Diwali (also: Deepawali) is one of India's biggest festivals.
The word 'Deepawali' means rows
of lighted lamps. It is a Festival of Lights and Hindus celebrate it with joy. During this festival,
people light up their houses and shops with Diyas (small cup-shaped oil lamp made of baked
clay). They worship the Lord Ganesha for welfare and prosperity and Goddess Lakshmi for
wealth and wisdom.
This festival is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartikamasam which falls sometime during
October or November. It is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile
2and his victory over the Demon Ravana. In many parts of India, Deepawali is celebrated for
five consecutive days. Hindus regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to
strengthen relationships. In some parts of India, it marks the beginning of a new year.
People clean and decorate their house before the festival. They do colorful rangoli art works
on floors.
Deepawali is celebrated and is a public holiday in countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka,
Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago. It is also a
school holiday in many states of the United States with a large Hindu population. President
George W. Bush had the first celebration of the holiday in the White House.
Mandir (Temple) decorated with lights during Diwali
Hindus light up their homes and shops to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi and to give them
good luck for the year ahead. A few days before Ravtegh, which is the day before Deepavali,
houses, buildings, shops and temples are thoroughly cleaned, whitewashed and decorated
with pictures, toys and flowers. On the day of Deepawali, people put on their best clothes
and exchange greetings, gifts and sweets with their friends and family.
At night, buildings are illuminated with earthen lamps, candle-sticks and electric bulbs.
Sweets and toy shop are decorated to attract the passers-by. The bazaars and streets are
overcrowded. People buy sweets for their own families and also send them as presents to
their friends and relatives. The Goddess Lakshmi is also worshiped in the form of earthen
images, silver rupee. Hindus believe that on this day, Lakshmi only enters houses which are
neat and tidy. People offer prayers for their own health, wealth and prosperity. They leave
the light on in buildings believing that Lakshmi will not have difficulty in finding her way in.
Diwali is one of the most important festival of the Hindus.It is also known as deepawali or the
festival of lights. It comes on Amavasya day in the month of kartik. Both rich and poor wear
new clothes on this day. Lots of sweets are made. People light diyas and burn crackers.
They ex- change greetings and sweets. Goddess Laxmi is worshipped on this day .
Diwali is an indian festival also known as the festival of lights. The world diwali was inspired
from a sanskrit (indian language) word, deepavali which means rows of lit lamps.
This five day festival is celebrated every fall by hindus, sikhs, Jains and some buddhists.
Hindus celebrate the return of their Lord after being exiled for 14 years and for defeating a
king known as robin. Jains celebrate it to mark the spiritual awakening of their lord mahavira,
sikhs to commemorate their spiritual leader guro their Govans returned to Amnistar, which is
a city in northern India after being imprisoned and some buddhists celebrate this festival to
honor their emperor Ashoka’s decision to follow a path of peace and converting to buddhism
after witnessing a lot of killings.
Although this four religions have different reasons to celebrate diwali, what they all have in
common is the concept of new beginning light over darkness and good over devil.
Diwali is celebrated with prayers, fireworks, candles lit inside of clay pots, run goalies, which
are coloured rice or powder patterns on the floor. It’s also a good reason to invite friends and
family for a good meal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrrW3rO51ak
People dress up with colorful clothes and launch fireworks
