|
Diwali:
(October/November)
A
family festival, it is
celebratedcomes
about 20 days
after Dussehra, on the 135th
day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin (October /
November).
Deepawali
or Diwali, the most pan-Indian of all Hindu festivals, is a
festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and
the lifting of spiritual darkness.
The
word Deepawali literally means rows of diyas (clay lamps).
This
festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya
after completing his 14-year exile. Another view is that Deepawali
is meant to celebrate the destruction of the arrogant tyrant Bali
at the hands of Vishnu when the latter appeared in his Vamana
(dwarf) avatar.
Twinkling
oil lamps or diyas light up every home and firework displays are
common all across the country.
The
goddess Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu), who is the symbol of wealth
and prosperity, is also worshipped on this day.
This
festive occasion also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year for
Gujarati’s and some west Indian communities. (for Rajasthani’s,
the new year begins on Gudi Padva day in March/April)and
Lord
Ganesha,
the elephant-headed god, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom,
is worshipped in
most
Hindu homes.
Houses
across the country are scrubbed till they are spotlessly clean,
and whitewashed with fresh white paint. To enhance their new look,
they are decorated with bright paper lanterns, diyas and flowers,
while the girls of the house embellish the aangan (courtyard) and
walls with traditional aesthetic designs and patterns called
rangolis. New clothes are bought and the family gathers together
to offer prayers, distribute sweets and light up their homes.
Crackers and fireworks illuminate the sky and people pray for a
prosperous coming year.
In
West Bengal, the Deepawali festival is celebrated as Kali Pooja
and Kali, Shiva's consort is worshipped
.
|