Diwali means ‘row of lights’. This festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil and coincides with the Indian New Year (based on the lunar calendar). It is India’s biggest festival and is celebrated across the country in many different ways. Here is how we celebrate it where we live.
As a run up to the festival, people do their spring cleaning. Houses and offices are painted, new clothes, jewelry are bought, etc.
During this week garlands of leaves and flowers are hung at the door of the house. Near the entrance a rangoli is made. This is like a painting made from colored powders; some people also use different grains and pulses. The designs are usually either gods or auspicious symbols or simply traditional art.
Different rangolis made from colored powders
Me making a rangoli
People will use these days to call on and meet friends and family. Gifts and Indian sweets will be exchanged. The air of celebration will be everywhere. Practically no one works at this time.
Every evening as darkness falls rows and rows of small clay lamps will be filled with oil and lit to be placed at the periphery of the house. Fire crackers are burnt as part of the celebrations.
Clay lamps placed on a rangoli made from different grains and pulses
The first day is called Dhanteras. On this day people pray to the goddess of wealth. In the evening the family gathers to conduct the prayers. It is considered auspicious to purchase some silver or gold on this day.
Mom & Dad doing the Dhanteras prayers
Day 2 is Kali Chaudas. This day signifies the destruction of all that is evil.
The big day – Diwali; the last day of the lunar calendar. Prayers are conducted at places of business and the account books for the year that has passed are closed. New books are opened and prayers for good fortune are said. The rest of the day is spent in meeting family and friends.
Me doing the Diwali prayers at the office & opening the new account books
The next day is the New Year or Bestu Varas. This day is mainly spent in wishing loved ones a very happy new year and exchanging gifts and sweets.
Day 5 is Bhai Duj, the day sisters invite their brothers home for a meal and pray for their well being.
This is followed by 2 more days of holidays and then on the 8th day (labh pancham) all businesses will reopen after a small prayer ritual and a new year of business commences. A good transaction on this day is considered auspicious, since it signifies a trend for the year to come.
There are great mythological and historical stories behind this entire festival. If you are ever curious about these, email me at inmyeye@gmail.com and I will be happy to tell you about them. Thank you for taking the time to read about our festival.
From me & my family, I wish you a very
Happy Diwali & Prosperous New Year
3 comments:
the last rangoli ( if that is a rangoli) is fabulous. the ganesha on the first one looks egyptian :D.
Thats a good write up for diwali. I was thinking of blogging abt the diff ganesha idols I have , but I packed em already. maybe some other time :)
thanks... yes the last one is a rangoli... one of my best yet...
:-) @ egyptian, it's a ganesha sitting on a green seat with the rays of the sun behind him.
even the one next to it is a ganesha and an ohm combined. i guess a bigger picture would show it better...
:) thanks bilbo, i hope some of my customers stop by and read this, at least that way they will know where i am vanishing for nearly a week.
cheers, ime
the customers reminded me, when are you guys getting into the japanese mkt. all the paperbags are driving me up a wall. :)
Post a Comment