Today is...

Diwali

Today is the first day of Diwali—the Festival of Lights! Diwali, or Deepavali, is a religious holiday observed by Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain cultures. It is a celebration of the victory of good over evil, the triumph of light over darkness, and the renewal of life.

To celebrate the five days of Diwali, people decorate their homes with lights (often using small oil lamps called diyas), watch fireworks, wear new clothes, and distribute gifts to friends and family members. It is also a time for prayer and religious rituals.

Join in the festivities and wish your friends “Shubh Diwali!” with a free ecard!

Today is also National Indian Pudding Day & World Kindness Day

November is Family Literacy Month & National Pomegranate Month & Peanut Butter Lover's Month & National Pet Adoption Month

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for November 13   1789 - Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to a friend in which he said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." 1805 - Johann George Lehner, a Viennese butcher, invented a recipe and called it the "frankfurter." 1937 - NBC-TV formed the first full-sized symphony orchestra exclusively for radio broadcasting. The conductor for its first 17 years was Arturo Toscanini. 1956 - The U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws calling for racial segregation on public buses. 1961 - The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was released. 1968 - The Beatles' animated movie "Yellow Submarine" premiered in the U.S. 1982 - The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC. 1998 - "The Wizard of Oz" was released on the big screen by Warner Bros. 59 years after its original release. _________________________________________________________ "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." --Dolores Ibarruri