#Diwali Return Gifts

[lachi-gifts098]

Unique Diwali Return Gifts to Delight Your Guests | Lachi

Explore Lachi exclusive Diwali return gifts collection! From custom pouches to elegant coasters, find the perfect token of appreciation for your guests. Shop now and make your Diwali celebration unforgettable! Visit us:- https://lachi.in/collections/diwali-return-gifts

[ashtok1]

Buy Return Gifts for Ladies, Birthdays, Marriages, Diwali, House Warming Ceremonies at Ashtok

Giving return gifts to the guests who’ve attended your happy events is about showing your appreciation to those who took the time to celebrate your special moments with you. By sending them a return gift, you’re letting them know that you appreciate their presence and their good wishes during the happiest moments of your life. Whether it’s return gifts for a wedding, an anniversary celebration, or a birthday party, gift cards are your best option.

 Buy return gifts for ladies, birthdays, marriages, Diwali, and housewarming ceremonies at the best price. Ashtok provides a huge selection of best return gifts in a variety of categories, such as useful return gifts, corporate gifts wholesale online. Get your order with free shipping.

Buy Brass Sindoor Dabbi Double Duck Designs:-

 Traditional Brass Sindoor Boxes with Double Duck for Daily Use. It's a beautiful Hindu Tradition way that all Married Women wear Kumkum after getting married. It even enhances her beauty and a kind of prayer for the long life of her husband. The Brass Sindoor Box with a lid covering and stopping the sindoor from spilling out.

Buy Brass Flower Bowl for Return Gift :-

The Ashtok Lotus Bowl is entirely made of pure brass. The Brass Bowl is round in form. It has a level base that allows it to remain still when put on a flat surface. The Bowl has a sharp neckline and obtuse edges for security. It is made of the best quality brass.

The brass fruit bowl is widely used to hold fruits or flowers and to adorn a table or teapoy by placing the brass bowl on it. It has a pedestal base with an excellent hand-carved design. This brass fruit bowl is perfect for any occasion. Wedding gift things, birthday gift items, Diwali gift items, kitchen gift items, corporate gift items

Contact Us:-

  Call - In: +91 9492412121

  USA: +1 2489182148

  Mail us: support@ashtok.com

  visit Us:-  www.ashtok.com

[nothoward]

If you need me, I'll be in the Walmart parking lot waiting in the returns line, just for fun.

[stylespeaks05]

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

IPKKND SS: Madaari

Madaari - Puppeteer. Trickster. Magician. Conjurer. A street performer who entertains the public by training (torturing) animals to dance. 

Warning: none | Word Count: 1316

#Chapter 1

When Shyam Manohar Jha had walked into her life, his kindness was beyond any she had ever faced. Strength, courage, wit and decency. These were the pillars of his character.

She was going to marry the man who saved her and perhaps stepped into the role of her provider long before any relationship was formalized between them. Any woman would be blessed to be engaged to the man whose personality bore striking resemblance to his namesake God. 

Except Khushi was far from happy. Everything was right,  but it was not.

“Jalebi?” Shyam asked, breaking Khushi’s chain of thoughts as he passed her a plate of sweets from a sweetshop on their walk back to Buaji’s house. His gifted bracelet and engagement ring sat heavy on her hand. Could she have developed an allergy to metal? When Rahul had put bangles on Anjali’s hands in her favorite movie, butterflies had blossomed in a young Khushi Kumari Gupta’s stomach. 

Yet Khushi did not feel any butterfly, except dread, settle in the pit of her stomach as their wedding approached.

But she did feel it once, when her anklet was returned, but her heart was not. 

“Ah!” Khushi shrieked, the hot syrup of the store bought jalebi burning her mouth. Shyam rushed to bring her a bottle of water. Oh, this burn was nothing compared to her wounds from Diwali. Khushi threw away the jalebi, the fake food coloring staining her hands, the chemical sweetner leaving a bitter aftertaste in her mouth.

If her father was not paralyzed, he would have a fit over people selling cheaply made sweets by presenting it as authentic Lucknowi jalebis in Delhi!

Even the ‘a’ of authenticity was not there in this terrible jalebi! How someone could pull wool over anyone else’s eyes was always beyond Khushi. 

