Read: [ReachIndia] Happy Diwali - You can make a difference on this Diwali

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

Diwali or Dīpāvali (Sanskrit: a row of lamps^[1]) is a significant festival in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and an official holiday in India. Adherents of these religions celebrate Diwali as the Festival of Lights. They light diyas—cotton string wicks inserted in small clay pots filled with oil—to signify victory of good over the evil within an individual.

In Hinduism, across many parts of India and Nepal, it is the homecoming of Rama after a 14-year exile in the forest and his victory over Ravana.^[3] In the legend, the people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (dĭpa), thus its name: dīpāwali. In South India, it marks the victory of Krishna over Narakasura. Over time, this word transformed into Diwali in Hindi and Dipawali in Nepali, but still retained its original form in South and East Indian.....

As per Hindu calendar, the five day festival of Diwali is centered on the new moon day that ends the month of Ashwin and begins the month of Kartika, beginning on the 13th day of the dark half of Ashwin (Ashwin 28th) and ending on the 2nd day of the bright half of Kartika (Kartika 2nd). The main day of celebration varies regionally......

In the Gregorian calendar, it falls generally in the months of October or November. In Nepal, it is celebrated according to Nepalese calendar. The festival marks the last three days and the first two days of Nepalese era......

While Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light".

Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Diwali is the celebration of this inner light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (inner joy or peace).
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The above is a brief description of Diwali offered for openers. Let us learn about all cultures, all peoples and all festivals upon Mother Earth that help bring grand Light to the Darkness of these troubled times. I feel deep in my ancient soul that despite the tragic troubles of these times that it is all going to turn out good for all of us seeking the light, justice and harmony!

 

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Education for Liberation! Venceremos Unidos!

Peter S. Lopez ~aka Peta

Sacramento, California, Aztlan

Yahoo Email: peter.lopez51@yahoo.com 

http://twitter.com/Peta51

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Come Together! Join Up! Seize the Time!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Humane-Rights-Agenda/

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From: Somu Kumar <somukumar@gmail.com>
To: Reach India <ReachIndia@lists.aidindia.org>
Sent: Sat, October 17, 2009 9:05:00 AM
Subject: [ReachIndia] Happy Diwali - You can make a difference on this Diwali

Please circulate widely among your friends.

Dear Friends, 

Wish you all a very Happy Diwali..!!!

On the occasion of 'Festival of lights', We request you to spread the light & love to million unfortunate others, through AID.

AID is currently supporting flood relief victims in AP & Karnataka and raising funds to cope up with devastating damages. We are raising funds through America Giving Challenge on Facebook - where a charity can win $50,000 for most unique number of donations on Nov 6th. There are also daily prizes of $1,000 and $500 for charities that get maximum number of donations each day. This week AID's cause won two daily prizes of $1,000 and $500 each.  With all of this we have been able to raise over $12,400 in a matter of few days. Alongside we have created a strong membership of around 1,700 people on our cause page. If all goes well and we continue to hold our top position then we will get a prize of $50,000.

DONATE $10 here:

Facebook users click on the following like to join the Cause and donate:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/368576/13650084?m=5c768c22&ref=nf

Non Facebook users can directly donate on the following link

http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=368576&recruiter_id=13650084

More info.

- This competition is for the number of donations and NOT amounts. Donating just $10 is enough for every 24 hours ending at 3pm. If you want to donate more, then donate once every 24 hours to increase number of daily donations.

This money is being raised to support our flood relief work in India because this is how some of our fellow country people will be celebrating their Diwali and other festivals to come..

    

Details of the on going work and field reports 

As you might have guessed that holding this position is quite a daunting task and competition is getting more and more difficult by the day. We need approximately up to 250 donations to win this daily target. 

 

 So please try your level best to get as many $10 donations as you can.  Many of you have already made your pledges, thanks for doing that. Some of you are even donating $10 every day.

A few important rules of the game are as below:

 

- The cut off time for each days challenge is 3pm.

- This competition is for the number of donations and NOT amounts. So do not donate more than $10 within every 24 hours ending at 3pm. If you want to donate more, then donate once before 3pm tomorrow and once again after 3pm tomorrow.

- Please save and visit the link as many days as possible till Nov 6th and donate $10.

Reach out to as many people as you can and get as many $10 donations as possible. Many chapters have set targets for each volunteers to reach out to their 10 friends. An email appeal or a message send through your Facebook should okay. We hope you will act as AID ambassadors and work along with us to raise the funds.

The current score cards is as below:

Get the most donations by November 6th - 20 days left

Overall $50,000 Challenge

1.	Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Floods Relief Fund (Donate)		663 donations
2.	GlobeMed - Advancing global health equity		655 donations

As seen above this competition is going neck to neck and we need your support to maintain our leading position. 

Folks, lets do this one for Diwali and contribute towards bringing  a light of hope to the people who have lost everything in this terrible flood..!!

To win this challenge and we need your support the most  please take a minute and click the donate button..!!

Sincerely,

AID volunteers

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"The resources of the world are for us all to share. Let us affirm our faith in that common cause" - Dr. Ilina Sen