DIWALI

DIWALI – THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

A DIYA

                         

Diwali is a festival of lights. Diwali is one of India’s biggest festivals which is celebrated with joy. Diwali is also known as ‘Deepawali’ which has a deep meaning about the festival. The term ‘Deepawali’ means rows of lighted lamps. Diwali is the most important Hindu holiday celebration which usually lasting five days and celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika or between mid-October and mid- November. Diwali is symbolized the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and it gives an inspiration too.

In India the Diwali is likely a fusion of harvest festival in ancient times and in several places it still relates as a harvest festival. The diyas (lamps) are mentioned as the symbolizing parts of the sun and it is believed as by lighting up diya in Diwali brings happiness and wealth in your home.

Diwali is mostly celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists.

The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi (Goddess of prosperity and wealth). It is regionally connected with Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Yama, Yami, Durga, Kali, Dhanvantari according to the Hindu mythology.

Making Rangoli in the eve of Diwali

Diwali celebration is celebrated with the preparation of cleaning, renovating and decorating homes and workplaces with diyas and rangoli. In Diwali eve, people buy finest clothes, make festive foods, give gift each other and visit friends and family member’s houses.

Some other faiths in India also celebrated their respective festivals along with Diwali. The Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughal Empire prison, Jains celebrate their own Diwali which marks the final liberation of Mahabira. Bengali Hindus celebrate Diwali by worshipping Goddess Kali, goddess of time, death, doomsday. Newar Buddhists unlike other Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshipping Lakshmi.

Diwali is a major shopping period in all over the India and in every household people buy clothes according to their budget. It is tradition to purchase new clothing, gifts, gold, ornaments which are symbolized to Goddess Lakshmi and they believe that it is very lucky to purchase these things in the eve of Diwali. People give clothes, sweets in charity so that every person can celebrate Diwali with a smile in face.

Diwali is the festival of joy, it brings happiness everywhere. The women prepare various sweets and festival foods. During the season of Diwali, melas are held at college, university, campuses or as community events by the members of the Indian diaspora. In that events variety of dance, music, food, art and crafts can be found. Some famous festival eve sweets such as Kheer, Jalebi, Gulab Jamun, Brafi, Gajar ka Halwa are commonly eaten in every house and they it is another joy to make the sweets and deserts in homes.

Diwali Firework

The most popular story behind Diwali is in the Ramayana, the great Hindu epic. According to Ramayana, Rama, the prince of Ayodhya was ordered by his father, the King of Ayodhya named Dasharatha, to go away from his country and come back after living in the forest for 14 years. The decision is taken forcefully by Dasharatha and from here the main Ramayana story get started. So, after getting the decision of father, lord Rama went into exile with his beloved wife Sita and faithful brother, Lakshmana. In the period of exile Ravana, the demon king of island kindom of golden Lanka, abducted Sita and took her away to his kingdom. Rama fought against Ravana and killed him and rescued Sita and returned to his palace Ayodhya after 14 years. The citizens of Ayodhya were very happy to hear of their beloved prince’s homecoming. To celebrate their homecoming, people lit up their homes with diyas, decorated their homes with colorful rangoli. They celebrated the homecoming of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana in a festive manner. So since then people celebrate every year this those days as Diwali.