“Here,” Shyam passed her the bottle of water, a sweet smile plastered on his face. Except this time his smile reminded her of chemical sweetners, his gaze just drifting to the skin between her dupatta and the neckline of her kurti. 

Shyam checked himself, offering his hand to walk the rest of the way back to Buaji’s. 

Khushi kept her hands to herself. 

— — — — —

Instinct must never be forgotten. Questioned, yes, challenged, yes, but forgotten? Never. Khushi never revealed her doubts to any of her family members - how did Shyamji know that Akash and Payal were engaged even before anyone had told anything to Shyam? Why was he suddenly so hostile against the Raizadas? He was a stranger to them, was he not? He vowed to dissolve the talks of marriage between them, then how were they in a situation where the marriage was being rushed, instead? Did she actually hear Shyamji’s voice on Khushi’s chat with Anjali? 

“Hey Devi Maiyya,” Khushi whispered to her angel faced Goddess lying on her study desk, “guide me.”

And she did. 

Clues fell across Khushi’s face like an unexpected shower in Delhi. Suspicion and fear squeezed the breath of out Khushi’s lungs.

She did not pray, nor hope. 

She did not know what she was expecting at all. 

By the time Khushi reached the terrace to call the ever elusive jija-ji, she reached the conclusion she tried to deny for days. There was no way she, and her family, could’ve been blinded so easily. But her hands shook as she watched the familiar form, the sweet voice and common laugh. With a soft turn in the blinding sun, the truth couldn’t have been more stark. 

Her fiancé, was the very married Shyam Manohar Jha.

— — — — 

Khushi’s body shook in rage and disbelief. Her mind scrambled to find logic. Who in their right mind would play such a twisted game to go after a nobody despite being married to one of the most wonderful woman from an illustrious family? Her palm still stung from the slap she had delivered moments ago. 

Her hand though, felt relieved without the ring and bracelet. 

Should she tell the truth to Anjali? What about Payal’s marriage? How dare he deceive her family! 

“Watch it!” Khushi stumbled into Arnav and collapsed on the floor. She tried to put together the pieces of his broken cup but her mind could not function. What could she tell him? That her fiancé was a married man? It is his beloved sister’s husband? 

Would he trust her? 

Had he ever trusted her? 

What about his heartbreak? 

Arnav had never recovered from becoming an orphan. He would not survive this heartbreak. 

Despite a maddening urge to throw herself into his arms and have his strong shoulders lift the burden hers, she left the safety of his embrace and ran as far away as her feet could take her. 

— — — — —

How would Payal take the news? What would happen to her impeding marriage? Mami ji would rejoice at the first step to break this alliance! What about Babuji? How would he bear this heartache-

“Khushi ji!” Shyam cried, pulling Khushi away from an oncoming car. 

“Please, what if something happened!” Shyam attempted to hug her but Khushi shoved him away, adjusting her dupatta further around her body. He disgusted her. 

Shyam’s face crumpled at her reaction, he tried to reach out and hold her hand, but she swiftly turned around and ran down the street.

“Khushi, please listen to me!” Shyam huffed, chasing Khushi. The audacity of that man! But what if his intentions wee further malicious? Just how could Khushi protect her and her family?

“Khushi ji if you don’t stop I’ll kill myself!” Shyam threatened, stepping in the middle of the busy road, waiting for one of the oncoming cars to hit him. 

For half a second Khushi wished one car would run over him… but she couldn’t take it anymore. 

Shyam never saw the car coming in his direction, because Khushi jumped in and pulled him out of danger. 

He did not get to thank her as well as the car pushed its breaks a little too late - throwing Khushi headfirst on the ground. 

— — — — —

Shyam waited in anxiety as the doctors checked on Khushi. He had taken Khushi into a private clinic, a couple of kilometers away. As much as he loved her, he could not afford the accident to gain attention nor any of their familiar hospitals recognize Shyam.

Goddamn Arnav and his charities. 

There were already too many loose strings. 

Shyam stepped by Khushi’s side, watching her pale face in morbid fascination. She looked beautiful even when she was nearly dead. For a moment Shyam was tempted to inject a painless lethal chemical into her saline. 

She deserved to die in peace, after all she still loved him enough to save his life at the cost of hers. 

