My Fun Diwali (Deepavali) 2014

Hello everybody!!

Diyas or lights

    My family is celebrating a special holiday right now called Diwali (Deepavali). Diwali is the "Festival Of Light". Diwali is celebrated for five days. This year is starts on the 21st and ends on the 25th. The last day is also New Year on the lunar cycle. The five days are: Dhanteras(Dhantrayodashi), Naraka Chaturdasi (Choti Diwali) , Diwali, Diwali Padwa and Bhau Beej. 

    On Dhanteras (The first day of Diwali), houses and business are cleaned, renovated and decorated. Women and children decorate the front of their house with Rangoli –  Rangoli is a creative colourful design. This day is the birthday of Lakshmi(the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity), On the night of Dhanteras, diyas (candles) are kept burning. Dhanteras is also a major shopping day, mostly for gold or silver items. Lakshmi puja is then done in the evening.

    Narak Chaturdasi is the second day of Diwali, also called Choti Diwali. Special bathing rituals such as a good scent oil bath are done in some regions, followed by pujas. Women decorate their hands with henna designs. Families are also busy preparing homemade sweets for the main Diwali.

patakhe (fireworks)

    The third day is the main day. People wear new clothes. Then diyas are lit, pujas are done to Lakshmi. Lakshmi symbolises wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are given for a good year. Lakshmi roams the earth on Diwali night. On the evening of Diwali, people open their doors and windows to welcome Lakshmi, and place diya lights. After the puja, people go outside and celebrate by lighting up patakhe (fireworks). 

    The fourth day (the day after Diwali) is celebrated as Padwa. Sometimes brothers go and pick up their sisters from their in-laws home for this important day. The day after Diwali devotees perform Goverdhan puja in honor of Lord Krishna. Diwali also marks the beginning of new year. Shop owners close out their old year, and start a new year with blessings from Lakshmi.

New Year for Diwali

The last day of festival is called Bhai dooj. The day emphasizes the bond between siblings. It is a day when women and girls get together and perform a puja with prayers for the well being of their brothers. In the old times, this was a day in fall when brothers would travel to meet their sisters, or bring their sisters family to their homes to celebrate their sister-brother bond.

Signing out,

Rishab Jain : (|)