Diwali – Festival of Lights.
Lighting our little lamps to dispel the darkness.
Light Over Darkness, Good Over Evil.
In the autumn time, as the light darkens each day (in the northern hemisphere), to maintain hope in the hearts of humanity, festivals of light are held.
Today (November 12, 2023, Sunday) is Diwali – the five day Hindu festival of light.
It is the festival marking the Good over evil, the Light over the darkness. As in….
“In the end, the Forces of Light DO control the Forces of evil.”
A prayer offered during Diwali.
On this auspicious moment of Diwali, I wish you and your family a “Happy Diwali”.
We pray that the God Ganesha and the Goddess Lakshmi bless everyone with good health, wealth and success on Diwali festival.
May Diwali light up new hopes, wishes & dreams, everything bright & beautiful and fill everyone’s days with surprise.
Happy Diwali (Lighting our Path), to everyone.
Diwali is traditionally celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and is one of the most significant festivals in the east Indian culture.
The word Diwali means rows of lighted lamps and it is known as the Festival of Lights because houses and shops are decorated with candles and colourful lights. This shows the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
For many Indians, Diwali honors Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and people will begin the new business year at Diwali and some will say prayers to the goddess for a prosperous year ahead.
Large firework displays are held which celebrate one of the Diwali legends, Rama and his wife Sita.
The fireworks signify Rama’s (in the story of the Mahabarata in the Bhagavad Gita) return to his kingdom after being exiled for 14 years and defeating king Ravana, when the local people set off their own version of fireworks.
Oil Lamps
Those celebrating Diwali also light traditional earthenware oil lamps called diyas which are said to help Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, find her way into people’s homes. They’ll leave their windows and doors of their houses open so that she can enter.
Art & Patterns of Beauty
People will also create rangoli artwork which are patterns created using coloured rice or powder, with the most popular pattern being the lotus flower as Lakshmi was often pictured either sitting on one or holding a lotus.
Sweets
During Diwali, families and friends share sweets, dried fruit and gifts, and many give food and goods to those who are less fortunate and in need. It is also a time when people spring-clean and redecorate their homes and wear new clothes.
Diwali or Deepavali is one of the most prominent and famous Hindu festivals of India, celebrated with great fervor. In Sanskrit, word ‘Deepavali’ means “rows of lights” so this festival is also known as “Festival of Lights”. Diwali festival starts with Dhanteras, followed by small Diwali and then main Diwali. People of all religion enjoy this festival by making vibrant rangolis, lighting lamps ‘diyas’, distributing sweets, exchanging gifts between friends and relatives and burning crackers. This festival of lights transcends religion and is celebrated by Indians worldwide.
Each year people of all communities celebrate this festival to welcome a new ray of hope into their lives through this festival, when all the negative forces are believed to be removed from both, one’s home and life. Before Diwali, people clean their home and paint it with attractive colors. Every nook and corner in the home is lighted with clay diyas (little lights) or electric lamps to expel darkness and ensure prosperity can see its way home. Children and all the ages of people burnt firecrackers to enjoy the day.
Diwali is celebrated continuously for five days.
Dhanteras (begins the festival) – on this day people buy new cloths, pots or jewelry for their family.
Bhai dooj day – (exchanging gifts of love & the love between siblings, brothers & sisters).
For Diwali festival, people do shopping of cloths and gold ornaments, which they wear before goddess Laxmi pujan. Flowers, sweets, food, amongst others are some of the ways in which people try to start a fresh and welcome a new year of bliss.
On the night of Deepavali, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi puja has been performed everywhere in India to invoke their blessings for one’s well-being and growth. People receive the blessing of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Laxmi in the form of health, wealth, prosperity and happiness.
Apart from this, Deepawali also has a deeper significance in Jainism as on this special day, Lord Mahavira, the last of the Jain Tirthankar of this era, entered Nirvana at Pavapuri, and therefore they celebrate it referring to it as Deva Devali. In Newar Buddhism as well, this festival has relevance as Ashok Vijayadashami as Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism on this very occasion.
Diwali is the festival of lights, of good over evil. On Diwali festival, people wish each other by saying “Happy Diwali”.
love to everyone, Risa