And unfortunately, his one and only true love had become a hindrance and distraction in his plans. She knew too much, far too much. 

Shyam caressed her cheek and slid his hand to her throat. This was the most difficult decision in his life. She was so delicate, that he knew one strong squeeze would give him the desirable outcome. 

His gaze settled on her soft lips. 

A parting kiss was in due. 

Farewell, my dear, Shyam whispered, leaning down to kiss and choke her to death when her eyes fluttered open. He froze. The doctor too stepped in at the exact moment, forcing Shyam to retreat his hand. 

Khushi sat up on the creaky hospital bed. She held her head, wincing at the pain.

“Careful, you’re recovering from a head injury.” The doctor gently warned Khushi, checking her blood pressure before writing prescriptions and handing it to Shyam. 

“Doctor sahab, when can I go home?” Khushi whispered, still holding her head in her hands.

“Don’t worry, you can leave today itself but for that,” the doctor turned to Shyam, “please call a family member to sign her discharge papers.”

“Oh he can do it,” Khushi interjected, “he is my fiancé.” 

---------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Yes, I am evil. Enjoy :D

tagging: @shaonsim @zaphbeeblebrox @shiyaravi @chutkiandchotte @featheredclover @goals1024 @honeybellexox @darkchocolatestuff @charucoal @thedupattaknowswhatsup @bigfatreader @lostafpanda @exosexosekai @hi-this-is-permabanned @scorpio-smiles @noor1025 @minpdnim @laad-governess @barshifan @whateverworks21 @maansiloves @samuraisamsworld @dropsofserenity @myloveforstuff @leila1 @onadaanparindey @urwatueat @dimaagkadahi @ijustchangedmyname @australian-desi @muttonthings (updating this list - lemme know who wants to be added/deleted)

[frostironfudge]

You Bring Light Into My Life - Andy Barber

Summary: You’re feeling homesick during your favourite holiday from back home, Andy Barber steps in re-lighting the spark.

Pairing: Andy Barber x Desi!Fem!Reader

Warnings: none fluff all the way, andy being a cute lil baby, mutual pining, celebrating diwali, past in italics.

A.N: this is for @elle14-blog1 it’s her diwali gift, plus i’m a sucker for stories of people from different cultures falling in love and celebrating each other’s traditions and making their own, happy diwali to those celebrating!

Word Count: 1.2k

Main Masterlist || AO3

There was something about the festival of lights that enamoured you. The way the fireworks reflected off of the buildings colouring them for once beyond their muted beiges and greys. 

You look around the quite neighbourhood from your window, Boston didn’t glow as bright on Diwali as your home country. It was approaching dusk and most apartments had led lights but not just to celebrate the festival. 

You look down at the diyas then at the clock, almost time to light them up. You place the lit diyas along the window pane careful to have the flame not touch the walls or the glass. 

Gathering the flowers and the electric diyas on a tray you open your front door just as your neighbour opens his own. 

“Hey.” He greets, blue eyes moving over your traditional outfit to the tray. 

“Diwali correct?” Andy smiles when your eyes widen at him not butchering the pronunciation. 

“Yes,” you kneel to place the flowers and the diyas. 

“Happy Diwali.” He greets, you smile up at him. 

“Happy Diwali.” You greet back, Andy should go, he should because staring at your neighbour for this long seems wrong. 

You don’t mind it though, letting him watch you set up the diyas and press the button. The light sputters then goes out. You pout, picking it up has one flower roll away. 

Andy bends down his laptop bag casted to the side with his coat. He grabs the flower, then shifts closer to you placing it back to the original place. 

“Probably a battery issue?” He murmurs as you sigh frustrated. 

“I think the person sold me dummy pieces, these are new batteries.” You explain, setting the device back down. 

“Could I take a look?” He holds his hand out, he hasn’t gotten many chances to speak with you.

You both do have a weekly run in in the elevator when you’re just getting done with your twenty four hour shift and he’s returning from his firm and once or twice a month he’d borrow coffee from you for his machine. 

You’ve never requested anything from him apart from one time that your lock broke just as you both were making your way from the elevators discussing about the landlord having three dogs but allowing no one else to keep pets. 

Andy despite being tired ran to the store and brought back a new lock and a deadbolt. Saved the invoices typed up the application to the landlord to reimburse you and update all the locks in the building. 

