Diwali (also known as Deepawali) is one of India’s
biggest festivals.
The word 'Deepawali' means rows of
lighted lamps. It is a Festival of
Lights and Hindus celebrate it with joy. During this festival, people light up
their houses and shops with Diyas (small
cup-shaped oil lamp made of baked clay). They worship the Lord Ganesha for
welfare and prosperity and Goddess Lakshmi for
wealth and wisdom.
This festival is celebrated in the Hindu month of
Kartikamasam which falls sometime
during October or November. It is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama after
14 years of exile and
his victory over the Demon KING Ravana.
In many parts of India, Deepawali is
celebrated for five consecutive days. Hindus regard it as a celebration of life
and use the occasion to strengthen relationships. In some parts of India, it
marks the beginning of a new year. People clean and decorate their house before
the festival. They do colorful rangoli art works on floors.
Deepawali is celebrated and is a public holiday in countries
such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago. It is also a school
holiday in many states of the United States with
a large Hindu population.
President George W. Bush had the first celebration
of the holiday in the White House.
Hindus light up their homes and shops to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi and to give them
good luck for the year ahead. A few days before Ravtegh, which is the day before Deepavali, houses, buildings, shops and temples are thoroughly
cleaned, whitewashed and
decorated with pictures, toys and flowers. On the day of Deepawali, people put
on their best clothes and exchange greetings, gifts and sweets with their
friends and family.
At night, buildings are illuminated with earthen lamps,
candle-sticks and electric bulbs. Sweets and toy shop are decorated to attract
the passers-by. The bazaars and streets are overcrowded. People buy sweets for
their own families and also send them as presents to their friends and
relatives. The Goddess Lakshmi is also worshiped in the form of earthen images,
silver rupee. Hindus believe that on this day, Lakshmi only enters houses which
are neat and tidy. People offer prayers for their own health, wealth and
prosperity. They leave the light on in buildings believing that Lakshmi will
not have difficulty in finding her way in.
Diwali is one of the most important festival of the Hindus.It is also known as deepawali or
the festival of lights. It comes on Amavasya day in the month of kartik. Both rich and poor wear new
clothes on this day. Lots of sweets are made. People light diyas and burn crackers. They ex- change greetings and sweets.
Goddess Laxmi is worshipped on this
day.
Deepavali literally
means a row or array of lights. Celebrated on the thirteenth/ fourteenth day in
the dark half of the Kartika Masa (October – November), it is a celebration of
light despite being the darkest night of the darkest period.
As every festival in India even the Festival of Deepavali has its
own inner significance than mere lighting diyas, wearing new clothes,
exchanging sweets and bursting crackers.
Diwali's essence lies in the sloka, 'Tamaso ma
jyotirgamaya' which means “ Lead me from
darkness to light.”
Similarly, we have
to light the lamp of happiness, the lamp of prosperity and the lamp of
knowledge to dispel sorrow, poverty as well as disease.
As per the Vedanta, every
devout Hindu has to fill his heart with the oil of love, light the wick with
the knowledge of Truth and ward off ignorance. It further states that we can
kindle light in many hearts just like a Diya which can light many Diyas.
One of the legends associated with Diwali that Lord Krishna killed
demon Narakasura to free the Gopikas, in a way signifies that we have to fight
the evil or demonic forces within us by following the path of righteousness.
The festival of Diwali reminds each one of us to understand that
life is much more than a mere journey and it s a continuous quest for truth and
knowledge.
Unity in Diversity : The legends regarding Diwali also highlight
the philosophical truth of the Vedas. The Festival of Diwali binds people and
is a synthesis of spirituality, religion, culture and social values.
In Northern India, people celebrate the Festival of Lights to mark
the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya along with Seeta and brother Lakshman after a
14 year exile. While in South India it signifies the victory of Lord Krishna
over demon Narakasura. Ultimately both remind us of the necessity to destroy
evil forces and strengthen divine forces.
In Western India, Diwali is associated with the legend which states
that on this day Lord Vishnu in his 5th incarnation as Vamana, had rescued
Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali. This is another reason behind worshipping
and invoking Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali.
As per a legend from the epic Mahabharata, it was Karthik Amavasya
when the Pancha Pandavas returned from their 12 years of exile. It is said the
people who loved the Pandavas celebrated the day by lighting thousands of
earthen lamps and distributing sweets.
History says the greatest Hindu king Vikramaditya was coronated on
the day of Diwali, which also makes the festival historic and not merely
mythological.
The Festival of Diwali is also of great significance to Jains as it
is said it was on this day that Lord Mahaveera attained Nirvana or eternal
bliss.
The Sikhs too have a reason to celebrate Diwali. History says that
it was on this auspicious day that Guru Hargobind, the Sixth Sikh Guru was
freed from captivity of Jahangir, the Mughal Emperor. Sikhs also celebrate
Diwali to commemorate the laying of the foundation stone for the Golden Temple
in 1577.
Sweet Temptations : Diwali is that Festival when sweets continue to
tempt us throughout. If there is one festival which boasts of loads and loads
of sweets, then it is undoubedly Deepavali which is just incomplete with
sweets. Sweet boxes are generously exchanged among friends and relatives, in a
way contributing towards harmonious co-existence.
In the modern day world, Diwali celebrations are not just confined
to India, but is celebrated by Indians across the globe with the same festive
spirit. It helps in fostering a sense of brotherhood as it encourages people to
come together and celebrate the festival regardless of their background.
The Divine light burns within us and all around us. Let this Diwali
bring joy and happiness abound for humanity by dispelling the darkness of
ignorance and many more evils that are creating havoc on mankind.
Let the Lights of Happiness spread across the globe.
It is all about discovering the knowledge of our infinite potential
and dispelling ignorance. Diwali is also resplendent of the dawn of knowledge
through the inner light, that is the enlightenment of the soul.
The Spiritual Factor : As per the Vedanta, every devout Hindu has
to fill his heart with the oil of love, light the wick with the knowledge of
Truth and ward off ignorance. It further states that we can kindle light in
many hearts just like A Diya which can light many Diyas.
So we should enlighten the inner light of knowledge and clear all
the darkness from our life … in southern
india and most of the the east side of india we perpform a rituals that we show
light up to the sky to or privous generation … this rituals also have a grater perspective
that to enlighten our future we sould
follow our elderones….
So I hope in this Diwali we will celebrate in proper manners by enlighten
of ourselves
Say no to any kind of crackers and rockets or bomb
We should use clay diya instead of candles or any Chinese’s products
So this is how you can make your diwali sucessfull
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