Veterans🙏🏻Day

Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans, that is, persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces (and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable).

It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, a U.S. public holiday in May. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who have died while in military service. There is another military holiday, Armed Forces Day, a U.S. remembrance that also occurs in May, which honors those currently serving in the U.S. military. 

History
On November 11, 1919, U.S. president Woodrow Wilson issued a message to his countrymen on the first Armistice Day, in which he expressed what he felt the day meant to Americans:

ADDRESS TO FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN

The White House, November 11, 1919.
A year ago today our enemies laid down their arms in accordance with an armistice which rendered them impotent to renew hostilities, and gave to the world an assured opportunity to reconstruct its shattered order and to work out in peace a new and juster set of international relations. The soldiers and people of the European Allies had fought and endured for more than four years to uphold the barrier of civilization against the aggressions of armed force. We ourselves had been in the conflict something more than a year and a half.
With splendid forgetfulness of mere personal concerns, we remodeled our industries, concentrated our financial resources, increased our agricultural output, and assembled a great army, so that at the last our power was a decisive factor in the victory. We were able to bring the vast resources, material and moral, of a great and free people to the assistance of our associates in Europe who had suffered and sacrificed without limit in the cause for which we fought.
Out of this victory there arose new possibilities of political freedom and economic concert. The war showed us the strength of great nations acting together for high purposes, and the victory of arms foretells the enduring conquests which can be made in peace when nations act justly and in furtherance of the common interests of men.
To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.

WOODROW WILSON

The United States Congress adopted a resolution on June 4, 1926, requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue annual proclamations calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. A Congressional Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U.S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made November 11 in each year a legal holiday: "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."

In 1945, World War II veteran Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in World War I. Weeks led a delegation to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, who supported the idea of National Veterans Day. Weeks led the first national celebration in 1947 in Alabama and annually until his death in 1985. President Reagan honored Weeks at the White House with the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 as the driving force for the national holiday. Elizabeth Dole, who prepared the briefing for President Reagan, determined Weeks as the "Father of Veterans Day."
U.S. representative Ed Rees from Emporia, Kansas, presented a bill establishing the holiday through Congress. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, also from Kansas, signed the bill into law on May 26, 1954. It had been eight and a half years since Weeks held his first Armistice Day celebration for all veterans.
Congress amended the bill on June 1, 1954, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans," and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
The National Veterans Award was also created in 1954. Congressman Rees of Kansas received the first National Veterans Award in Birmingham, Alabama, for his support offering legislation to make Veterans Day a federal holiday.

Although originally scheduled for celebration on November 11 of every year, starting in 1971 in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October (October 25, 1971; October 23, 1972; October 22, 1973; October 28, 1974; October 27, 1975; October 25, 1976, and October 24, 1977). In 1978, it was moved back to its original celebration on November 11. While the legal holiday remains on November 11, if that date happens to be on a Saturday or Sunday, then organizations that formally observe the holiday will normally be closed on the adjacent Friday or Monday, respectively.

Observance
Because it is a federal holiday, some American workers and many students have Veterans Day off from work or school. When Veterans Day falls on a Saturday then either Saturday or the preceding Friday may be designated as the holiday, whereas if it falls on a Sunday it is typically observed on the following Monday. When it falls on the weekend many private companies offer it as a floating holiday where employee can choose some other day. A Society for Human Resource Management poll in 2010 found that 21 percent of employers planned to observe the holiday in 2011.

Non-essential federal government offices are closed. No mail is delivered. All federal workers are paid for the holiday; those who are required to work on the holiday sometimes receive holiday pay for that day in addition to their wages.

Spelling of Veterans Day
While the holiday is commonly printed as Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day in calendars and advertisements (spellings that are grammatically acceptable), the United States Department of Veterans Affairs website states that the attributive (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling "because it is not a day that 'belongs' to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day

Diwali 🪔Festival 🌟

🪔  Diwali Festival 🪔

Diwali or Dipawali, often written Deepavali is a significant festival and an official holiday in India. While Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light". 
🌟

Diwali is celebrated through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship of Godess Laxmi and Kali.  It is one of the Indian festivals celebrated all over India, with equal enthusiasm and zeal.

🪔

The word 'Diwali' is the abbreviation of the Sanskrit word 'Deepavali', which means 'rows of lights'. 