He even offered to sleep on the couch incase you feel ill at ease. You always thought Andy is handsome but that small offer of caring and being protective it sent your crush into a full blown spiral. 

Andy blinks as he removes the battery, thinking over the several chances he has had to speak to you. Maybe even flirt a little, but he never made a move. He wants to so badly. 

“Ah okay, the wiring inside is unattached.” He declares seeing the wires half off of the circuitry. 

“Great.” You murmur, disappointment lacing your tone. 

“I’m sorry.” Andy still holds the diya, your expression tugging at his heart strings. 

“No, I, I’m just very homesick and I used to do this back home, decorate with flowers and diyas at the front door. Stupid thing won’t work and I can’t keep flames unattended.” Your eyes fall to his things, “I’m sorry I should let you go—,”

“No, you aren’t taking up my time, the meeting can wait. Is there something I can do to help?” His hand reaches for your forearm, fingers gently wrapping around, warmth seeping to your skin. 

Andy can’t see you upset, he knows longing intimately, he knows it’s a part of homesickness.  

You chuckle humourlessly, “Andy I’m pretty sure you can’t bring the non bursting fireworks here or have the streets decorated in lanterns and lights, or get this damn diya to work.” You let the diya be there unlit. 

He looks into your home at the diyas lighting your window. 

“You should get on with your evening, I’ve anyways got to video chat my parents, I’ll see you sometime yeah? Thank you so much for helping.” You quickly ramble, he stands with you. 

You reach up, kissing his cheek murmuring another rushed but sincere apology. Your door closes and Andy stands with the diya in his hand and a light bulb going off in his head. 

The Diya flickers on and he smiles at probably the good omen.

“Yeah it will work to make her smile.” He says to himself. 

Its three to four hours later with your dinner in the microwave rotating even slower than usual that there is a knock on the door. 

You frown, going over and looking through the peephole. Andy stands there hands behind his back. Swiftly you open the door. 

“Hey.” He greets with a beaming smile that never fails to make you smile. 

“Hi Andy.” You chuckle then blink and look down,  every few feet are flame diyas till the elevators. 

“That is a fire hazard— Andy?” You look up at him and his grin just gets more wider with pink tinged. 

“You said you wanted diwali, now I couldn’t exactly bring in fireworks but I found the sparklers and,” he rummages in his pocket. 

He brings out the electric diya, all lit up and working properly. 

Your eyes begin to brim with tears, leaving the door you wrap your arms around him, “Oh Andy, I don't have the words, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Andy smiles, wrapping his arms around you, pulling you close. Before he can stop himself he presses a soft kiss to your forehead. 

Your arms tighten around his frame, his scent comforting you. The gesture making your heart flutter. 

“Wanna meet me downstairs to light the sparklers?” He questions, unwilling to let you go. 

“It’s a date.” You look up at him, Andy’s beaming smile lights up your heart as he cups your cheek.

--—-—-—--

two years later. 

“Princess?” Andy calls out from near the doorway of the kitchen. 

“Yes, baby?” You look up from the arrangement of the diyas you were making. 

“Does this look right?” He holds up the dough of the confectionery, it starts sliding to the edge of the bowl. 

“Um…” you purse your lips, he looked so hopeful, “its a little runny…” you chuckle when he pouts, standing up to meet him in the kitchen. 

“We’re out of flour to counter it…” He sighs but then laughs at your bewildered expression. 

“I don’t even want to know how you managed to do that Andrew.” You take the bowl from his hands, trying to inspect what went wrong. 

“We’ll just ask mum on the call.” You deem. 

“That is the best idea,” he glances outside a smile on his features. 

“Its time Princess.” He grabs your hand and leads you to the main door of the house you both now share. 

You grab the floral arrangement, from the tray. You admire his excitement, loving him even more for sharing and wanting to participate in your traditions. 

Both of you kneel, lighting the one real flame diya together with the electric lighter. Andy then pulls out the very same electric diya from two years ago, he holds it as you press the button the bulb flickers on strongly. 

“Happy Diwali, Princess.” He kisses your forehead, both of you placing the diya down. 

“Happy Diwali, baby.” You cup his cheeks, pulling him into a kiss. 

