Here’s wishing a very happy Diwali to all.
The festival of lights Diwali, is not only the most awaited and celebrated festival of the year it is also the most biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. And Dilli Wallas surely know how to celebrate Diwali. This festival of lights is marked by four to five days of celebration, which literally illuminates the entire country with its brilliance, and brings along a wave of prosperity, joy, festivity and shopping all across the country. Each of these festive days are separated by different traditions, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.
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 make rangoli patterns typically either in the courtyard or in front of the main entrance and this is done to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi. 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, greetings and sweets with friends, relatives and neighbors.
The exact day of Diwali is decided by the position of moon. According to the Hindu calendar, Amavasya or ‘no moon day’ is considered as the perfect day to celebrate Diwali. This dark night comes after every fortnight and in the month of Kartik, it marks this festival of lights and diyas. As per the English calendar, the festival generally comes in the month of November or December. For all Hindu people, the festival holds an imperative meaning since the festival is reckoned with Lord Rama’s victory as the King of Ayodhya after his return to the kingdom from the 14 year long exile with his wife Sita & brother Laxman after killing the demon, King Ravana. The festival is celebrated by lighting diyas and candles to drive away the darkness of Amavasya.
In Bengal, the celebration is marked with the worship of Goddess Kali. People celebrate Kali Puja with great fervor and enthusiasm. Joy and festivity reins every corner of the nation during the Diwali season. Diwali festival is the one Hindu festival that unites the whole of India. The exchange of sweets and the explosion of fireworks customarily go with the celebration of the festival. Diwali is an occasion for cheerfulness and togetherness. This is that time of the year when people of all age and all class take part in its celebration.
On the first day of festival, housewives consider it auspicious to spring clean the home and shop for gold or kitchen utensils. On the second day, people decorate their homes with clay lamps or diyas and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand. This is the main day of the festival when families gather together for Lakshmi Puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities. This is the first day of the new-year when friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season. On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with love and a lavish meal.
The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva, and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali is associated with wealth and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of Dhanteras is celebrated two days before the festival of lights.
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