The Indian Festival of Lights, Diwali

Diwali, also called, Dipavali is the biggest pan India festival celebrated to mark the return of Prince Rama to Ayodhya from exile of fourteen years after killing of Ravana who had kidnapped his beloved wife Sita. On the return of Rama to Ayodhya, the whole of Ayodhya was turned into celebration and people lit earthen lamps outside their homes to welcome him. Since then, the sublime occasion is remembered and celebrated every year as a festival of lights to mark the victory of good over evil and remove the spiritual darkness within. This is also the festival to worship the Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu who is regarded as the goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is adorned with Lord Vishnu in every temple and Indians worship her at the temples and at their homes to seek her blessing for the wellbeing and grant opulence. On this day, people exchange greetings and presents and wish everybody joy and happiness. This festival is as important to Hindus in India and all over the world as the festival of Christmas celebrated by Christians. On the Diwali day, special Lakshmi Puja (worship) is arranged in every Hindu household and the Goddess Lakshmi is invoked to bless with the wealth and prosperity. The entire towns and cities are brightened with the lighting of earthen lamps, candles and colorful electrical lights. If one happens to pass over the cities from airplanes on such nights, he/she would witness a never before beautiful glittering views of lighting and fireworks from the skies presents.

PIC: amarujala.com/

The grandeur celebrations of Diwali start much before the actual day of Diwali which falls on the Amavashya (dark night) in the month of Kartika of Hindu calendar, the Vikram Samvat (between mid October and mid November). Once the Dusshera festival is over with the burning of the effigy of King Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and son Meghnath, around twenty one days before Diwali (which is the festival to mark the victory of Lord Rama over the Lankan king Ravana who was killed in the war and Sita was liberated from his captivity), people eagerly wait for the arrival of Diwali festival celebrations. People throng to the markets places to buy pieces of decorations, household items and goodies to refurbish their houses and exchange presents. The business shoots up during these days with business people offering huge discounts to attract more and more people to the markets. People hold special Diwali Melas (fairs) in every colony and area which attract the people to buy decoration items and enjoy the delicious food. The melas also offer extravaganza of music, dance, fashion shows and children’s programs for the enjoyment of the people. The thirteenth teethi (date) of the Kartik month, that is two days before the Diwali day, which is called the Dhanteras is considered as an auspicious day for buying gold ornaments and jewelries and house hold items.  

Diwali Market PIC: hindustantimes.com

The fireworks all over the country is also part of the Diwali celebrations and people start buying crackers and other fireworks much before the Diwali day. However, with the rising level of emission in the big cities, the people have started restraining themselves from using the fire works on larger scales. The Indian courts have also jumped up to order the ban of sale of crackers with a view to restrict people from fire work in order to contain the emission.

Diwali is not only celebrated in India but in many countries with large Indian populations, the countries among them are Guyana, Mauritius, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Srilanka, Trinidad, Tobago, Britain, Indonesia, Africa, Australia and America etc. With India gaining a global presence and being a rising economic power in the world, Diwali festival is also is celebrated since last few years in the White House in America and the US President participates in the celebration with full vigor and gaiety. The President Donald Trump has also celebrated the Diwali festival at the white House this year yesterday during which he hailed the incredible contributions of Indian-American community and said he valued his strong relationship with the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

Diwali at White House PIC: economictimes.indiatimes.com

And see what the UK Prime Minister is saying about Diwali in her message;

May the festival of lights, the Diwali celebration remove the darkness of ignorance and negativity from the hearts and minds of every single citizen of this planet and make it together a beautiful place to live with true love and harmony.