Completing your tradition with him. 

-x-

[idigitizellp21]

5 Interesting facts about Diwali

Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, is one of the most widely celebrated religious occasions across the world. Here are some of the most surprising facts about Diwali that you probably didn’t know.

1. The day Lakshmi visits her devotees

Goddess Lakshmi visits her devotees and bestows gifts and blessings upon each of them. To welcome the Goddess, devotees clean their houses, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweet treats and delicacies as offerings. Devotees believe the happier Lakshmi is with the visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth.

2. Different Diwali stories

Many see Diwali honouring the return of the lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana from exile, as told in the ancient Hindu epic called the Ramayana. To some, Diwali marks the return of Pandavas after 12 years of Vanvas and one year of agyatavas in the other ancient Hindu epic called the Mahabharata. Many other Hindus believe Diwali is linked to the celebration of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of deity Vishnu. The five day festival of Diwali begins on the day Lakshmi was born from the churning of cosmic ocean of milk during the tug of war between the forces of good and forces of evil; the night of Diwali is the day Lakshmi chose Vishnu as her husband and then married him. Some Hindus offer pujas to additional or alternate deities such as Kali, Ganesha, Saraswati, and Kubera. Other Hindus believe that Diwali is the day Vishnu came back to Lakshmi and their abode in the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of her good mood, and therefore are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being during the year ahead. But mostly the festival is considered the return of the Lord Rama and Sita after completing fourteen years in exile.

3. On the day of Diwali, Lord Mahavira attained his Moksha

In Jainism, Diwali commemorates the anniversary of Lord Mahavir‘s attainment of moksha, or freedom from the cycle of reincarnation, in 527 B.C.E. Lord Mahavir was the 24th and last Thirtankar of Jainism and revitalized the religion as it is today. First referred to in Jain scriptures as dipalikaya, or light leaving the body, it is said that the earth and the heavens were illuminated with lamps to mark the occasion of Lord Mahavir’s enlightenment.

4. Sikhs commonly called Diwali Bandi Chhor Divas

Diwali, for Sikhs, marks the Bandi Chhor Divas, when Guru Har Gobind Ji freed himself and Hindu Kings, from Fort Gwalior, from the prison of Islamic ruler Jahangir, and arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Ever since then, Sikhs celebrate Bandi Choor Divas, with the annual lighting up of Golden Temple, fireworks and other festivities.

5. It is a national holiday in India, Trinidad & Tobago, Myanmar, Nepal, Mauritius,  Guyana,  Singapore, Suriname, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Fiji. And is an optional holiday in Pakistan.

Diwali is celebrated around the world, particularly in countries with significant populations of Hindu, Jain and Sikh origin. These include Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom,United Arab Emirates, and the United States. With more understanding of Indian culture and global migration of people of Indian origin, the number of countries where Diwali/Deepavali is celebrated has been gradually increasing. While in some countries it is celebrated mainly by Indian expatriates, in others it is becoming part of the general local culture. In most of these countries Diwali is celebrated on the same lines as described in this article with some minor variations. Some important variations are worth mentioning.

[nabooro]

hey! soo do you have any headcanon about de culture traditions?

Hi! Thanks for the question anon - I do have quite a few headcanons about cultural elements and traditions, but I'm not sure how to even begin answering this, because that's such a broad category.

I'll give you a few examples, though, and if this wasn't really what you were thinking of, you can come back and be like "no you haven't answered me at all." Or you can ask for elaboration on any of these~

One of the earlier things I did was block out a calendar for Naboo. The planet has a 312 day year - each month is 31 days, which is divided into 6 standard weeks of 5 days each, plus one standard monthly "auspicious day" that's a compulsory holiday every 40 days (adjusted back every 5 months to be on the 35th day) instead.

This auspicious day at one point coincided with full Veruna night, but was adjusted calendrically to be more symbolic and to accomodate the Galactic Standard Week without interruptions, which means it only actually coincides with the full Veruna like, 3 or 4 times a year, and those ones are considered kind of more important.

At any rate, these holidays are considered auspicious days and are typically when people do big things: weddings, inaugurations, celebrations, offering prayers of some kind, etc. etc. The more important ones of these (such as the first one in the spring, or those that coincide with the actual full moon) sometimes have parades or other celebrations.

