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Diwali
Two major Diwali events were organized:

1. IAF Diwali dinner and get together on Nov. 7th, 2004.

2. Houston Mayor Bill White's Diwali 2004 event in partnership with other leading organizations of Houston.

Click here to know more about this festival.

Tsunami
Indo American Forum of Fort Bend (IAF) along other organizations of Houston pooled their resources and power in raising funds for the victims of Tsunami.

Indo American Forum was pleased to announce that one of its members, Mr. Dhamotharan's Corporation pledged $100,000.00 to Red Cross directly. Other small amounts were also collected.

Diwali or Deepawali is a holiday celebrated throughout India. It is similar to Christmas; lights/candles (diyas) are lit and presents are exchanged. A puja (prayer) is observed on this holy day. Family and friends come together and set-off sparklers (hand-held fireworks) after the puja is completed.

Jennifer Kumar answers some questions about Diwali:

Q. What is the meaning of Diwali or Deepawali?
A. Diwali is the common term used throughout India to denote this holy- day, but people in South India commonly use the word, Deepawali.
Diwali comes from the Sanskrit "Deepawali" - Deepa meaning light, wali meaning row, hence row of lights. Or as otherwise known, festival of lights. People will light 'diyas' or lights of oil, or oil lamps. This is done by using a small brass plates or tiered plates as a lamp and putting oil or ghee (clarified butter) in the plates and putting wick and burning it. Here you can see some pictures of different types of Indian oil lamps. People will light these every morning for puja, and keep lit all day and night through out Diwali.

Q. How do people celebrate Diwali in India?
A. Diwali is the greatest festival. It is celebrated all over India, except by a majority of Malayalees (persons from the state of Kerala). That is because Malayalees celebrate Onam. That is a different festival special to Kerala state. People ready themselves for Diwali sometimes months in advance. The firecrackers (not big ones like westerners see for new years, etc, but small hand held types) begin a month in advance, and nearer to Diwali it is not even possible to think or walk outside without them being burst. (In fact one Diwali when I went to my friends house, a cracker was thrown on the road near to us, hence, it is usually unadvisable to go out on this night, due to these problems.) Diwali is like Christmas for westerners. Diwali means celebration. The pujas (prayers) go on for a week or more, but due to modern times, only one to two days is given for holiday for Diwali.

Q. What can I do for my Indian friends to show my appreciation and celebrate Diwali with them?
A. In India, a common practice is to buy new clothes and present them on Diwali to the person you are giving them to. It doesn't have to be "Indian" clothes, it can be whatever the person likes. It doesn't need to be wrapped. If you want to present it in a holy way, dab your finger in turmeric and place this on the corners of the folds of the garment. It may stain, so it is usually placed on bottom hems. If presenting the gift to elderly Indians, it is a good idea to bend down on your knees and touch their feet with your hands. In addition, offer the gift in the right hand with left hand on the bottom or do not use the left hand. Usually, Indians in US won't take offense to the use of the left hand, since they know the customs here, but in India that is not always the case. Other nice offerings on Diwali are sweets, jewelry, or other household fabrics like towels, linens or blankets.

In India, Diwali is very commercialized, people spend lots of money on buying new dresses, saris, salvaar kameez, pavada davani (skirt and top), lengha, dhotis, kurta pajama, etc for the girls and boys, men and women. People even buy new gifts for the newlyweds. Diwali is traditionally a time that the newlyweds come to their in laws, in particular the newlyweds go to the bride's family home to collect gifts, including relatively inexpensive gifts from sweets and clothes to very expensive gifts like gold, cars and even land and property.

Q.What are some religious aspects of Diwali?
A. Though I understand that Diwali is celebrated differently in different parts of India, traditions can span all over India. It is generalized that people in South India usually take oil baths in the morning. Puja in South India is more associated with Lakshmi, while in North India Puja is more associated with Ram (to have returned to Ayodhya) or with Goddess Kali. However, on Diwali day, families wake up at 4am all over India.

However, there is one tradition which is special to the state of West Bengal (Calcutta is in this state), they have special pujas for Kali. It is even said that in these pujas they use fish. Using of non-vegetarian food in pujas is taboo, but as fish is a very integral part of Bengalis diet and life, it is used in some special puja.

