The name
"Diwali” is a contraction of "Deepavali" (Sanskrit:
दीपावली Dīpāvalī),
which translates into "row of lamps". Diwali is certainly the biggest
and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. Diwali is celebrated by people of all
nationalities, races and religions, Diwali, the festival of lights creates a
magical world of joy and festivity. It celebrates the triumphant victory of good
over evil – and the glory of light over darkness, a beam of hope over despair. The
lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health,
wealth, knowledge, peace, valor and fame. Diwali marks a new beginning, a
renewal of commitment to family values, and represents all the good virtues we
seek such as love, reflection, forgiveness and knowledge.
Diwali is actually celebrated in honor of Lord Rama
and his wife Sita returning to their kingdom of Ayodhya, following Rama and god
Hanuman's
defeat the demon King Ravana and rescue of Sita from his evil clutches
(celebrated on Dussehra).
Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali is an official
holiday in India,
Nepal,
Sri Lanka,
Myanmar,
Mauritius,
Guyana,
Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname,
Malaysia,
Singapore
and Fiji.
It is one time in the whole year that children volunteer to leave their beds
long before the day begins. In fact, the traditional oil bath at 3 a.m, is the
only chore that stands between them and the pre-dawn adventures. They emerge,
scrubbed clean to get into their festive attire, and light up little oil lamps,
candles and scented sticks(agarbathis), the wherewithal for setting alight
crackers and sparklers.
Festival starts with Dhanteras
on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. Hindu
families offering prayers to the Goddess of wealth (Lakshmi) to remember wealth
is considered a benediction from God.
The second day of the festival, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the
demon Naraka
by Lord Krishna
and his wife Satyabhama. This day reminds us not to abuse our power and to
channel our strength for the greater benefit of mankind.
The third day is actually Diwali. According to the Ramayana,
the people of Ayodhya illuminated the kingdom with earthen lamps (diyas) to
celebrate the return of their king, Lord Rama after he defeated the demon king
Ravana who captured his wife Sita.
The fourth day is the Govardhana Puja , and is a time for
reconciliation and forgiveness. On this day, Hindus offer thanksgiving to cows
and worship Lord Krishna with offerings of food arranged in the form of
Govardhana, a hill in Vrindavana.
The fifth day of Diwali is called Bhaiya Duj and is dedicated to the
relationship between a brother and a sister. It is a day when every brother
takes time to visit the home of his sister and her family.