One celebration I do have specifically in mind is celebrated in the Nirerd region, or Hill Country, where young couples all wearing white sit in small hand-rowed boats and pass under the boughs of the year's first bloom of moonflowers, which is sort of thought of as bringing luck to their marriage/relationship, and is also sort of a fertility tradition.

Another is the performance of "warrior dances", which are technically fighting stances that were once practiced by dedicated warrior devotees to Zenda, but which have evolved into formalised dances that people do literal years of training to perform.

Another major holiday is the canon "Festival of Light," for which I am ignoring the whole the day Naboo joined the Republic nonsense, as it shares a name with Diwali / Deepavali, and re-assigning it as the last two days of the year.

The last two days of the year always coincide with the new [Veruna], and those two days are not technically part of any month, but stand independently as the last day of the ending year and day 0 of the new year, with the new moon night being the one before day 0.

For the celebration of the Festival of Light, everywhere on Naboo they have grand arrangements and celebrations and huge displays of lights, synthetic and organic, in order to brighten the world that is darkened by the new moon, and this is symbolic of the way the moon will grow after this - kind of like saying, the light will return shortly, but until then we create our own.

This also has a double element to it, as the new year starts at the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere, and summer in the southern one, so the celebration takes on different elements in the north and south, as it is a celebration of the upcoming summer in the south, and a warding off of the darkness of the upcoming winter in the north.

Some other customs are:

It's common to wear the rindo, or the wrap dress (i.e. the kimono Padmé wears once in TPM and never again) on spring auspicious days in the north and east, especially the Nirerd and Arind regions. Another thing common in Arind especially is the wearing of a "branch headdress", which is meant to resemble the branches grown by Shiraya.

Naboo has a rich tea culture and it is traditional to send specific tea blends to people whom you owe in some way or to express your gratitude, or sometimes deep apologies. Some ingredients that are common for gifts of gratitude are millaflower petals, moonflower petals, frostflower leaves, sweetsmoke leaves, and wild cherry (ashin) bark.

On nights when none of the moons are in the sky (rare) or eclipse nights (more common), it was common for people to wear simple masks so that they cannot be identified by the spirits of the dead, who are/were believed to emerge when the world is as dark as the underworld.

One of the rudest things you can do is try to take somebody's mask off without permission - conversely it is seen as deeply romantic to take the mask off of your partner with their agreement.

It's common to give gifts of raw material to people for formal events, especially people you don't know well, kind of symbolic of giving them... creative power? If that makes sense? In some cases, you return the same gift and ask them to make something from that raw material and give it to you after, which is like handing respect back.

I hope this was kind of the thing you were imagining, or at least that it was interesting! I have literally so many headcanons and I love being asked about any of them, so thank you!

[ssj2hindudude]

My diwali went good. I woke up around 5 am today because I slept late last night. I did some gym and took my dog for a walk . Got ready in a chikankari kurti and worshipped ( you know morning diwali puja )

Then I called my parents and just helped Amma ( my housekeeper ) with the decoration and cooking . I went to a parlor in the afternoon to get my spa and returned with getting the Diwali gifts packed . Coming back home I studied and later I got dressed in the saree and did the Diwali puja at evening. did party arrangements and party started at nine pm. Had snacks , my friends drank ( I didn't because I don't drink ) , danced way too much and now after having dinner and dessert we're having a sleepover

Just gonna break apart my reactions:

-Definite difference in wake-up culture because your late is 5am and mine goes as far as 10:30. You did all kinds of stuff before puja, meanwhile I just go straight from PJs to puja (with a shower in between)

-I actually watched a Diwali-related movie with my mom last night. It's the 2023 Ramayan remake, Adipurush. Maybe you heard of it?

-Ugh, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I legit miss going to the gym. I haven't been in weeks because of a fracture (word of advice: always keep proper form on the treadmill)

-Pretty neat that you did the decorations on the same day. We'd probably have to do it the day before. Did you make a rangoli?

-Come to think of it, we don't even trade gifts on Diwali over here. We'll have to change that.

-You don't drink too?!? And you're also the only one in your friend group that doesn't? (Where have you been all my life?!?)