For more information visit: http://members.tripod.com/~jennifer_kumar/

Additional Diwali Links::
Diwali Celebrations and Explanations.
Diwali Stories, etc.
Diwali Festival - Extensive Information on Diwali in different parts of India

Holi - the festival of colors

As the brief spring warms the landscape, northern India cuts loose for a day of fun and hilarity. The festival of Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every year.

Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi is now a symbolic commemoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centers around an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king's sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges unscathed, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.

Although Holi is observed all over the North, it's celebrated with special joy and zest at Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, and Barsana. These towns once were the abode of the divine Krishna. This exuberant festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura - the two cities with which Lord Krishna shared a deep affiliation. Apart from the usual fun with colored powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality.

Today Holi is an excuse for Indians to shed inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever and Big Fun. Teenagers spend the day flirting and dancing in the streets, adults extend the hand of peace, and everyone chases everyone else around, throwing brightly colored powder (gulal) and water over each other.

The festival's preamble begins on the night of the full moon. Bonfires are lit on street corners to cleanse the air of evil spirits and bad vibes, and to symbolize the destruction of the wicked Holika, for whom the festival was named. The following morning, the streets fill with people running, shouting, giggling and splashing color.

Promptly at noon, in India, the craziness comes to an end and everyone heads to either the river or the bathtub, then inside to relax the day away and partake of candies. In the afternoon an exhausted and contented silence falls over India.

Each area celebrates Holi differently; the Bhil tribesmen of western Madhya Pradesh, who've retained many of their pre-Hindu customs, celebrate Holi in a unique way. In rural Maharashtra State, where the festival is known as Rangapanchami . It is celebrated with dancing and singing. In the towns of Rajasthan especially Jaisalmer, the music's great, and clouds of pink, green, and turquoise powder fill the air. The grounds of Jaisalmer's Mandir Palace are turned into chaos, with dances, folk songs, and colored-powder confusion.


