Diwali is the Indian festival of lights, usually lasting five days and celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”
Deepawali, Diwali or Diwali Deepotsav is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated every year in the autumn (northern hemisphere). Deepavali is celebrated on the new moon day of Kartik month which falls in the month of October or November according to the Gregory calendar. . Deepawali is one of the largest and most important festivals of India. Deepawali is the festival of lamps. Spiritually, it signifies the ‘victory of light over darkness’
Among all the festivals celebrated in India, Deepawali has great importance both socially and religiously. It is also called Deepotsav. ‘Tamso ma jyotirgamay’ Arhat (O Lord!) Take me from darkness to light. This is the order of the Upanishads. It is also celebrated by people of Sikh, Buddhist and Jainism. People of Jainism celebrate it as the salvation day of Mahavira and the Sikh community celebrates it as Bandi Chhod Day.
Hinduism hisorical importance of this festival
It is believed that Rama of Ayodhya returned on the day of Diwali after his fourteen years of exile. [9] The Ayodhya residents were heartened with the arrival of their beloved king. Ayodhya people lit ghee lamps to welcome Shri Ram. That night of the dark black moon of Kartik month was illuminated by the light of lamps. Since then, Indians celebrate this festival of light with joy and gaiety every year. Indians believe that truth always wins, lies perish. This is what Diwali signifies – Asato Ma Sadgamaya, Tamso Ma Jyotirgamay.
Deepawali is a festival of cleanliness and light.
Preparations for Deepawali begin several weeks ago. People start cleaning their houses, shops etc. Repairs, paint, whiteness etc. are started in the houses. People also decorate the shops cleanly. The streets in the markets are also decorated with golden flags. Even before Diwali, houses, neighbourhoods, markets are all neat and well-worn.
Fairs are held at various places in India on the day of Deepawali. Deepawali is not a day festival but a group of festivals. It is only after Dussehra that preparations for Deepawali begin. People make new clothes. The festival of Dhanteras comes two days before Deepawali. On this day, people gather around the markets. Special furnishings and crowds are seen at the barrage shops. It is considered auspicious to buy utensils on the day of Dhanteras, so each family makes some purchases according to their needs. On this day a lamp is lit at the Tulsi or gate of the house. This leads to Narak Chaturdashi or small Diwali the next day. On this day lamps are lit for Yama Puja. The next day comes Diwali. On this day, different types of dishes are prepared in the houses since morning. Statues of Kheel-Batashe, sweets, molasses toys, Lakshmi-Ganesh etc. start being sold in the markets. Fireworks and firecrackers are decorated in different places. Right from the morning people start distributing sweets and gifts to relatives, friends, relatives and relatives. Lakshmi and Ganesha are worshipped on the evening of Diwali. After worship, people keep lamps and candles lit outside their homes. The glowing lamps all-around look very beautiful. Markets and streets sparkle with colourful electric bulbs. Children enjoy different types of firecrackers and fireworks. People of every age enjoy the burning of colourful sparklers, fireworks and pomegranates. Till late night, dark night of Karthik appears even more light than full moon day. The next day from Diwali, Govardhan Parvat was raised on his finger and made the Brajwasi drowned by Indra’s anger. On this day, people decorate their cattle and make a mountain of cow dung and worship it. The next day is the festival of Bhai Dooj. Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dwij is also called Yama II. On this day, brother and sister tie a knot and go to the Yamuna river to have a bath, as according to the rituals. On this day, the sister wishes her Mars by applying tilak on her brother’s forehead and the brother also presents her in response. On the second day of Deepawali, traders change their old books. They worship Lakshmi at shops. They believe that by doing this, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, will have special compassion on them. This festival has special significance for the farming class. The barn of the farmers become rich after the Kharif crop is ripened and prepared. Farmers’ society celebrates this festival of their prosperity with joy.
This Deepawali, the festival will be a little faded with the ban on firecrackers imposed by the Supreme Court. But in view of the tragedy of Corona and especially in view of the suffering of asthmatic patients, it has been decided and we should all welcome that decision. As the air quality worsened in northern parts of India and the Covid-19 pandemic witnessed a new wave in the national capital in the festive season, all focus shifted to firecrackers and their sales across the country.
