Diwali

Hi Friends ,

Today I am going to tell you about the importance of Diwali festival .

Diwali:

Diwali is regarded as one of the most important festival of the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated across the nation with great pomp and excitement. The festival is mainly associated with lights as it is called the festival of light. On the day of the festival diyas (small clay lamps) are lit in everybody's home irrespective of their social status. The name Diwali signifies 'rows of lighted lamps'. Diwali is a five-day festival, beginning on the 15th day of the Hindu calendar month of Kartika (Ashwin). By the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls in October or November. Diwali marks the beginning of the Hindu and Gujarati New Year and is celebrated with the lighting of lamps and candles, and lots of fireworks. People decorate their home with beautiful diyas and making rangoli pattern in the courtyard and in front of the gate. They put flowers and mango leaves on their doors and windows. Diyas and candles are placed on rooftops, rooms, and kitchen and even in the bathrooms. On this day, people worship Lord Ganesha, the foremost of all Hindu Gods and Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. It is time to exchange gifts and sweets with friends, relatives and neighbors.


Significance of Diwali:


Deepavali is a festival where people from all age groups participate. They give expression to their happiness by lighting earthen 'diyas' (lamps), decorating the houses, bursting firecrackers and inviting near and dear ones to their households for partaking in a sumptuous feast. The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valor and fame.

It is one time in the whole year that children volunteer to leave their beds long before the day begins. In fact, the traditional oil bath at 3 a.m, is the only chore that stands between them and the pre-dawn adventures. They emerge, scrubbed clean to get into their festive attire, and light up little oil lamps, candles and scented sticks(agarbathis), the wherewithal for setting alight crackers and sparklers.


Diwali Traditions:


The literal meaning of Deepavali in Sanskrit is 'a row of lamps.' That's why Diwali is called the festival of lights. As we all celebrate it by lighting of diyas in our home. It is a tradition that is popular in most regions of the country. Even today in this modern world it projects the rich and glorious past of our country and teaches us to uphold the true values of life. Every festival of India has such glorious and rich traditions that are portrayed through its celebration. Diwali is associated with many customs and traditions. Like the tradition of rangoli, tradition of burning crackers, tradition of lights, tradition of Diwali pujas and Diwali gifts Tradition. One of the most curious customs, which characterizes this festival of Diwali, is the indulgence of gambling, especially on a large scale in north India. Rangoli is a traditional Hindu folk art; it is a kind of designs generally created on a floor on special festive occasions. The origin of this art can be traced to the Puranas (works on Hindu mythology). It is said that the tradition of rangoli originated in Maharastra and slowly disseminated to other parts of India. It gives a colorful look to the festival celebration.



History of Diwali:


India is considered to be the land of festivals. And each of the festivals, which are celebrated here, has a reason or significance behind its celebration. Diwali the festival of light is also not an exception. It is celebrated across the country with lots of fervor and fun. Though the way it is celebrated differs from region to region according to the traditions and culture of that state but the reason behind its celebration remains same. The festival is celebrated by all there is no cast or age bar. The festival brings light in everybody's life. The festival symbolizes unity in diversity as every state celebrates it in its own special way. If we try to look for the origin of the festival we have to refer to history. And history tells us that the festival is celebrated mainly for four days commences on Aswayuja Bahula Chaturdasi and concludes on Kartika Shudda Vijiya. And each day has a significance and history behind its celebration. The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the killing of the demon king Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.





When is Diwali:


Whenever we talk of Diwali festival the first think that comes to our mind is when Diwali is celebrated or the date of the festival. Normally according to the Hindu calendar the festival of Diwali, which is celebration of truth and light is celebrated on a nation-wide scale on Amavasya, the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin (Aasho), which is usually the month of October or November every year. Here are list of dates for the coming Five years of Diwali Festival.