Diwali

Diwali

Just as soon as the monsoons are over, people all over India enter a festive mood. The streets bustle with eager shoppers, as they prepare for one of the most delightful of all festivals. Everyone stocks up with sparklers, rockets and all sorts of firecrackers that are available in the market. Great big pots of sweets are being made and little lights called Diyas are lit in all homes.

This is the festival that everyone has been waiting for. It is Diwali! The Festival of Lights! Diwali or Deepavali is celebrated in grandeur throughout India. It is one of India's most important and biggest festivals.

This festival is a special one as it not only signifies the triumph of good over evil but it also signifies hope. According to the Hindu calendar, Diwali is celebrated over five consecutive days in October or November. Each day of this delightful festival has its own significance with a number of legends and myths attached to it.

Of all the innumerable myths associated with Diwali, only a few stand out. One of them is the ancient story of Lord Rama and his wife Sita. Lord Rama was a great warrior King who was exiled from his homeland of Ayodhya. During his exile, the demon King Havana of Lanka abducted Sita. Lord Rama attacked Lanka, and after a fierce battle killed the demon King and rescued his wife, Sita. Then with Sita he returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.

The people of Ayodhya welcomed them with open arms. They lit their pathway into the city with tiny oil lamps and were very happy that Lord Rama was their King. There was much joy and celebration over the defeat of Ravana. And this is why people light 'Diyas' (earthenware) and burst firecrackers. This is to mark the triumph of good over evil.

Another lore that is associated with Diwali is, the defeat of the giant Narkasura by Lord Krishna. According to the legend, Narkasura was a good man but owing to his huge size he would often create havoc on the earth. He had a weakness for beautiful women and it is believed that he had captured around 16,000 women and forced them to stay with him.

Lord Krishna heard of the plight of these beautiful women, and attacked Narkasura. Just before the great giant was killed, Lord Krishna granted him one wish for all the good deeds he had previously done. Narkasura wished that his death be remembered with joy and feasting!

And so in memory of this giant who was not completely evil, people celebrate Diwali with lots of delicious goodies to eat. Diwali reminds people that there is still hope in this world and that there is always some good among the bad.

The five days of Diwali are the best days for the Hindus. It is time when everything comes to a standstill and the focus shifts to family, prayers, and celebration. Every house is sparkling with diyas and colourful rangolis.

People, irrespective of their status and age, invariably, wear new clothes on this day. In the evening, Lakshmi Puja is performed and 'Bhajans' are sung to welcome the Goddess of wealth.

In northern India, the first day of Diwali marks the beginning of a New Year. In the south, it is an auspicious day to buy jewellery or some household article. The third day of the festival is celebrated as the actual Diwali. It is on this day that families get together to firecrackers.

Every family brings out huge stocks of fireworks ranging from the pretty sparklers to the breathtaking rockets, deafening bombs and sparkling pots. And when the last of the fireworks have been lit, everyone is ready to feast on the delicious food and sweets!

Though Diwali is celebrated throughout India, the rituals and its significance varies from region to region. However, the main essence of the festival, which is “hope”, still prevails and it is this main essence that brings every other Indian, including Sikhs, Jains, Muslims and Christians together on this day. Diwali offers people the comforting message that, although there is evil in this world nothing is lost because there is always Hope.