Together, We Can Make A Difference
IAFArchives: 2007 2006 2005 Top Top Top	IAF 2004 Archives Diwali Tsunami Diwali Two major Diwali events were organized: 1. IAF Diwali dinner and get together on Nov. 7th, 2004. 2. Houston Mayor Bill White's Diwali 2004 event in partnership with other leading organizations of Houston. Click here to know more about this festival. Tsunami Indo American Forum of Fort Bend (IAF) along other organizations of Houston pooled their resources and power in raising funds for the victims of Tsunami. Indo American Forum was pleased to announce that one of its members, Mr. Dhamotharan's Corporation pledged $100,000.00 to Red Cross directly. Other small amounts were also collected. Diwali or Deepawali is a holiday celebrated throughout India. It is similar to Christmas; lights/candles (diyas) are lit and presents are exchanged. A puja (prayer) is observed on this holy day. Family and friends come together and set-off sparklers (hand-held fireworks) after the puja is completed. Jennifer Kumar answers some questions about Diwali: Q. What is the meaning of Diwali or Deepawali? A. Diwali is the common term used throughout India to denote this holy- day, but people in South India commonly use the word, Deepawali. Diwali comes from the Sanskrit "Deepawali" - Deepa meaning light, wali meaning row, hence row of lights. Or as otherwise known, festival of lights. People will light 'diyas' or lights of oil, or oil lamps. This is done by using a small brass plates or tiered plates as a lamp and putting oil or ghee (clarified butter) in the plates and putting wick and burning it. Here you can see some pictures of different types of Indian oil lamps. People will light these every morning for puja, and keep lit all day and night through out Diwali. Q. How do people celebrate Diwali in India? A. Diwali is the greatest festival. It is celebrated all over India, except by a majority of Malayalees (persons from the state of Kerala). That is because Malayalees celebrate Onam. That is a different festival special to Kerala state. People ready themselves for Diwali sometimes months in advance. The firecrackers (not big ones like westerners see for new years, etc, but small hand held types) begin a month in advance, and nearer to Diwali it is not even possible to think or walk outside without them being burst. (In fact one Diwali when I went to my friends house, a cracker was thrown on the road near to us, hence, it is usually unadvisable to go out on this night, due to these problems.) Diwali is like Christmas for westerners. Diwali means celebration. The pujas (prayers) go on for a week or more, but due to modern times, only one to two days is given for holiday for Diwali. Q. What can I do for my Indian friends to show my appreciation and celebrate Diwali with them? A. In India, a common practice is to buy new clothes and present them on Diwali to the person you are giving them to. It doesn't have to be "Indian" clothes, it can be whatever the person likes. It doesn't need to be wrapped. If you want to present it in a holy way, dab your finger in turmeric and place this on the corners of the folds of the garment. It may stain, so it is usually placed on bottom hems. If presenting the gift to elderly Indians, it is a good idea to bend down on your knees and touch their feet with your hands. In addition, offer the gift in the right hand with left hand on the bottom or do not use the left hand. Usually, Indians in US won't take offense to the use of the left hand, since they know the customs here, but in India that is not always the case. Other nice offerings on Diwali are sweets, jewelry, or other household fabrics like towels, linens or blankets. In India, Diwali is very commercialized, people spend lots of money on buying new dresses, saris, salvaar kameez, pavada davani (skirt and top), lengha, dhotis, kurta pajama, etc for the girls and boys, men and women. People even buy new gifts for the newlyweds. Diwali is traditionally a time that the newlyweds come to their in laws, in particular the newlyweds go to the bride's family home to collect gifts, including relatively inexpensive gifts from sweets and clothes to very expensive gifts like gold, cars and even land and property. Q.What are some religious aspects of Diwali? A. Though I understand that Diwali is celebrated differently in different parts of India, traditions can span all over India. It is generalized that people in South India usually take oil baths in the morning. Puja in South India is more associated with Lakshmi, while in North India Puja is more associated with Ram (to have returned to Ayodhya) or with Goddess Kali. However, on Diwali day, families wake up at 4am all over India. However, there is one tradition which is special to the state of West Bengal (Calcutta is in this state), they have special pujas for Kali. It is even said that in these pujas they use fish. Using of non-vegetarian food in pujas is taboo, but as fish is a very integral part of Bengalis diet and life, it is used in some special puja. For more information visit: http://members.tripod.com/~jennifer_kumar/ Additional Diwali Links:: Diwali Celebrations and Explanations. Diwali Stories, etc. Diwali Festival - Extensive Information on Diwali in different parts of India Holi - the festival of colors As the brief spring warms the landscape, northern India cuts loose for a day of fun and hilarity. The festival of Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every year. Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi is now a symbolic commemoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centers around an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king's sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges unscathed, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation. Although Holi is observed all over the North, it's celebrated with special joy and zest at Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, and Barsana. These towns once were the abode of the divine Krishna. This exuberant festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura - the two cities with which Lord Krishna shared a deep affiliation. Apart from the usual fun with colored powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality. Today Holi is an excuse for Indians to shed inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever and Big Fun. Teenagers spend the day flirting and dancing in the streets, adults extend the hand of peace, and everyone chases everyone else around, throwing brightly colored powder (gulal) and water over each other. The festival's preamble begins on the night of the full moon. Bonfires are lit on street corners to cleanse the air of evil spirits and bad vibes, and to symbolize the destruction of the wicked Holika, for whom the festival was named. The following morning, the streets fill with people running, shouting, giggling and splashing color. Promptly at noon, in India, the craziness comes to an end and everyone heads to either the river or the bathtub, then inside to relax the day away and partake of candies. In the afternoon an exhausted and contented silence falls over India. Each area celebrates Holi differently; the Bhil tribesmen of western Madhya Pradesh, who've retained many of their pre-Hindu customs, celebrate Holi in a unique way. In rural Maharashtra State, where the festival is known as Rangapanchami . It is celebrated with dancing and singing. In the towns of Rajasthan especially Jaisalmer, the music's great, and clouds of pink, green, and turquoise powder fill the air. The grounds of Jaisalmer's Mandir Palace are turned into chaos, with dances, folk songs, and colored-powder confusion.