- Diwali festival is a 5 day Hindu festival in India which occurs on
the fifteenth day of Kartika.
Diwali when translated means "rows of lighted lamps" and the occasion
is also referred to as the Festival of Lights. During Diwali, Indian
homes are cleaned and windows are opened to welcome Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth. Lamps, lights and candles are lit as a greeting to
Goddess Laksmi.
- Gifts are exchanged and sweets, festive meals are prepared during
Diwali.
- Because there are many castes and regions in India, there are
myriad manifestations of the Diwali festival. In some places, the
festival begins with Dhanteras, a day set aside to worship Laksmi. In
the Indian culture, wealth is not viewed as a corruptive power. Instead,
a wealthy person is considered to have been rewarded for good deeds of a
past life, i.e karma.
- On the second day of the festival, Kali, the goddess of Strength, is
worshipped.
- On the 3rd day ( the last day of the year in the lunar calendar),
lamps are lighted and shine brightly in homes. The lamp symbolizes
knowledge.
- The fourth day of Diwali falls on the first day of the lunar New
Year. At this time, old business accounts are settled and new books are
opened. The books are worshipped in a special ceremony by Indian priests
and participants are encouraged to remove anger, hate, and jealousy from
their lives.
- On the last day (Balipratipada) of the festival, Bali, an ancient
Indian king, is recalled and remembered. Bali destroyed the centuries
old philosophies of the society. However, in addition to this, he is
remembered for being a generous and kind person. Hence, the significance
of this day is to see the good in others, including enemies.
- The Jain communities of India celebrate Diwali as a New Year's Day.
Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, attained his Nirvana on the day
of Diwali.
- Sikhs celebrate Diwali to express joy at the return of the sixth
Guru to Amritsar in 1620; Emperor Jahangir had imprisoned him along with
52 Hindu kings. The Guru was granted freedom but refused to leave until
the kings were also released.
- Diwali is by far the most enthusiastically enjoyed festival in
India. People of different nationalities, races, religions and
backgrounds come together to share their joys generating a feeling of
universal brotherhood and inter-religious harmony.
-Chief Editor
info@starofcity.com,
bsinghdhall@starofcity.com
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