Hence consumption of fish and meat is not prohibited to them during kali puja/diwali. Not all Hindus are vegetarians.

Other foods eaten during Diwali

• Bhaji (the South Indian name) or pakora (the North Indian name, though there can be some variations in how they are made as well).
• Samosas, little parcels of pastry filled with vegetables like potato and peas, as well as spices.
• Idli, a kind of rice cake.

Crisp & crunchy snack for Diwali festival. Chakli is a deep-fried snack made from rice flour, gram flour, wheat flour or a mixture of lentil flours.

Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well. Southern India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. In western India the festival marks the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule the nether world.

Karadaiyan Nombu also known as Savitri Nombu Vratam is a festival celebrated by married women, who pray for the well being of their husbands while the unmarried ones pray to get an ideal life partner. It is similar to Karva Chauth celebrated in North India.

Fasting or vratam is an important ritual on the day of Karadaiyan Nombu. Married women observe a fast from the time of getting up. Another significant ritual on Karadaiyan Nombu is wearing the yellow colored thread, referred as ‘Karadai Nombu Saradu’ around the neck. A small flower is also tied to this yellow thread.

Nonbu kanji (நோன்பு கஞ்சி) is kind of porridge made mainly of rice, lentils, spices and other items. Usually it is prepared during the holy month of Ramadan when muslims fast for 30 days.

Kedareshwara or Kedara Gowri is celebrated all over India. This is one of the performed by devotees of Shiva irrespective of their caste, creed or social status. Lord Shiva granted his left part. This form of Shiva was since then worshipped as ‘Ardhanaareeshwara’. Since then this came to be known as Kedara Gowri .

Kedara Gauri Vrat

1. Kedara Gauri Vrata Start 2021 is on October 15 Friday. 3 months and 7 days to go for the event.
2. Rituals during Kedara Gauri Vrat: Devotees get up at sunrise and take an early bath and pray to Lord Shiva to seek his divine blessings of prosperity and wealth.
3. Significance of Kedara Gauri Vrat:

Gowri Habba is a Hindu festival celebrated a day before Ganesh Chaturthi. This festival celebrates the goddess Gowri or Gauri, (also known as Parvati) who is venerated as the mother of Ganesha. The Swarna Gowri vratha is performed on the occasion to appease the goddess.

Two idols of Goddess Gauri are brought home and worshipped by people with elaborate rituals. Some people also believe Gauri to be a form of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha’s mother. In some regions, these two sisters are believed to be goddess Saraswati and Lakshmi, who are the daughters of Ma Durga.

Mangala Gowri Puja, or Shravana Mangala Gowri Puja, is an important Vrata observed by married women. It is performed for a happy married life and for the long life of the husband. It is observed on Tuesdays in the Shravan. Mangala gouri pooja is done by newly married women for 5 years.

As per some beliefs, Gauri is considered to be the sister of Lord Ganesha while according to popular legends, Maa Gauri is an avatar of Devi Parvati – the mother of Lord Ganesha. Some also refer to the festival as Mahalaxmi Puja and pray to Goddess Laxmi, consort of Lord Vishnu on this day.

Many people do not know that Laxmi is the mother of Ganesh. They wrongly consider Laxmi as the wife of Ganesh. This has a root in a story. Everyone knows that Ganesh had defeated his brother Kartikswami in a race of encircling the earth in the shortest time.

Gauri is one of the names of goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and the mother of Lord Ganesh. Once upon a time, Mother Gauri took bath.

Furious, Shiva ordered his army to destroy the boy, but they all failed. This surprised Shiva. Seeing that this was no ordinary boy, the usually peaceful Shiva decided he would have to fight him, and in his divine fury severed Ganesha’s head, killing him instantly.

Many believe that God Shiva is a Sayambhu – which means He is not born from a human body. He was created automatically! He was there when there was nothing and He will remain even after everything is destructed. That is why; he is also loving called as the ‘Adi-Dev’ which means the ‘Oldest God of the Hindu mythology.