Dhanteras is the first day of the five-day Diwali Festival as celebrated primarily in Northern & Western part of India. The festival is also named as "Dhanathrayodashi" or "Dhanvantari Thrayodashi". The word ‘Dhana,’ means ‘wealth’ in Hindi and ‘Thrayodashi’ means ‘13th day’ of a Hindu calendar month. Its celebration is done on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik.

On Dhanteras, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped to grant richness and security to people. Dhanteras holds special significance for the business community due to the expected consumptions of precious metals on this day. Lord Kubera, who is the God of assets and wealth is also worshipped.

For Dhanteras (09-11-2015) click here: http://www.desievite.com/invitation/Festivals/Dhanteras/

About ‘Kali Puja’:

Kali Puja is a festival devoted to the Hindu goddess Kali. The festival falls on the new moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik coinciding with the pan-Indian Lakshmi Puja day of Diwali. The festival is also known as Shyama Puja or Mahanisha Puja. It is most essentially celebrated in Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Assam and especially the Bengalis, Odias and Assamese admire goddess Kali as part of their culture. Mahanisha puja is performed by the Maithili people of Mithila region in India and Nepal.

For Kali Puja (10-11-2015) click here: http://www.desievite.com/invitation/Festivals/Kali-Puja/

About ‘Lakshmi Puja’:

Lakshmi Puja is a Hindu religious prayer chanted on Amavasya, the third day of Diwali i.e. on the day of actual Diwali festival just before the celebrations of Diwali starts! In Hindu nation of Nepal, it is frequently practised during the Tihar festival. Believers show respect to the Goddess Lakshmi by placing small oil lamps or candles both inside and outside of their homes. They pray for affluence, richness and well-being for their families and businesses through the vibes of their enchanted prayers to Goddess Lakshmi!

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and Lord Vishnu's wife, visits her devotees and bequeaths gifts and blessings upon each of them as per the legend. It is widely said that the goddess, Lakshmi, likes hygiene and hence, prefers to stopover the cleanest house first!! Consequently, the broom, is also worshiped with offerings of haldi (turmeric) and kumkum (vermilion) on this day. Lamps are lit in the evening to welcome the goddess as they are supposed to light up her path!

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 her particular visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth.

Lakshmi Puja, i.e. the worship of the goddess of prosperity and fortune, is one of the main events of Diwali cherished in North and West India from the earliest of times.

For Lakshmi Puja (early evening 11-11-2015) click here: http://www.desievite.com/invitation/Festivals/Lakshmi-Puja/

About ‘Diwali’:

Diwali (or Deepavali, the "festival of lights") is one of the largest and brightest festivals in India. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of good over evil and the successful return of Lord Ram back to his hometown – Ayodhya, after 14 years of continuous exile imposed by his father and precisely 20 days after Dussehra when Lord Ram successfully killed the devil King Ravan to free and get his beloved wife Sita from Ravan’s trap as per the epic of Ramayan. Therefore, Diwali, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) every year as part of most celebrated Hindu custom. The preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali.

On the eve of Diwali night, people clean, renovate, and decorate their homes and offices and on the Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja (prayers to Goddess Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity). After the puja, fireworks (padakas) follow outside the homes, and then, families have truly homemade delicious feasts including mithaies (sweets), they visit family members and close friends and also, exchange gifts! Deepavali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated and everywhere one can find the buzz of the Diwali crackers and light show from open sky virtually all over India on this day. So much so big is the effect of the Diwali night that the Google Maps/Earth and all other mapping satellites exclusively publish the photos of the effect of light on the whole terrain of India from the space that is so distinct and bright everywhere on the Indian sub-continent!!

For Diwali (evening 11-11-2015) click here: http://www.desievite.com/invitation/Festivals/Diwali/