Diwali Festival Information - Victory of Light over Darkness
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| Diwali Festival Information |
Deepavali derived from Sanskrit meaning 'rows of lighted lamps', celebrated across south asia considered to be most popular hindu festival. Jains and Sikhs also join the celebrations of the diwali festival. Diwali festival has a general notion among people and treats the festival that celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
Mythological stories with regard to deepavali festival narrates the origin of the festival and followed till date and become a tradition among the families. Deepavali festival is celebrated normally 5 days with different names like Dhanteras, Dhanvantri, Naraka Chaturdi, Padwa and Lakshmi Puja. So, the diwali festival has all elements that makes it an enthralling experience to an individual. Another beautiful of this festivity is that, people celebrate the festival with greeting the families, business partners, associates, colleagues, acquaintances on this occasion.
Not only this, all other communities across India and the world, irrespective the caste, creed, religion perform this festival with firing crackers. Rituals are followed by only hindu communities as per their belief systems.
Dhanteras
Since the festival is of five day starts with Dhanteras. Houses are beautifully decorated with rows of mud made cups filled with oil and cotton is used to lid the light. People make purchase of gold, silver or at least one new kitchen ware as part of the Dhanteras ritual.
Naraka Chaturdasi:
This is celebrated on second day also commonly known as Chhoti Diwali. It is the time for extensive house cleaning, decoration and making colorful floor (Rangoli) and Henna patterns.
Lakshmi Puja
Main Festival begins with Lakshmi Puja, on the 3rd day of Diwali festivities. This is the day, festival falls on the night of the new moon. People pray to Ganesha and perform Lakshmi Puja, the remover of obstacles and the God of Wisdom, with purified minds to bestow good wishes.
Padwa
The day after Diwali is observed as Padwa which is taken as an opportunity to celebrate the institution of marriage. The exchange of gifts takes place between husbands and wives. Some families also follow a ritual, as part of Padwa celebration, where the brother of a woman brings his sister home for celebrations from her marital home. Several regions are known to pay devotion to Lord Krishna on this sacred day by performing Goverdhan Puja.
Bhai Duj or Bhaiya Dooj
The festivities end with the celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters. Often known as Bhai Duj or Bhaiya Dyyuj, this merriment is labelled "Tika" in some regions of India. Similar to Raksha Bandhan but with different rites and rituals, Bhai Duj becomes an occasion when siblings and cousins take time out to spend with each other. Many communities revel by feasting together and with the sisters acknowledging the love and trust of the brother-sister relationship by adorning the foreheads of the brothers with vermilion and dry rice. It signifies their prayers for the well-being of their brothers which are duly returned with same warmth in the form of gifts by brothers.
