Triumph of good over evil Deepavali – Festival of lights – By Thulasi Muttulingam Source : sundayobserver The Hindu festival of lights, Deepavali is round the corner. It falls this year on Thursday, October 31. Deepavali in Sanskrit translates to rows of lit lamps – and that’s how it is celebrated across most of the Indian subcontinent. Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus are slightly different however. We reserve the rows of lamps for the festival of Karthigai Deepam, which follows soon after. Some Sri Lankan Hindu households however, have begun to celebrate it in the Indian style now. Light over darkness It is a festival celebrating the advent of light over darkness. According to local Hindu Lore, the demon king Narakasura was wrecking hell on earth and heaven. As his name indicates, he was known as the Asura (Demon) from Naraka (Hell). He had won a boon from God that none but ...

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Embracing the Divine: Maha Shivarathri, A Night of Spiritual Significance – By eLanka   On March 8th, Hindus worldwide will celebrate Maha Shivarathri, translating to the ‘Great Night of Shiva.’ It stands as a profoundly auspicious occasion where devotees devote the entire night to chanting Shiva’s name (Om Namah Shivaya) or singing hymns in his praise. This sacred day falls on the 13th or 14th day after the full moon in the month of Magha, corresponding to February or March in the Western calendar. It unfolds on the night before the New Moon, a time when the Moon’s luminance diminishes. Hindus believe Maha Shivarathri to be a potent period where mantras resonate with amplified power and spiritual endeavors yield multiplied benefits. Thus, they fast throughout the day and stay vigilant through the night, striving to attune their minds to Shiva. Various narratives elucidate why Maha Shivarathri holds such reverence. Hinduism’s ...

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