Diwali in India : Sunday, 12 November, 2023
A brief about Diwali
India has a gamut of festivals. Or rather, it should be called as the Country of festivals. Diwali or Deepawali as popularly called in some parts of India is the biggest festival of India celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. It is the brightest festival of all festivals – “The festival of lights”. Like every festival has some significance, Diwali has too. It is marked as the day when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. It is celebrated in the honor of Lord Ganesha – the God of Gods, Goddess Lakshmi – the Goddess of prosperity and Goddess Saraswati – the Goddess of ‘Vidya’ (education). This grand celebration is called ‘Lakshmi Poojan’. People thank them for all they have given them, apologizing for the mistakes we human commit and wishing prosperity and happiness in their homes for the entire year ahead. Students keep their books in the pooja room for the blessings and successful education. The preparations for the festival start way before the festival date. On this auspicious day everyone wears new clothes too.
How Diwali is celebrated
Diwali is a five day long festival. It starts with Dhanteras which is taken as an auspicious day to buy silver and gold. It is followed by Roop Chaudas, the day on which people bath with ubtan (a mixture of sandalwood powder, turmeric, besan, milk & milk cream). Now here comes the auspicious day of Diwali when people worship Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati in their own ways. Generally, pooja is in the evening but Jains worship before four o’clock in the evening. Bengalis preach Durga Maa. Decorate their homes with candles, diyas and lights. Rangoli is another beautiful art which people make outside their homes. After the pooja, everybody get together and enjoy the festival by bursting crackers and distributing sweets among each other. Festivals are meant to share, meet and enjoy. Thus, people purchase gifts for their near and dear ones, kith and kin and relatives. Fourth day is celebrated for the worship of Lord Govardhan (the one who gives us food); and on this day he is offered 56 different varieties of delicious food items termed as Chappan Bhog. The last day in the series is Bhaiya Dooj, to strengthen the relation which a brother and a sister share.
Diwali gives the message of love, happiness, friendship and brotherhood.