Diwali Celebration in India – 2021
Diwali is the festival of lights. People celebrate the day by lighting oil lamps, bursting crackers and enjoying traditional family time to remember that Good always prevails over Evil. However, the mythology behind the Diwali Celebration in India has different stories.
Diwali literally means “a line of lights.” This festival of five days, which is India’s highest, celebrates the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. This celebrates the return of Lord Ram and his wife Sita to their kingdom of Ayodhya after the defeat of the demon Ravan by Ram and the monkey god Hanuman and the rescue of Sita from his evil clutches.
Many say that Diwali is the day that Rama and his mother, son, and Hanuman returned to Ayodhya after Ravan was killed. For some cultures, Diwali is celebrated as the day when after 13 years of exile and hiding, Pandavas returned to their country. Interestingly, Diwali is seen as the day Lord Lakshmi came from the milk sea. Diwali’s night is celebrated in colors to honor Lord Vishnu’s and Lord Lakshmi’s wedding.
How Diwali is celebrated in India?
The celebration of Diwali in India depends primarily on the area where it is celebrated. It is celebrated not only in India but in most countries, particularly in Asia, where Hindus celebrate worldwide. Diwali Celebration’s significance in India is different based on the location. However, fireworks celebrations at night, Diya lighting in and out of houses, drawing and decorating outside the gate, puja and rituals, are most common.
Diwali preparation is huge, Diwali shopping, exchanging sweets or gifts, wishing each other and sharing love, etc. Homes are lit with lamps of Diya, Deepam, or earthen. At Diwali, the scent of sweets getting ready and fresh flowers comes from nearly every house. Before holidays, people thoroughly clean their houses. These are the simple celebrations at Indian people’s homes that you can see if you’re visiting any of these Indian destinations.
The streets are filled with fireworks played by kids and families–crackers bursting, ladies, special candles, etc. As the night comes, the streets are filled with noise from the neighborhood’s noisy crackers burst by children. When it gets dark, the whole family and family members who come out and light up different types of fireworks, some that make noise and some that don’t. It’s a sight no one can explain. You have to come and see this celebration of Diwali in India.
Besides all these celebrations, there are small groups or local society organizing large and major celebrations in different states in India as well. It includes giant cut-outs and puppets and people dressed in mythological costumes that demonstrate or play on the street. The characters perform different scenes on Why Diwali is celebrated or the purpose of Diwali festivities in India for different reasons.
Significance of Diwali Celebration
Every Diwali ritual has a particular meaning. To mark the victory, the people exploded firecrackers. To show their happiness and joy, they light crackers and fireworks. People have different beliefs and motives for celebrating Diwali in different regions of India. There are improvements that people make beyond the decorations, crackers, and celebrations:
Forgive – Forgive the other people who have done them wrong. Everywhere, they’re polite and festive.
Unity in love – People get together, love each other, and exchange happiness.
Why is Diwali Celebrated?
Deepawali’s importance is the triumph of Good over Evil from every legend and tale of myth. People think that during Diwali they will light their hearts with their houses. It is a theory that by making a commitment to doing better, we go from darkness to light. These acts are believed to lead them to divinity. People from different faiths, including Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism, also have Diwali celebrations as important festival days. This Deepavali 2020, there are different Diwali celebrations around the world. Through the sharing of love and gifts, people spread peace and joy.
Dhanteras, the first day, marks Diwali’s end. It is committed to assets celebration. Traditionally, this day, people buy gold and new kitchen utensils. Homes are washed and ready to welcome inside the goddess of wealth, Goddess Lakshmi. Men are also playing cards and gambling together.
The second day is known in southern India as Naraka Chaturdasi or in northern India as Choti Diwali. In doorways and courtyards of homes, Rangoli (Hindu folk art) is developed, and people begin to burst crackers. It is believed that Lord Krishna and Goddess Kali killed the demon Narakasura and on this day liberated 16,000 captive princesses. In the celebration of Goa, demon effigies are widely burned.
Lots of small clay lamps (known as Diyas) and candles are lit and put in houses on the third and main day. Everywhere, fireworks are also let off, giving Diwali its name “Lights Festival.” Families assemble, conduct the Lakshmi Puja, and give gifts and sweets to each other. Kali Puja is usually also celebrated in West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam on this day (although it sometimes falls one day earlier depending on the moon’s cycle). The terrifying Dark Mother, Goddess Kali, is worshiped for her ability to destroy the ego and delusions that surround her.
On the fourth day, merchants are opening new year fresh accounts and offering prayers. In northern India, Govardhan Puja is celebrated to commemorate the defeat of Indra, the rain god, by Lord Krishna. The triumph of Lord Vishnu over the demon king Bali is celebrated as Bali Pratipada or Bali Padyami in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The fifth and last day is devoted to celebrating women, known as Bhai Duj.
What Rituals are Performed?
The rituals vary by region. Nevertheless, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh, the remover of barriers, are given special blessings. Goddess Lakshmi is believed to have been created on the main Diwali day from the churning of the ocean, and to visit every home during the Diwali period, bringing luck and prosperity. It is said that she first visits the cleanest homes, so people make sure that their houses are spotless to welcome her in before lighting lamps. The cleaning also symbolizes psychological purification to remove negativity, clutter, and ignorance.
Consider this Diwali truly memorable by witnessing the various cultural festivities across India. May this lights festival bring peace, prosperity, success, health, and joy to everyone. Happy Diwali to all of you!
Also, See The 10 Best Diwali Lights to Buy For Home Decoration in 2021