
untill night. A t mandir they have a big ankuta. We do arti and at night
they have a firework show. It is so cool. I have so mush fun with my
friends and family. I love diwali.
Zeel Patel (13)
Orlando, UNITED
STATES
|
My favorite festival is Diwali. It is that because there is fireworks
and people put lightnings. People like fireworks.
Sweta Patel
(7)
North Brunswick, UNITED STATES |
|
|
I like Ramnavmi(Harijanti). Why:because it is bhagwan Swaminarayan's
brithday. We fast on that day. It is a occpicus day. It is one of the five
days which Shastriji maharaj has told us to fast (Nirjala). jai
swaminarayan
VANDAN PATEL (9)
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
|
I liked the Atlanta Mandir Mahotsav. I liked it because I was there
all the days. I also liked the inside of the mandir. It is so nicely
carved. I also got the Atlanta Momento and showed it in my school to my
class. I also liked all the programs that happened there. I had a good
time there!!!!!!
Parth Patel (10)
Coral Springs, UNITED
STATES |
|
|
My favorite festival is Holi. I love it because I could make my father
and mother messy with colored powder. I also got messy and because of
this, The other fun part about Holi is that I could buy a
water gun (pichkari) of my choice. I drenched other people but that didn't
mean they didn't drench me! I ate lots of sweets. I think Holi is the best
festival I've ever had!
Haripriya (9)
Des Plaines, UNITED
STATES
|
My favorite Hindu festival has to be Diwali. In diwali, we get to hope
for a better new year. Its also a time when we get together with friends
and family and spend time with each other and have fun. We also get to
pray and thank maharaj for everything he has done for us. We also get to
decorate the mandir and do a lot of seva night after night. And fireworks
is something we always look forward to at night. Jay Swaminarayan
Payal
Patel (14)
Marietta, GA, UNITED STATES
|
|
|
I enjoyed Guru Purnima. As, I did dance I enjoyed a lot. We did the
dance very well and I think that Bapa , Maharaj & sants will be happy
on us. I am praying to god that always give me this type of chance and
always be happy on me , my Baps family & whole World. JAY
SWAMINARAYAN
Malav patel (11)
Ahmedabad, INDIA |
i like holi because bapa does holi and sprays allthe saints and its
fun to watch them get all wet from bapa.I also love diwali because theres
lots of fireworks and becaus thats when my birt hday is.I also like
utrayan because you get to fly a kite and i love to fly a kite.thats what
i love about indiian festivals.
richa (11)
burlington, UNITED
STATES |
|
|
|
|