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What is Diwali?
Diwali or Deepavali (as in Hindi) is one of the most important Indian festivals. It is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs all around the world. It is also known as Festival of Lights. The festival marks victory of good over evil.
Diwali began as a festival with the homecoming of King Rama of Ayodhya after a 14 year exile. People celebrated the king's return by lighting up lamps and distributing sweets. King Rama is also considered to be the Indian God of humanity.
Diwali celebrations consists of lightning of lamps (earthen lamps, in particular) and by bursting fire crackers. People celebrating diwali, light lamps all over their house, offer pujas to Goddess Laxmi who symbolizes wealth and prosperity, prepare sweets of various different types and burst firecrackers. Women draw rangolis(a design made with sand) infront of their homes as a welcome symbol for Gods and to keep evil away from their homes. This is a festival when people in India make a lot of purchases, just as during Christmas people from the west usually do. They think that this holy period is an ideal time for them to buy.
Diwali is celebrated for five successive days at the remnant of Hindu month of Ashwayuja (amanta). It usually comes in the month of November and is one of the most anticipated and eagerly awaited festivals in India.
The Five Days of Diwali Festival
Day 1 - Dhanatrayodashi or Dhan Teras Dhan means wealth and trayodashi means 13th day. This day is considered auspicious for shopping. People make a lot of purchases related to Gold. This day is regarded as jayanti of Goddess Dhanvantri.
Day 2 - Naraka Chaturdashi Chaturdashi is the fourteenth day on which the demon called Narakasura was killed. It signifies victory of good over evil and light over darkness.
Day 3 - Laksmi Pujan This is one of the most important days in Diwali Festival. People offer their prayers and pujas to the Goddess Laksmi along with lord Ganesha. The Goddess Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity. After the prayers, lamps (diyas) are lighted all over the house and children burst firecrackers.
Day 4 - Govardhan Puja This day is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna defeated Indra. Lord Krishna lifted the mountain Govarshan and saved people from rains casted by Indra.
Day 5 - Bhaiduj (also Bhayyadu, Bhaubeej or Bhayatika) Bhaiduj is the day on which brothers and sisters meet to express their love for each other. This day is important for women.
Foods Prepared During Divali Festival
Ladu: Ladu is a round shaped sweet which consists of ghee sugar and besan.
Chakli: Chakli is a curvy shaped food which is consists of besan, chilli powder and various other Indian spices
Karanji: Karanji is a sweet food which is stuffed with a sweet mixture of coconut powder, cashews and other variety of dry fruits.
Chivada: Chivada is another food which is a mixture of assorted Indians spices.
Barfi: Barfi sweet consists of different dry fruits and comes in different shapes and sizes.
Shankarpali: Shankarpali are another kind of sweets which are small triangle like shape. They are fried in Ghee and are popular with all ages in family.
Rosh Hashanah is the festival of Jews and marks a New Year for the Jewish people. The holidays occurs on the first and second days of Tishri (around September). ...
| Sunday, September 07, 2008
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