Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is a one day celebration to give thanks to God at the close of the harvest season. Thanksgiving Day is observed on the fourth Thursday of November.
Thanksgiving is primarily celebrated in the state of Goa, with a different name. Thanksgiving is popularly known as 'Ladin' or 'Ladainha' in India. 'Ladin' literally means a litany to the Virgin Mary. During the Thanksgiving ritual, people thank God for all the material and spiritual benefits. The Thanksgiving function is sponsored by a different person every year who either seeks benefits or has been lucky enough to have God's special grace.

Thanksgiving Day is incomplete without suitable Thanksgiving gifts. This day is also characterized with fun and frolic, feasting and community praying. Thanksgiving gifts are an integral part of the celebrations. You may opt for a wide range of thanksgiving gifts from www.fnp.in to send to loved ones on this day.

Guru Nanak Jayanti:

Guru Nanak Jayanti:


The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev - the first or the founder guru of the Sikhs, is celebrated with great fervour on the full moon day of Kartika. Guru Parab, also known as Jyototsava and Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the most sacred festivals of the Punjabis (Sikhs). He was born in 1469 A.D. at Tolevandi some 30 miles from Lahore. The anniversaries of Sikh Guru's are known as Gurpurabs (festivals) and are celebrated with devotion and dedication.
GurPurabs mark the culmination of Prabhat Pheris, the early morning procession that start from the gurdwaras (Sikh temples) and then go around localities singing 'shabads' (hymns). The celebrations also include the three-day Akhand path, during which the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib is read continuously, from beginning to end without a break.
On the day of the festival, the Granth Sahib is also carried in a procession on a float, decorated with flowers, throughout a village or city. Five armed guards, who represent the Panj Pyares, head the procession carrying Nishan Sahibs (the Sikh flag). Local bands playing religious music form a special part of the procession.
Free sweets and langar or community lunches are also offered to everyone irrespective of religious faith. Men, women, and children, participate in this karseva as service to the community, cook food and distribute it in the 'Guru ka Langar', with the traditional 'Karah Prasad'.
Sikhs also visit gurdwaras where special programs are arranged and kirtans (religious songs) are sung. Houses and gurdwaras are lit up to add to the festivities. Guru Nanak Dev's life served as a beacon light for his age. He was a great seer, saint and mystic.
He was a prolific poet and a unique singer of God's laudation. A prophet of peace, love, truth and renaissance, he was centuries ahead of his times. His universal message is as fresh and true even today as it was in the past and Sikhs all over the world, practice what Guru Nanak Dev preached, to reaffirm their beliefs in the teachings of their founder.

Children’s day

14 Nov is celebrated as Children’s day on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Infact in some other part of the world the craze of Children’s day is ton top. To encourage & motivate the children, in 1954 a day was decided by the UN General Assembly so that the talent of our coming generation could be recommended.

Children's Day is about giving children the right to enjoy and grow into healthy and educated citizens of the country, and if you can teach your child the value of sharing with others what they are lucky to have, then not only your child will grow into a responsible human being, but also another child who otherwise could have ended up being a delinquent, had it not been for your thoughtfulness.

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Five Days of Diwali

Five Days of Diwali
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Diwali, the festivity of lights, is celebrated with full enthusiasm by the Indian people. The festival teaches people to spread love by foregoing the path of enmity. The celebration of the Diwali festivity continues for 5 days and each day has a different message and philosophy associated with it. In this article, we will provide you with information on the five days of Diwali.

Day 1: Dhanteras
It usually falls on the dark fortnight in the month of Kartik. It is on this day that Lord Dhanwantari had come out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for treating the ailments. The day of Dhanteras observes the beginning of Diwali celebrations. At the time of sunset, the Hindus take a bath and offer lighted diya lamp along with Prasad to Yama Raj, the Lord of Death. They pray to the Lord to protect them from the clutches of untimely death. The offerings are made around some sacred tree like Tulsi.

Day 2: Choti Diwali
The second day marks the celebration of Choti Diwali. This day has a lot of religious significance for people, as it is on this day that Lord Krishna defeated the devil Narakasur, thus giving a sigh of relief to the people. As a part of its celebration, people massage their bodies with oil to bid bye to tiredness. It is said that on the night of choti Diwali, you should not light the Yama Diya.

Day 3: Lakshmi Puja
On the third day, people worship Goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to be associated with good luck, wealth and prosperity. The house is thoroughly cleaned and the family members get together to offer prayers.

Day 4: Govardhan Puja
The tradition of worshipping Govardhan was initiated by Lord Krishna, who made the people of Vraja perform a puja in the dedication of Govardhan. Since then, every year, people have been performing the Govardhan puja.

Day 5: Bhaiya Duj
Bhaiya duj is a day for brothers and sisters. On this day, the sister applies vermillion on the forehead of her brother and prays for his long life. The brother presents a gift to his sister and blesses her that she may get the best of things in her life.