Diwali. The first thing that comes to the minds of anyone after hearing the word Diwali is, undoubtedly, lights. Yes. It is all about lights.
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is an Indian festival of lights celebrated over five days by different Indian communities worldwide. Diwali celebrates the triumph of right over wrong and good over bad. It glorifies light over darkness by symbolically lighting diyas in the households.
Word Origin
The word Diwali originated from the Sanskrit word Deepavali where Deepa means light and vali means row. Thus Deepavali means a row of lights, which is why every house and buildings during Deepavali lights up in pretty diyas or lights are arranged in raw, symbolizing the meaning of the festival.
History
Deepavali is celebrated by a lot of people, irrespective of caste and religion. Each of them marks a different story, event, or reason behind Diwali. The most famous story among them, according to Hindu Mythology, is that it is the day Lord Rama, his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita returned to their homeland after a long 14 years in exile and after defeating Ravana. And to celebrate their return, the natives lit the path for them with lights.
Another story goes, like, it is the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura and saved the people of his kingdom from misery. After he killed the Demon, Krishna declared the day as a day of celebration. As a tribute to this story, effigies symbolizing these demons are burned down on the day of Diwali. It also celebrates Lakshmi Devi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, as the day of Diwali is also considered as the day Lakshmi Devi chose Vishnu to be her husband.
Diwali stands for New Year and harvest and many other things for different cultures. No matter what the belief or story is, it is ultimately the day of new beginnings, the triumph of light, and complete happiness.
When is it celebrated?
Diwali is a 5-day celebration. It is celebrated on Amavasya or no moon day, and it indicates the dawn of a new year according to the Hindu calendar. Whatever people believe, it ultimately promotes new, positive beginnings.
Celebrating Diwali
Just like what it means, it lights up the homes, as well as the hearts of people, with joy and happiness. In this five-day-long celebration, people light up their homes and buildings with ‘diyas’ (small clay lamps). People decorate the exterior of their houses with electric lights, and the interiors are made beautiful with rangoli art (patterns on the floor made with rice flour or colored powder). Family members gather together, neighbors visit you, and exchange gifts, where prime importance is given for sweets, dried fruits, and other presents. The celebration also features homely and aromatic various sweet and savory dishes.
It is also the time to reach out and share what you have with the needed people. To reach out to the people who are in need, to share, and provide to them. After all, it’s the celebration of goodness.
The atmosphere will be filled with the smell and sound of crackers and associated laughter. Different kinds and types of crackers are burned, and people enjoy themselves, with the loud noise and bubbling happiness.
The celebration of light brings excitement, happiness, and prosperity to the lives of people. For some, it is the lights, it’s the noise and crackers, and for some, it’s the food. But, in general, it’s the unity, the happiness, and the shared laughter with near and dear, and the goodness associated with it!
Happy Diwali everyone!! May the festival of light bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to the life of every one of you.!
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