Celebration of Diwali (Deepavali) – Festival of Lights
Celebration of Diwali
Diwali (or) Deepavali as the name indicates, it is the “festival of lights” celebrated all over India. Basically, it is a Hindu festival celebrated during autumn every year. Diwali glorifies the victory of lights. Diwali is celebrated for five solid days. It is celebrated even by other religion people with joy all over India.HOW CELEBRATION TAKES PLACE?
During Diwali, people show their unity by having all their family members grouped together in one place. People who celebrate this festival will make sweets of different varieties. Then they wear new clothes and worship Goddess by presenting all the sweets before it. Even some people present crackers before God and do pray. The only difference is that they will worship different gods each day. All these are done to attain wealth and prosperity.
Diwali is celebrated for five days and each day has its own importance. Let us now discuss the traditions followed on each day.
Celebration of Diwali: 1st day (Dhanteras)
The first day of a Diwali festival is called Dhanatrayodadashi or Dhanavantare Trayodasi. ‘Dhan’ means wealth and ‘tera’ means the 13th day of the month Karthikai which is the lunar day of the dark fortnight.
On the day of Dhanteras, people worship Goddess Lakshmi for providing all the wealth and well-being. As a custom, people buy precious metals like gold that day. Lord Kubera who is the god of assets is also worshipped for their prosperity.
People believe in God and they lit lamp to worship Goddess Lakshmi. By doing so, they invite DhanaLakshmi that is wealth into their houses. Prayers are done by singing devotional songs. After all the prayers, people will share the sweets which were made and presented to God, with their neighbors, friends and family. In this way, all the happiness begins.
Celebration of Diwali: 2nd day (Naraka Chaturdasi)
Also called as Roop Chaturdashi is a festival celebrated by Hindus on the second day of Diwali. The history of Diwali says that the demon Narakasura was killed by Lord Krishna and kali on those days which ultimately lead to the victory of lights.
On this day, god is prayed with flowers and delicacies. In Tamilnadu, the second day is celebrated as actual Diwali whereas in other states of India, it is on the new moon night. On that day, people will get up early in the morning, take oil baths, do poojas and burst crackers.
Celebration of Diwali: 3rd day (Diwali)
Except for Tamilnadu, all the other states celebrate this day as actual Diwali. People will get up early, take oil baths and fill all their pathways with rangoli. All the people wear new clothes and worship Goddess Lakshmi. The delicacies they offer to God are made up of rice which is taken from the recent harvest. In Tamilnadu, they celebrate Diwali for 3 days or maximum up to 4 days.
Celebration of Diwali: 4th day
This day is dedicated to the relationship between the family members especially between a wife and a husband. They make and break the family. Mutual understanding, care and sharing are the important aspects between the husband and wife. Such beautiful values are given respect and the bond between them is shown off on that day.
Celebration of Diwali: 5th day (BHAU – BEEJ)
Bhau-Beej is a festival celebrated on this day by Hindus in the northern part of India and also in Nepal. The celebrations on this day are like Raksha Bandhan which is celebrated to show the bonding between a brother and a sister. Girls, whether they are having the brother or not, will tie the band to the boys they think as brothers. The contrast to Raksha Bandhan here is that sisters will present gifts to their brothers. This festival is celebrated because according to Hindu Mythology after the demon was assassinated by Lord Krishna, he visited his sister Subhadra. She applied tilak on Krishna’s forehead. Following this, girls celebrating this day also apply tilak on their brother’s forehead.
In this manner, Diwali is celebrated all over India. Not only the Indians in India alone celebrate it but also the Indians all the parts of the world celebrate it with joy.
Happy Diwali, Read the post Safety Rules to Follow on Diwali to have a safe Diwali.
