Diwali
Diwali is the festival of lights. It is only celebrated by Indians. Diwali is India’s New
Years. Different cultures believe in Diwali for many different reasons. But all the
cultures light candle, known as Diyas. This is what Diwali is known for. Diwali is
celebrated to rid all of the bad things from you. The oil in the Diya represents the dirt
(bad things). When you light the wick, you are burning the oil (bad things).
Celebration
Diwali is celebrated for many different reasons. It is celebrated by Jains, Sikhs,
and Hindus. Hindus are usually the only people that celebrate Diwali. That is what
they are known for. The most well-known story behind Diwali is in the Ramayana,
the great Hindu epic. According to Ramayana, Rama, the prince of Ayodhya was
ordered by his father, King Dasharatha, to go away from his country and come back
after living in the forest for fourteen years. So Rama went on exile with his
devoted wife Sita and faithful brother, Lakshmana. When Ravana, the demon king
of Lanka abducted Sita and took her away to his island kingdom of Lanka, Rama
fought against and killed Ravana. He rescued Sita and returned to Ayodhya after
fourteen years. The people of Ayodhya were very happy to hear of their beloved
prince's homecoming. To celebrate Rama's return to Ayodhya, they lit up their
houses with earthen lamps (Diyas), burst crackers and decorated the entire city in
the grandest manner.
This is believed to have started the tradition of Diwali. Another well-known story
related to Diwali history is narrated in the other Hindu epic, ‘Mahabharata’.
Mahabharata reveals to us how the five royal brothers, the Pandavas, suffered a
defeat in the hands of their brothers, the Kauravas, in a game of dice (gambling).
As a rule imposed on them, the Pandavas had to serve a term of 13 years in exile.
When the period was over, they returned to their birthplace Hastinapura on ‘Kartik
Amavashya’ (the new moon day of the Kartik month). The five Pandava brothers,
their mother and their wife Draupadi were honest, kind, gentle and caring in their
ways and were loved by all their subjects. To celebrate the joyous occasion of
their return to Hastinapura and to welcome back the Pandavas, the common people
illuminated their state by lighting bright earthen lamps everywhere. The tradition
is believed to have been kept alive through the festival of Diwali, which many
believe, is held in remembrance of the Pandava brothers' homecoming.
Diya
Diya is an oil lamp, usually made from clay, with a cotton wick dipped in ghee or
vegetable oils. Diyas are used for many reasons. The general reason is to rid the
bad. It is to bring out the good. Another reason Diyas are used is: to lead Rama
into your house.
The five days of Diwali
.
The first day of Diwali: Dhanteras
The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also
called Dhan Theras. It is the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh. On this day,
Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic for mankind. This day
marks the beginning of Deepawali celebrations.
On this day at sunset, Hindus should bathe and offer a lighted Diya with Prasad
(sweets offered at worship time) to Yama Raj, the Lord of Death and pray for
protection from untimely death. This offering should be made near a Tulsi tree,
the Holy Basil or any other sacred tree that one might have in their yard.
The second day of Diwali: Choti Diwali
The second day of dipawali is called Narak Chaturdasi. On this day Lord Krishna
destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear. On this day,
one should massage the body with oil to relieve it of tiredness, bathe and rest so
that Diwali can be celebarated with vigour and devotion.
On this night, Diya should not be lit. The Shastras (Laws of Dharma) declares that
Diya should be offered on Triodasi night with Prasad. Some people mistook it to
mean that because Yama Diya was lit on that night, that it should always be lit on
the night before Diwali. This is absolutely not true. It is advisable that one
consults with a learned Pandit or Hindu Astrologer for proper guidance on this
matter.
The third day of Diwali: Lakshmi Puja on Diwali
This is the day when worship unto Mother Lakshmi is performed. Hindus cleanse
themselves and join with their families and their Pandit (priest) and they worship
the divine Goddess Lakshmi to achieve the blessings of wealth and prosperity, the
triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
The fourth day of Diwali: Padwa & Govardhan Puja
On this day, Govardhan Pooja is performed. Many thousands of years ago, Lord
Krishna caused the people of Vraja to perform Govardhan Pooja. From then on,
every year Hindus worship Govardhan to honour that first Pooja done by the people
of Vraja.
The fifth day of Diwali: Bhai Duj
The fifth day of the Diwali is called Bhai teeka. This is the day after Goverdhan
Pooja is performed and normally two days after Diwali day. It is a day dedicated to
sisters. Many moons ago, in the Vedic era, Yama (Yamraj, the Lord of death) visited
his sister Yamuna on this day. He gave his sister a Vardhan (a boon) that whosoever
visits her on this day shall be liberated from all sins. They will achieve Moksha or
final emancipation. From then on, brothers visit their sisters on this day to enquire
of their welfare.
This day marks the end of the five days of deepavali celebrations. This is also
known as Bhai fota among Bengalis. Bhai fota is an event especially among Bengalis
when the sister prays for her brother's safety, success and wellbeing.
Rangoli
Rangoli is a traditional Indian art. It is made by colorful rice flour. It is used to
welcome guest into someone’s house. Also, it is used to celebrate Diwali. Diwali is a
very colorful holiday and a festivity. Rangoli makes it this way. The most common
way of making a Rangoli is to pinch the thumb and let the forefinger and let the
color run freely out of the gap. Rangolis are vivid and simple two-dimensional pieces
of art.
Let’s conclude
Diwali is
 A festival that gets rid of the bad
 Is very colorful
 Celebrates the return of Rama from Ayodhya
Includes
 Diyas
 Rangoli
 Sweets
 Fireworks