-Dam, girls are lucky they can have sleepovers so casually. Talking, games, movies, blood sacrifices, sounds like an awesome time to me!

Hope you had a blast. (Speaking of which, you didn't mention fireworks)

Thanks for the update. It was nice to read. May Laxmi and Narayana bless you while they're not making ou-

OW!

I think they found this post🤕

Anyways, Happy Diwali! Ram-Ram Siya Ram!🙏

[ereturngifts]

https://www.ereturngifts.com/gift/diwali-red-color-5-inches-brass-lotus-oil-diya-1-pcs-with-gift-box/

Diwali Red Color 5 Inches Brass Lotus Oil Diya 1 Pcs with Gift Box for Diwali for gift use, Festivals/Functions/Corporate/Wedding/Housewarming/Return Gift and home use for all Occasions. Diwali Red Color 5 Inches Brass Lotus Oil Diya 1 Pcs with Gift Box for Diwali Set for Festival, Function, Wedding Occasions for Lighting Decoration at Home, Office & Temples.

[ashtok1]

Return Gifts for Ladies, Birthday, Marriage, Diwali, House Warming

[sophygurl]

Blessed Solstice and Happy start of Yule to all who celebrate either one. 

Most of this post hinges on my living in the northern hemisphere, so for you southern hemisphere folks - uh, save it and read it in six months?? Time and space are weird.

Anyway, I love how so many cultures, countries, religions, and practices there are at this year with similar themes and rituals. It's such a human thing for us all to need certain stories and narratives and ways of relating to one another and just all independently coming up similar stuff but with different specific meanings and mythologies attached. 

As a mystic agnostic who was raised a liberal Christian and has adopted various earth-centered traditions into my mishmash of spirituality, I acknowledge and celebrate a few different traditions this time of year. I won't speak to the holidays and festivals that don't relate to me, except to occasionally and briefly note some of the thematic and ritual similarities.

But when it comes to advent/Christmas (including both the spiritual and more commercial aspects of Christmas), and solstice/Yule, and even a bit of New Year's, there is so much common ground along themes of:

* waiting: waiting for something magical, waiting for a miracle (I hear you Mirabel), waiting for new life, waiting for the thing that will spark hope during a hopeless time, waiting for the right time to overcome oppression, waiting for the light to return, waiting for the sun to return, waiting for the warmth to return, waiting for the opportunity to make things better, for a fresh start, waiting in watching wonderment as the earth (or the sun) seems to stand still and knowing and hoping and praying that it will continue the journey, kids waiting for Santa, advent calendars, advent wreathe candles, counting down the days until the holiday, counting down the hours and minutes and seconds until the new year

* sharing: sharing what light we have with one another, sharing our warmth, sharing with our loved ones and our communities, sharing with the stranger - the traveler from out of town or the neighbor who needs our help, sharing our love and our gifts (whether you're rich enough to share sacred oils or talented enough to share your music or kind enough to share a smile - it all counts), sharing food to keep us healthy and warmed, sharing shelter as we gather with loved ones or house the refugees in our midst, sharing greetings via ritualized words in passing or cards in the mail, sharing our magic and our hope and our love

* the possible: the magic, the miracle, the wonder - all of the things that seem impossible suddenly feeling possible, whether it's a jolly elf who brings toys to the world's children or the child of a divine being coming to live amongst us to teach us how to love one another better or the fact of communities gathering to chant back the sun together or noticing how nature always provides even during the loneliest times by showing us how to rest in dormancy or fallowness or hibernation or just by sharing resources or tucking away extra nourishment to get us through, maybe it's the oil in the lamp lasting longer than expected or the miracle of humans remembering to share their light with others, maybe it's three men following a star to greet the baby they know will create great change on the earth or maybe it's three ghosts coming to scare a miserly capitalist into sharing his wealth, whatever it is - it feels more possible this time of year

* light, light light light, the light of the world, the light of life, the yule log, the advent candles, the menorah, the returning of the sun, the Diwali lights, the new year's fireworks, the burning of the Galve goat, fireplaces, candles, Christmas lights, candlelight Christmas Eve services, sharing our light, bringing back the light, resting - just for now - in the dark

These are by no means all of the associations between these different holidays and holy days at this time of year, but it's enough to give me food for thought.