🌟

One of the major Hindu festivals, it is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Good over the evil, when Lord Rama defeated Ravana and rescued his wife Sita from his custody.

It is predominantly a five-day festival, with a number of customs and rituals followed during each day. People prepare themselves for the festival weeks ahead, by cleaning and decorating their premises.

The main festival day falls on the no-moon day of the dark half of Kartik, according to the Hindu lunar calendar. 

Celebrated with vigor and gaiety by people of every religion, the magical effect of Diwali creates an atmosphere of joy and festivity. Innumerable lamps are lit on the roofs and windowsills of the houses, thus, giving a divine look to the whole scenario. It is said that Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth, roams the earth on this day and enters the house that is pure, clean and brightly illuminated. Therefore, people, before exchanging gifts and bursting crackers, offer prayers to the deity.

Young and old, men and women, all dress up in new clothes on this day to illuminate their home with diyas. 

The deities of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshipped on Diwali, 

after which, the people share Sweets and Gifts with their relatives and friends. 

Fireworks, which attract the kids the most, form the highlight of the festival. The festive mood extends to the couple of days following the main day of the festival. 

Deepawali symbolizes the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness.  It is the celebration of victory of good over evil - and the glory of light.

Diwali falls on a new moon day in the month of October or November.  Since the precise moment of the new moon falls on different dates depending on geographical location, the date of Diwali also depends on one's location. 

The picture shows some diyas, or Indian candles. 

In the scripture of the Ramayaan, such diyas (or divas) were used to light the way for Lord Raam (Rama) and his wife Sita back to their kingdom of Ayodhya, after a victory over the archdemon Ravan (Ravana). 

Since that day thousands of years ago, during Diwali, households light these divas to invite God’s blessings and luck upon their families.

There are two bowls of that sticky sweet and very delicious confection known as gulab jamun.  Made from milk curd and syrup, the jamuns can be best described as a syrupy cross between fudge and cake, and are a popular treat during the festival.

The preparations for Diwali are started before the 15 days.  People purchase new things as according to Hindu calendar, the day after Diwali is called as “New Year”. Lots of congestion or over crowding is everywhere before the 1 month of Diwali.

People do Laxmi puja in the evening time on Diwali. They lit lamps at houses and also lit the Diyas in different places in the home. They make beautiful Rangoli in the courtyard or in the front of the gate. Not only children but also younger and older, all fire the crackers at night on Diwali

There is great legend behind the celebration of Diwali. Lord Rama returned to his native land-Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Laxman after the 14 years of exile. For this reason, to express the happiness of returning their beloved prince Lord Ram.

People enjoy the days with full of joy. People prefer go for outing as in these days a mini vacation is there for everyone. In school, long vacation approximately 21 days holidays are declared.
People in all class and all age celebrate the festival of Diwali with joy.

 

Year     Date of Diwali

 It is predominantly a five-day festival
2026    Sunday, November 8
2027    Friday, October 29

🪔   🌟  🇮🇳   🥻 🪔   🌟   🪔

                          

Diwali 🪔NASA 🚀Photo 🇮🇳 India

Maybe You’ve Seen This Photo

Claiming to be a

🚀NASA Photo India 🇮🇳During Diwali🪔

This Amazing Photo of Nighttime India

Is An Internet Sensation 

This stunning NASA photo has recently resurfaced and is making the rounds online

 

Speculation suggested the lights are a result of the Hindu celebration Diwali, or the celebration of lights, held from mid-October to mid-November.

Business Insider dug up some background on the image, and this is what they found!

The photo is an overlay of shots highlighting India’s burgeoning population over several years.

1. The white lights were the only illumination visible before 1992. 
2. The  BLUE   lights appeared in 1992. 
3. The GREEN lights in 1998. 
4. The  RED    lights appeared in 2003.

Diwali / Deepavali Observances Dates
2024    Thu    Oct 31     Diwali/Deepavali
2025    Mon    Oct 20   Diwali/Deepavali
2026    Sun    Nov 8     Diwali/Deepavali
2027    Thu    Oct 28    Diwali/Deepavali
2028    Tue    Oct 17     Diwali/Deepavali
2029    Mon    Nov 5    Diwali/Deepavali
2030    Fri    Oct 25      Diwali/Deepavali

🙏🕯 🙏🏽 🕯🙏🏿 🕯 🙏🏼

🪔  🇮🇳 🌟   🥻  🍛 🔥  🇮🇳 🌟 🥻 🪔

 

Diwali 🪔 Festival of Lights

DIWALI

The Festival of Lights!

