Diwali - A Festival of Light & Happiness
दीवाली - दीपों व खुशियों का त्योहार
Diwali (aka Deepavali) is the most popular festival of India. It is mainly a Hindu festival, but celebrated by most Indians (Sikhs, Jains...), Nepalees, etc. It generally coincides with end of the main harvesting season of South Asia. In towns and cities people celebrate by lighting (decorating) their homes and firing crackers. In towns and villages, people wear new clothes. Generally middle class people have some extra money during this time of the year, mainly because of the harvesting season (as soon as the farmers have the money they want to spend it) or because of the savings, bonuses etc.. So they buy new cloths, goods. Houses are cleaned and decorated.
Diwali (दीवाली) is pronounced as deevaalee, while Deepavali (दीपावली) is pronounced as deepaavalee. Literally these words means row of diyaa/s (deepak/s). Diya is a earthen lamp that looks like a small saucer.
यह दक्षिण एशिया का प्रमुख त्योहार है। यह मुख्यतः हिन्दू त्योहार है।
It is celebrated over five days -
1st day - Dhanteras (धनतेरस; dhanateras)
2nd day - Narak Chaturdashi (नरक चतुर्दशी, narak chaturdashee)
3rd day - Lakshmi Puja (लक्ष्मी पूजा; lakShmee poojaa)
4th day - Gowardhan Puja (गोवर्धन पूजा; govardhan poojaa)
5th day - Bhai Duj (भाई दूज; bhaaEE dooj)
On Dhanateras some people buy new utensils. But its OK if you don't go to bartanwalas on this day as they are generally very busy. Just be happy as Diwali just starts with this days. Do some house keeping/cleaning.
The Narak Chaturdashi is also called 'Roop Chaturdashi' and also as 'Chhoti Diwali' (छोटी दीवाली; chhoti deevaalee.). You may light a deepak/diyaa and put it outside your house or on the window/balcony. Some people bathe in early morning (called brahma muhoort). It is believed that the Shri-Krishn (kriShNN) killed a demon Narakaasur on this day.
On the third (main) day people light diyaas and arrange them in rows. It is believed that on this day Shri-Ram (raam-chandra) returned to Ayodhyaa with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after vanvaad (exile) of fourteen years. But that night was moonless (Amaavasyaa) so everyone lit diyas to welcome them. It symbolises the victory of the avataar (raam) over the shaitaan (raavan).
To make a row of diyas you need just three of them! Why waste oil by lighting more, stay green. If you don't have these diyas you can light three small candles or simply switch on the light of your porch, baranda or balcony. Some girls & women make designs (called raangolee) on floor using colored powders.
It is also believed that on this day Lakshmiji appeared during 'samudra manthan'. After elders have finished worshipping Lakshmi-ji (Goddess of wealth), young people and children fire crackers. Its ok for children to fire some crackers. But grown-ups fire lots of crackers to just to show-off, which is not so green.
Gowardhan means increasing the number of cattle (mainly cows). It is believed that on this day Shri-Krishn held the Gowardhan mountain on his small finger! In small towns and villages some Hindus make tiny model of mountain (of cow dung). Some temples organise 'Aannakoot' (prasaad) - for devotees.
On Bhai Dooj, sisters put kumkum on their brothers' forehead. Sisters pray for their brothers' long life. Brothers give gifts to their sisters. If you think your sister will be happy talking to you, give her a call.
The Diwali season finally ends with Tulsi Puja (तुलसी पूजा; tulsee poojaa), on the eleventh day (eka-dashee) or the twelfth day (dwa-dashee) of the Indian lunar month Kartik (kaartik). Some people arrange ceremonial marriage of Vishnu and Tulsi! You can simply have/make sweets. If you have a basil (tulsee) plant do some decorations around it!
Floating Lamps
OR
Click here for seeing floating lamps (in Internet Explorer .AVI file : size 1.2MB).