Diwali, the festival of lights holds great importance for people in India. It is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. This year it will be celebrated on 27 October 2019. Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali that means a row of lights. This year Hindus will start celebrations from 25 October that is Dhanteras, then Chhoti Diwali on 26 October, and Diwali on 27 October. On the day of Diwali, millions of people engage in the display of fireworks and crackers, prayers, and celebrating events across the world. People decorate their houses with colorful lights, diyas, rangoli, candles, flowers, etc. Various Gods and Goddesses such as Lakshmi, Ganesha, Vishnu, Rama, Sita, etc are worshipped during the puja ceremony. People wear new clothes to celebrate this occasion with great fervour and zeal.
Significance of Diwali
As per the Hindu calendar, Diwali is celebrated on the night of Amavasya or the new moon in the month of Karthik. Diwali is celebrated to honor Lord Rama and Sita’s homecoming after 14 years of exile. On that day, the people of Ayodhya lit several clay pots and diyas to pay respect to them. As on this day, Rama, the avatar of Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu, Shiva, and Shesha reached Ayodhya after killing the demon king Ravana.
Some people also believe Diwali to be the celebration of the marriage of Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth with Lord Vishnu. While some others celebrate it as her birthday which falls on the new moon day of Kartik.
How the Festival is celebrated?
On the day of Diwali, people visit their friends and relatives to share gifts and boxes of sweets. Sweets such as laddoos, kaju barfi, rasgulla, gulab jamun are the most preferable ones. Besides this, boxes of dry fruits and nuts are commonly exchanged on the eve of Diwali. Other snacks such as bhujia, kachori, chakli, gathiya, samosa, can also be distributed. There is a belief that giving food and goods to those in need on the day of Diwali brings prosperity and happiness in your life.
People and especially children love bursting firecrackers on Diwali with their friends and family. There is a strong tradition of cleaning every part of homes before Diwali so that Goddess Lakshmi could come inside and reside in our homes and shower us with blessings, health, wealth, love, and prosperity.
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