The celebrations for this auspicious Hindu festival last for 5 days !

Because the festival is determined by the Hindu lunar calendar, it aligns with the darkest night of the lunar month (Kartik Amavasya) and changes dates annually on the Gregorian calendar.

🪔   🌟   🇮🇳    🥻   🪔   🌟

Diwali is one of the most enchanting festival of India. The Festival of Diwali is celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm throughout the country. India looks resplendent on Diwali day as all streets and houses light up with traditional Diwali Diyas, candles and strands of small electric bulbs to mark the Festival of Light. Diwali Festival is supposed to lead us to the light of knowledge from the darkness of ignorance.

 

What Is Diwali?
Diwali (also called Divali or Deepavali) is a festival of lights that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and the blessings of victory, freedom, and enlightenment. 
The name comes from Sanskrit Deepavali, meaning row of lights celebrating the triumph of good over evil
The holidays follow a lunar calendar, not the modern Gregorian calendar, so Diwali does not always have the same timing every year. The main celebration of Diwali takes place on the day of the new Moon when the sky is at its darkest, so a big part of the celebration revolves around light. On the evening of Diwali, celebrants light dozens of candles and clay lamps (called diyas), placing them throughout their homes and in the streets to light up the night.  

Diwali, the words comes from Sanskrit ‘Deepawali’, meaning ‘rows of lights’ is celebrated on the Amavasya or the no moon day in the Hindu month of Kartik (October - November). The festival of Diwali falls 20 days after the famous festival of Dussehra. Diwali is celebrated as a five-day-long festival and there are set rituals for each of the five days. Diwali Festival marks the coronation of Lord Ram as the King of Ayodhya on his return to the kingdom with wife Sita and brother Laxman after 14 long years of exile and slaying of Ravana - the demon King of Lanka. As the Hindus hold Lord Ram in high esteem, the festival of Diwali is celebrated with joy and charm that is unmatched in celebration with any other festival.

Importance Of Diwali
Diwali is a word that has been derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which means a "row or a string of lights". The word is a conjugation of "deepa" or an earthen lamp and "vali" or a continuous row or series of something. The festival falls during the beginning of autumn and at the end of summer harvest. Diwali coincides with the darkest day of the year, also known as Amavasya. This day is the darkest of Hindu lunisolar calendar. Although the festival has been known as a predominantly Hindu festival, it's also celebrated by Jains, Sikhs and Newar Buddhists. However, the day marks different historical events and stories for all these religions.

On the day of Diwali, people spruce up their houses to welcome Goddess Lakshmi - the Hindu mythological Goddess of Wealth. People believe that Goddess Lakshmi visits only clean houses on Diwali. Womenfolk engage themselves in preparing festival special dishes like laddoos, mathri, dahi bade etc. People also visit friends and relatives during the day to greet each other the best of Diwali. They also exchange Diwali Gifts which usually is a box of sweets, a packet of dry fruit, a decorative item or other household goods. It is believe that exchange of gifts on Diwali Day helps to strengthen relationships.

In the evening earthen diyas, candles and layers of electric bulbs are lighted by people to mark the festival. People wear bright new clothes and women adorn themselves with heavy jewelry. All members of the family gather in the worship room to perform the traditional Lakshmi Puja on the occasion of Diwali. People pray for prosperity and happiness in the coming year. This is because Diwali marks the beginning of New Year especially by the Hindu business community. Businessmen start new account books on the auspicious day of Diwali.

A sumptuous family dinner follows the Puja and thereafter, it is time to burn crackers. Everybody gathers in the open area outside the house and indulge in a show of fire works Sky looks brilliant with the dazzling sparkle of crackers. Children enjoy playing with small crackers like phuljhari, anaar (flowerpot) and chakris. Some people also follow the tradition of playing cards and gambling on the day of Diwali.

Diwali is a Hindu equinox "festival of lights" celebrated at the new moon in the month of Kartika, around the time of the autumn harvest and the start of the winter sowing. 

