Diwali Festivities

Here is a post from Vim on Diwali which is coming up on Tuesday!!

Not long now……. Diwali is just round the corner. The last few years we have had fun celebrating Diwali, USA style. It involved poojas, visits to temple, and most importantly - family gatherings!!!

To join in the holiday festivities, we would host a Diwali dinner at our house. It had its own twist with kids telling Diwali stories, and playing games... the important thing.... we were together with family and we had a great time!! When we come back home, we will look forward to the family celebrations, until then, we will enjoy what India has to offer.

But for those of you who are not familiar with the concept of Diwali here is a small explanation……..

Diwali is the most well-known of all Indian festivals. It is a five day celebration which occurs on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of ‘Kartika’. The word Diwali means "row of lighted lamps" and the celebration is often referred to as the Festival of Lights because of the common practice of lighting small oil lamps called ‘diyas’ and placing them around the home, in courtyards and in gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls.

During this time, homes are thoroughly cleaned, windows are opened and diyas are lit as a greeting to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth. In urban areas candles or electric lights are often substituted for diyas. During Diwali, gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared. The celebration means as much to Hindus as Christmas does to Christians.
The festival of Diwali is often celebrated with huge firework displays and the exchange of sweets. As with other Indian festivals, Diwali signifies many different things to people across the country.

In northern India and elsewhere, Diwali celebrates Rama's return after fourteen years of exile in the forest, the King of Ayodhya, Rama, and his brother, Lakshman, returned to their hometown having fought a fierce battle with the demon king of Ceylon, Ravana, who had captured Rama's consort, Sita. Aided by an army of monkeys as well as some bears, Rama and Lakshman defeated Ravana and rescued Sita.
Upon Rama's return to Ayodhya the people of the town lit lamps to light the darkness, to welcome the King back and to celebrate the brothers' victory over Ravana. Overjoyed at Queen Sita's rescue and the safe return of King Rama, the people danced and celebrated and lit fireworks to show how happy they were. These festivities continue every year at Diwali and are still celebrated today.

In Gujarat, the festival honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; in Nepal Diwali commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakaasura; and in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali. In Punjab it celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Hargobind, in 1619. Sikhs had celebrated Diwali for many years before that and the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the holiest place in the Sikh world, was laid on Diwali in 1577. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of Moksha (Nirvana, or eternal bliss) by the founder of Jainism, Lord Mahavira.

Everywhere that it is celebrated, Diwali signifies the renewal of life, and accordingly it is common to wear new clothes on the day of the festival. It also heralds the approach of winter and the beginning of the sowing season.

Our experience of Diwali this years will take us on a family vacation to ‘Kerela’ South West India………………………..