India is a land of festivals. Among all the festivals of Hindus, Diwali holds has its own significance. Generally, Diwali is known to be the festival of businessmen as new business year begins with it but on this day people irrespective of their caste, creed and community devote themselves in worshiping Goddess Lakshmi with great pomp and glory. The good wishes and blessings of Goddess Lakshmi is seen on the faces of people, their dresses, houses, everywhere. People get ready to welcome Goddess Lakshmi forgetting all about their griefs and worries of normal lives.
Reasons for Celebrating Diwali
There are a number of reasons associated with the celebrations of Diwali and if someone says that this festival is celebrated for a single reason he/she would definitely be proved wrong. Some people believes that on this very day Lord Ram Chandra returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the demon king. The people of Ayodhya welcomed Him by lighting diyas or earthen lamps. From that day onwards, this festival is celebrated every year in memory of Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. Moreover, some people believes that Goddess Lakshmi roams everywhere on this day and she enters only those houses which are thoroughly cleaned, white washed or well illuminated with lights. It is believed that those houses where Goddess Lakshmi enters gets relieved from poverty and other short comings. Besides, some people believes that after monsoon it is necessary to clean the houses on Diwali to maintain hygiene and well being of family members. Whatever the reason might be it is a fact that Diwali is considered as an auspicious occasion.
When and how Diwali is celebrated
Hindus celebrate this festival on the auspicious month of Kartika, that is, October/November throughout the world. Literally, Diwali means a row of lights. Just before two days of Diwali, that is , on thirteenth day of the month of Karthika(October/November) Dhanteras is celebrated. The word Dhan means wealth and tera means the thirteenth day of month. In Dhanteras, Lord Ya ma, the God of death is worshiped for well being of one and all. To celebrate the festival of Dhanteras people come out of their houses and crowd around jewellery shops to buy gold, silver etc. Some people buy utensils and other important things for their household.
In our Hindu society, Diwali is considered to bring about happiness, peace, prosperity and brotherhood among people. Weeks before Diwali people get busy to white wash and paint their house. On the day of the festival people from early morning clean and sweep their house. In the evenings, they lit thousands of diyas or earthen lamps with oils and place them at different sections of their houses like doors, balconies, terraces etc. Streets or by lanes are decorated and illuminated with different kinds of colorful lightnings. Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in the mid night. Children enjoy themselves by lighting different kinds of crackers which emit beautiful lights and cover the night sky. Everyone seem to be happy and enjoy the festival with high spirits. Some people involve themselves in practices like drinking wine and gambling. I think these practices should be given up for the betterment of our society and in turn for ourselves.
Diwali is celebrated in different parts of India
In comparison to other festivals, Diwali is celebrated with different names and beliefs in various parts of our country.
North
The Northern part of India celebrate Diwali to commemorate Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king, Ravana, who abducted his wife Si ta. On His return to Ayodhya with His younger brother Lakshmana and wife Si ta people welcomed Him by burning diyas or earthen lamps.
South
In the southern part of India it is celebrated to rejoice the killing of Narakasura by Lord Krishna.
West
In west India Diwali is celebrated to commemorate for victory of Lord Vamana or Vishnu over the cruel demon king Bali.
Gujarat
In Gujarat, Diwali is celebrated by the people to welcome Goddess Lakshmi to their houses. They hope Goddess Lakshmi will bring them good luck, prosperity and wealth.
Bengal
In Bengal, Diwali is celebrated as Kali puja and the goddess is worshiped in every houses. Goddess Kali is very well known for power and Shakti.
Constituents of Diwali festival
Diwali is such a festival which is celebrated throughout the world. People have great faith and hope associated with this festival. Farmers hope for good harvest in their fields while shop owners and businessmen expects a new beginning of business year. They also hope for good sale of their products and commodities. Typically, Diwali is never complete without any of these things as mentioned below.
Lights
Generally by Diwali we mean festival of lights. It is a fact that light plays an important role in Diwali. On this holy and pious day people burn Diyas or earthen lamps to lit their houses in the evenings. Moreover, colorful candles are now also lighted in Diwali in many houses. Now-a-days, earthen pots with different designs are available in the market.
Sweets
Sweets play an important part of this festival and different kinds of sweetmeats are prepared in the houses. Sweets like laddoos, gujiyas, rasgullas are exchanged with relatives and everyone shares their good wishes among each other.
New clothes
People wear new dresses on this day. Really, their colorful dresses makes Diwali more colorize and enjoying. Females decorate themselves with different kinds of ornaments and jewellery.
Fire Crackers
Different kinds of fire crackers are burnt in Diwali and this brings about enormous joy to everyone especially children. The night sky gets filled with different kinds of colorful firecrackers which emit colored lights.
The first three days of Diwali
Diwali is a five day celebration and among those the first three days are very important.
First Day
The first day of Diwali is known as Dhanteras. On this day, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped and houses are cleaned or whitewashed to welcome her.
Second Day
On the second day, Goddess Kali , also known for her shakti or power, is worshiped. This day is also known as Kali Chaudas or Narak Chaudas. People pay homage to their expired loved and dear ones.
Third Day
Diwali is celebrated on the third day and earthen pots, candles , lamps are lit in every houses. Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are also worshiped in the night. People believe that Goddess Lakshmi will relieve them from all sorts of debt, poverty and sufferings.
Benefits of Diwali
If we go by scientific view, Diwali has its own importance. It is a fact that the monsoon season brings a lot of downpour and destroys highways, roads, houses etc. Therefore before the coming of this festival all these are repaired and constructed. Besides, the huge amount of garb ages that accumulates are breeding grounds of harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses which effects our health very badly. It is believed that these harmful viruses gets killed by the celebration of Diwali. Besides, we need festivals to rewind ourselves so that we could work with energy throughout the year. The first harvest that we collect on Diwali day is given to the Gods to pay our love, respect and homage. Businessmen begins a new calender year from this day. Diwali is our national festival hence its color and blessing is for the entire humanity.
Negatives of Diwali
We considered Diwali as a festival which is a symbol and hallmark of victory of good over evil. But due to some narrow minded people living in society evil things like gambling, playing cards and dice are very much prevalent. They take these evil things as a sort of Diwali custom and end up loosing huge sums of money or valuables which they later suffer.
But why Diwali is to be blamed for this kind of people? I believe this kind of people should move out of their age old superstition and try to celebrate the festival happily along with everyone.
Conclusion
Diwali is about to come and we are going to celebrate this festival on 26th of October, 2011. Come let us make ourselves clean from within our heart so that the holy lights of Diwali touches us and we get good blessings or wishes. Hence, open all the doors and windows of your hearts to welcome this festival so that we could celebrate it wholeheartedly. Let us welcome Goddess Lakshmi and clean the path through which she will come to us so that we get blessed with divine blessing. If we could do so, then our life will sparkle like the lights of Diwali.