Hiltebeitel mentions claims that the celebration of Diwali can be traced to A.D. 50-100 and that it comes from an autumnal festival for the dead.

The religious connotations of the festival are varied. Elements include: the return of Rama and Sita to the land where Rama ruled as king (Ayodhya in Northern India) and a symbolic re-enactment of the killing by Rama of Ravana and the freeing of Laksmi [Grottanelli).

🪔 🕯  🕯 🕯

Small oil lamps or candles are customarily placed around the house. Sweet treats are exchanged, houses are whitewashed, new clothes worn, there's gambling, and fireworks highlight the bright light theme

Fast Facts: Diwali

• Short Description: Diwali (or Deepavali) is a four- or five-day celebration in October or November each year, held in honor of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth
• Location: In India and throughout the Indian diaspora
• Fun Fact: The date changes each year because the festival is scheduled according to the lunar calendar: Diwali celebrates the new moon of the first lunar month, Kartik.
• Fun Fact: As the festival of lights, Diwali is characterized by massive amounts of fireworks and firecrackers, intended to offset the cold, dark nights of the coming winter.

What Is Diwali?
The word "Deepavali" means "a row of lights" in Sanskrit, and its origins were likely as an ancient harvest festival. Today it is the "festival of lights," attached to various mythological stories, particularly tales about Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The date of Deepavali on the new moon makes it the darkest night in the month of Kartik, when the nights are cold, long, and dark: all the lights make that darkness easier to bear.

Diwali is typically a four- or five-day event, starting two days before the new moon and extending two days afterward. It is traditionally a puja, or a celebration that worships, honors, and shows devotion to the divine. In India, while everyone celebrates Deepavali, people don't amass in public, but rather in small groups with their friends and families in homes, neighborhoods, and local temple communities. In the diaspora, all the countries in the world outside of the Indian subcontinent where Indian people have settled, Diwali is considered a public celebration open to Hindus and anyone else.

Large government-sponsored festivals are held in London, Sydney, Toronto, and Edinburgh, and they are often a showcase for Indian culture, music, dance, fashion, food, crafts, and fireworks. The incredible amount of fireworks and firecrackers set off during the five days of Diwali have become an issue in many Indian cities, to the point that ambient air and noise during Diwali are considered somewhat of a health hazard.

History of Diwali
The Diwali festival dates back to ancient times in India. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts dating from the fourth century CE but was likely practiced for many hundreds of years before that. Although most important for Hindus, the festival is also observed by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. While different historical events are observed in different regions and by different faiths, Diwali represents the triumph of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance for all the cultures that celebrate it.

https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-diwali-1770209

 

When Is Diwali / Deepavali ?

Diwali 2026 begins on Friday, November 6, and ends on Tuesday, November 10, with the main day of celebrations (Lakshmi Puja) on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
🪔
Five-Day Diwali Schedule (2026)
• Day 1 (Friday, November 6): Dhanteras (worship for health and prosperity)
• Day 2 (Saturday, November 7): Choti Diwali / Kali Chaudas (purging negative energy)
• Day 3 (Sunday, November 8): Main Day of Diwali / Lakshmi Puja (festival of lights and feasts)
• Day 4 (Monday, November 9): Govardhan Puja / Padwa (honoring Lord Krishna and nature)
• Day 5 (Tuesday, November 10): Bhai Dooj (celebrating sibling bonds)
🪔
 Future Main Dates
• 2027: Friday, October 29
• 2028: Tuesday, October 17

http://www.when-is.com/diwali-2014.asp

 https://www.almanac.com/content/diwali

🪔  🇮🇳   🥻  🍛  🔥 🪔   🇮🇳  🕯  🕯 🕯 🥻

Diwali / Deepavali Observances Dates
2026    Sun    Nov 8     Diwali/Deepavali
2027    Thu    Oct 28    Diwali/Deepavali
2028    Tue    Oct 17     Diwali/Deepavali
2029    Mon    Nov 5    Diwali/Deepavali
2030    Fri    Oct 25      Diwali/Deepavali

🙏🕯 🙏🏽 🕯🙏🏿 🕯 🙏🏼

🪔  🇮🇳 🌟   🥻  🍛 🔥  🇮🇳 🌟 🥻 🪔