Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated to mark the day Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya along with Sita and Lakshman after defeating Ravana in Lanka and serving 14 years of exile. It also has several other regional traditions connecting to Hanuman, goddess Lakshmi, Ganesha and many more.
It is one of the important festivals celebrated by the Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and even Buddhists across the country. Although the traditions and celebrations vary from state to state, the essence of the festival stays the same across the country; the festival represents the same symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
* How is Diwali celebrated?.
Diwali is usually a five day long festival featuring different ceremonies each day, with the third day being the main event. It is celebrated twenty days after Dussehra. People, in general, wear their finest clothes, worship the Goddess Lakshmi, illuminate their homes with diyas and beautiful rangolis, buy new gadgets or jewellery, exchange gifts such as sweets and dried fruits and get together for family feasts and celebrations.
Diwali is also synonymous with dinner parties, carnivals and fairs in North India. Gambling is a part of traditional celebrations in the North, and card games are played late into the night in the days leading up to Diwali.
* The 5 days of Diwali and their significance.
- The first day of the festival is known as Dhanteras. It is an auspicious day to buy something metallic like kitchen equipment, appliances, gold and silver coins and even jewellery.
- The second day before Diwali is known as Choti Diwali in the North, Naraka Chaturdashi in the West and South, and Bhoot Chaturdashi in the East. On this day, every household is lit up brightly with diyas and decorated with rangoli.
- The third day is the main day of Diwali. The Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in the North on an Amavasya night (new moon day). Every household is adorned with diyas and lights, followed by a display of fireworks and feasting.
- The fourth day of the festival is the day for Govardhan Puja. This festival is celebrated in honour of the feat carried out by Lord Krishna, wherein he lifted the Govardhan mountain to protect the people from the wrath of Lord Indra. On this day, miniature clay and cow dung figurines are made to depict the event.
- The last day of the festival is Bhai Dooj. On this day, brothers and sisters get together to do the tikka ceremony, with the sisters praying for the long life of their brothers.
* Celebration of Diwali all over India.
Though this festival is celebrated throughout the country, the names associated with the festival and the traditions are different in different parts of India.
“We, Travunited wish you all a wonderful, safe and prosperous Diwali!”