I love the sense of magic that comes this time of year, the sense that anything and everything can change for the better, that pregnant sense of waiting and wondering what will come, the cozy feeling involved in sharing what we have with others so that all may feel warm when it's cold and all may have light when it's dark and all may have nourishment when the harvest is over and less food is available for the taking. 

Winter is hard for me. It's hard on my chronic pain, it's hard on my depression and trauma, it's just a slog to get through - especially up here in Wisconsin. I don't like the cold. I don't like the sun spending less time with us. I don't like the extra isolation that these bring. And I don't like settling down with the peace of my own mind and facing the difficulties in my own spirit and in the world at large.

I often overly focus to the point of obsession on the aspects about bringing back the light and sharing with others. It makes me feel less lonely, it makes the cold feel a little cozier and the quiet less oppressive.

But I've been trying, this year, to focus more on the other side of things, too. On finding quiet moments to appreciate the dormancy of spirit that comes naturally at this time of year. 

On remembering that many good things come from the waiting, as much as from the arrival; from the resting, as much as from the activity; from the solitude as much as from the company of others. From the balance of all things, even access to the sun - that majestic giver of life. 

To be more like the evergreen tree that is hardy enough to thrive in the snow, and whose greenery we intentionally bring inside at this time of year to remind us that we, too, can survive the long lonely nights of winter. 

Blessed Solstice, and happy all-the-holidays, friends and family.

[myths-n-legends]

Deepavail (Diwail)

Hehe, hello I almost forgot to post today again, anyway its Diwail/Deepavail, so happy diwali to all the people how celebrate the festival!! Also only one week till Halloween!! Look who once said that she'll never write anything about Indian mythology (°=°;;) Anyways enjoy the story.

Deepavali (Btw its actully Deepavali but many people call and know it as Diwail), also known as the Festival of Lights is a Hindu religious festival and one of the most important festivals within Hinduism.

It generally lasts five days (or six in some regions of India), and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November). It is one of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, it symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". 

The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity and Ganesha, god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles, with many other regional traditions connecting the holiday to Sita  and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Durga, Shiva,  Kali, Hanuman, Kubera, Yama, Yami, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman.

Furthermore, it is a celebration of the day Rama returned to his kingdom in  Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after defeating the demon Ravana in Lanka and serving 14 years of exile.

In the lead-up to Deepavali, celebrants prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas (oil lamps) and rangolis (colorful artistic circle patterns).

During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas and rangoli, perform worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared.

Originally a Hindu festival, Diwali has transcended religious lines and is also celebrated by Jains and Sikhs. It is a major cultural event for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora.

The five-day long festival originated in the Indian subcontinent and is mentioned in early Sanskrit texts. Diwali is usually celebrated twenty days after the Vijayadashami (Dussehra,  Dasara,  Dashain,  Dashahara.(There are all the same btw)) festival, with Dhanteras, or the regional equivalent, marking the first day of the festival when celebrants prepare by cleaning their homes and making decorations on the floor, such as rangolis.

Some regions of Indiastart Diwali festivities the day before Dhanteras with Govatsa Dwadashi. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. The third day is the day of Lakshmi Puja and the darkest night of the traditional month. In some parts of India, the day after Lakshmi Puja is marked with the Govardhan Puja  and Balipratipada (Padwa).

Some Hinducommunities mark the last day as Bhai Doojor the regional equivalent, which is dedicated to the bond between sister and brother, while other Hindu and Sikh craftsmen communities mark this day as Vishwakarma Puja and observe it by performing maintenance in their work spaces and offering prayers.

Some other faiths in India also celebrate their respective festivals alongside Diwali. The Jains observe their own Diwali which marks the final liberation of Mahavira,  the Sikhscelebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughalprison, while Newar Buddhists, unlike other Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshipping Lakshmi, while the Hindus of Eastern Indiaand Bangladesh generally celebrate Diwali by worshipping the goddess Kali. 

The main day of the festival of Diwali (the day of Lakshmi Puja) is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India,  Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

A/n: stolen knowledge from Wikipedia coz your girl lost track of time. Im sorry about that and also for no pictures and also became I'm late at posting again. If there are any spelling errors I have no Idea about it but I apology for that too.

See you on the next post and happy Diwail!! Bye and take care.