Full moon- satyanaryan- poornima........so many words.......but for me it means only one thing. a day for thanks..........a day for abstinence and a day to remember that all my family is in the same frame- wherever they may be. it is a day observed by all of us.

yesterday was the most important of all full moons- the day that ram conquered lanka- and ravana.............on that day he set forth back for ayodhya............and on the day he returned home- 14 days later the people lit the town with diyas waiting for him- therefore the festival of diwali- the return of ram to ayodhya - victorious.

the priest said to us yesterday- that laxmi on her own brings confusion- brings ego- and brings little peace- however with narayan by her side- there is balance and peace and happiness. therefore the laxmi puja is always done with narayan.

he also reminded us that ravan was the biggest devotee of shiva- however his ego took him over and therefore he lost his being.

it was an interesting evening..............as a hindu there is nothing more comforting than hearing the vedic chants............and being lost in the gayatri mantra or the chiming of the bells while being enveloped in the fragrant essence of the holy aarti.