Source: DFW India Cultural Society
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/10/hindu-festival-of-lights-to-be.html
DFW Indian Cultural Society(DFWICS) is organizing the third Diwali Mela on Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 4-11pm at the Texas Stadium in Irving, TX. The hugely popular event is expected to attract more than 50,000 people from not just DFW but other neighboring cities in Texas as well.
Admission to the event is Free. All attendees also get a free raffle ticket which gives them a chance to enter in to a drawing to win a car!
The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit deepavali, which means "row of lights." During Diwali, these lamps shine in rows along homes and temples--adorning windowsills, staircases, and parapets--or glow from little boats that float down rivers. Colorful candles are lit alongside lamps, while fireworks light up the night sky.
Like other aspects of Hinduism--the world's oldest religion--the origins of Diwali are remote. The celebration probably has its roots in ancient harvest festivals. And like Hinduism, observance of Diwali is richly varied among the faith's 800 million adherents. The widespread practice is to celebrate the joyous homecoming of Lord Rama, hero of the epic poem the Ramayana, after 14 years of exile. In some parts of India, Diwali honors the marriage of the Goddess Lakshmi and the God Vishnu; in others it celebrates the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka. Diwali also marks the beginning of a new financial year. Households and businesses begin new accounting in new ledgers, which are often decorated with images of Lakshmi.