DIWALI
Diwali, or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row(avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.
Diwali, celebrated in October or November each year, originated as a harvest festival that marked the last harvest of the year before winter. India was an agricultural society where people would seek the divine blessing of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, as they closed their accounting books and prayed for success at the outset of a new financial year. Today this practice extends to businesses all over the Indian subcontinent, which mark the day after Diwali as the first day of the new financial year.
Indians celebrate with family gatherings, glittering clay lamps, festive fireworks, strings of electric lights, bonfires, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship to Lakshmi. Some believe that Lakshmi wanders the Earth looking for homes where she will be welcomed. People open their doors and windows and light lamps to invite Lakshmi in.
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Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live:
Five Days of Diwali
The first day of Diwali, called Dhanteras, houses and business premises are cleaned, renovated and decorated. Women and children decorate entrances with rangoli – creative colorful floor designs both inside and in the walkways of their homes or offices. Boys and men hang lights around the outside of the house and complete any renovation work in progress. For some, this day marks the birthday of Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, and the birthday of Dhanvantari – the God of Health and Healing. On the night of Dhanteras, diyas (lamps) are ritually kept burning all through the nights in honor of Lakshmi and Dhanvantari.
On the second day, Choti Diwali, Hindu literature narrates that the asura (demon) Narakasura was killed on this day by Krishna, Satyabhama and Kali. The day is celebrated by early morning religious rituals and festivities followed on. Special bathing rituals such as a fragrant oil bath are held in some regions, followed by minor pujas (prayer rituals). Women decorate their hands with henna designs. Families are also busy preparing homemade sweets for main Diwali.
The third day is the main day of the festival when families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities. Lakshmi is believed to roam the earth on Diwali night. On the evening of Diwali, people open their doors and windows to welcome Lakshmi, and place diya lights on their windowsills and balcony ledges to invite her in. On this day, the mothers who work hard all year are recognized by the family and she is seen to embody a part of Lakshmi, the good fortune and prosperity of the household
The fourth day, Padwa, is the first day of the new year when friends and relatives visit with gifts and celebrate the love and mutual devotion between the wife and husband. In many regions, newly married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals. The day is also a special day for the married couple, in a manner similar to anniversaries elsewhere in the world.
On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with love and a lavish meal. The day ritually emphasizes the love and lifelong bond between siblings. It is a day when women and girls get together, perform a puja with prayers for the well being of their brothers, then return to a ritual of food-sharing, gift-giving and conversations
Diwali, celebrated in October or November each year, originated as a harvest festival that marked the last harvest of the year before winter. India was an agricultural society where people would seek the divine blessing of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, as they closed their accounting books and prayed for success at the outset of a new financial year. Today this practice extends to businesses all over the Indian subcontinent, which mark the day after Diwali as the first day of the new financial year.
Indians celebrate with family gatherings, glittering clay lamps, festive fireworks, strings of electric lights, bonfires, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship to Lakshmi. Some believe that Lakshmi wanders the Earth looking for homes where she will be welcomed. People open their doors and windows and light lamps to invite Lakshmi in.
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Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live:
- In northern India they celebrate the story of King Rama's return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps.
- Southern India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.
- In western India the festival marks the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule the nether world.
Five Days of Diwali
The first day of Diwali, called Dhanteras, houses and business premises are cleaned, renovated and decorated. Women and children decorate entrances with rangoli – creative colorful floor designs both inside and in the walkways of their homes or offices. Boys and men hang lights around the outside of the house and complete any renovation work in progress. For some, this day marks the birthday of Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, and the birthday of Dhanvantari – the God of Health and Healing. On the night of Dhanteras, diyas (lamps) are ritually kept burning all through the nights in honor of Lakshmi and Dhanvantari.
On the second day, Choti Diwali, Hindu literature narrates that the asura (demon) Narakasura was killed on this day by Krishna, Satyabhama and Kali. The day is celebrated by early morning religious rituals and festivities followed on. Special bathing rituals such as a fragrant oil bath are held in some regions, followed by minor pujas (prayer rituals). Women decorate their hands with henna designs. Families are also busy preparing homemade sweets for main Diwali.
The third day is the main day of the festival when families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities. Lakshmi is believed to roam the earth on Diwali night. On the evening of Diwali, people open their doors and windows to welcome Lakshmi, and place diya lights on their windowsills and balcony ledges to invite her in. On this day, the mothers who work hard all year are recognized by the family and she is seen to embody a part of Lakshmi, the good fortune and prosperity of the household
The fourth day, Padwa, is the first day of the new year when friends and relatives visit with gifts and celebrate the love and mutual devotion between the wife and husband. In many regions, newly married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals. The day is also a special day for the married couple, in a manner similar to anniversaries elsewhere in the world.
On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with love and a lavish meal. The day ritually emphasizes the love and lifelong bond between siblings. It is a day when women and girls get together, perform a puja with prayers for the well being of their brothers, then return to a ritual of food-sharing, gift-giving and conversations