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Diwali – Festival of LightIntroductionThe festival of Diwali has been celebrated for ages and grows in attraction by the year. Everyone enjoys the goodies, the shine, glamour, and the endless enthusiasm for living that suddenly grips people around this time. But there is much more to Diwali than feasting and merrymaking. Diwali is a holy tradition, not to be put in the shade by the lights. Deepawali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Celebrated joyously all over the country, it is a festival of wealth and prosperity. Deepawali is essentially a festival for householders. The preparations, the rituals, the entire celebration focuses on the home and family, spanning out to cover the community as a natural extension. Diwali is a festival synonymous with celebrations in India and among Indians all over the world, is an occasion for jubilation and togetherness. This is an occasion for young and the old, men and women, rich and poor - for everyone. Irrespective of their religious and economic background, the festival is celebrated throughout the country to ward off the darkness and welcome the light into their lives. At a metaphysical level, Deepawali is a festival signifying the victory of good over evil; the latter is destroyed and reduced to ashes by fireworks is the belief of the people. This festival is celebrated on a grand scale in almost all the regions of India and is looked upon mainly as the beginning of New Year.

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Diwali – Festival of Light•Diwali is the most beautiful and the grandest festival. It is observed by the majority of people in India.

•The term Diwali or Deepavali meaning cluster of lamps. Deep meaning lamp, `Avali' meaning `line or row' of lamps.

•This Diwali which leads us into Truth and Light is celebrated on a nation-wide scale on the new moon day of the Hindu month of Ashwin falls on (October / November) every year.

•Diwali comes exactly 20 days after Dussehra. It is also celebrated as Welcome home (Ayodhya) of Shri Ram, Sitaji, Lakshmanji and Hanumanji after 14 years exile and Killing of Ravana (the Evil King).

•Diwali is one the most holiest day for Jains, along with Mahavir Jayanti and Samvatsari.  On Diwali, Lord Mahavir attained nirvana, 2533 years ago.   . During this period devotees observe fasting and chant Sutra, which contain the final pravachans of Lord Mahavir, and meditate upon him.

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5 Days of Diwali•The First day is called DHANTERAS which falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The word "Dhan" means wealth.   •The Second day is called "NARKA-CHATURDASHI" or "CHOTI DIWAL" which falls on the fourteenth day of the month of Ashwin.

•The Third Day is the main Diwali Day: This day is sacred to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. This is a day of celebration, feast and joy. Young and elders, poor or rich, everyone enjoys alike.

• This "festival of lights", for the common practice is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them around the home, and also on the roof tops

•Day 4 of Diwali is "Nutan Varsh' the Hindu New Year's day for many regions of India. It is also observed as Annakoot, meaning mountain of food.

• The Fifth and final day of Diwali Festival is known as Bhai-Duj. Love and Good wishes between brother and Sister.

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Diwali Celebrations• How are these events done in India?

– Fireworks– Exchange of Gifts – Lighting of Diyas– Food!– Worship to Goddess Lakshmi (of Wealth)

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Diwali Celebrations

• In your home, how do you celebrate Diwali?– Share with us how it’s done in India and US…

• How Diwali is celebrated in other part of World

Diwali in Nepal:• Nepal is a landlocked country nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas. Nepal, a

multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society is the only Hindu Kingdom of the world • Diwali in Nepal is known as Tihar. Is like in India, Diwali is celebrated here to

honor the goddess of wealth and god of prosperity Lakshmi and Ganesh respectively.

• The second day is for Dogs as the Vahana of Bhairava. Preparation of delicious food especially meant for the dog is a typical characteristic of the day. Lights and lamps are lit to illuminate the entire surrounding and some of the specialty items are prepared to mark the third day of the festival. Fireworks, Lamps and crackers are widely used.

• The fourth day is dedicated to Yama, the Hindu God of Death.

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Diwali in Malaysia• Fascinating in its diversity, Malaysia has many mesmerizing charms and

attractions. It is comprising of a harmonious multi-ethnic mix of Malays, Malaysia promises a colorful potpourri of culture traditions

• Hindu community of Malaysia celebrates Diwali as a symbol of triumph of good over evil. The Malaysian people call Diwali as Hari Diwali.

• The south Indian traditional of oil bath precedes the festivities. The celebration includes visits to temples and prayers at household altars. Small lamps made from clay and filled with coconut oil and wicks are a common sight to signify the victory of Lord Rama, the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana, over the demon king Ravana. Diwali is celebrated almost all over the Malaysia except in Sarawak & Federal Territory of Labuan.

Diwali in Indonesia• The name Indonesia came from two Greek words: "Indos" meaning Indian and

"Nesos" meaning islands. The majority of population follows Islam. Hindus of Indonesian island of Bali is famous for celebrating the festival of Diwali, as a majority of the population here are Indians. The celebration and rituals of the festival is mostly similar to that celebrated by their counterparts in India.

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Celebrating Diwali in Myanmar• Sharing the eastern boarder of India, Myanmar has a good number of Hindus.• The day is celebrated by worshipping of God. A good number of lights or traditional

lamps are lit to illuminate the home inside and out side. Delicious foods are cooked and new garments are worn. Traditional dancing and music follow to mark the occasion.

Diwali in Singapore• Diwali celebration holds a significant place in the calendar of festivals of Singapore.

The festival of light Diwali is popularly known in Singapore as Deepavali.• The celebration process of the festival is also a lot similar to that of southern India.

Marking the importance of the festival day, most of the offices and commercial institutions / organizations remain closed on this day.

Diwali in SriLanka• Sri Lanka is on the extreme southeastern point of India. Related to the epic of

Ramayana. • The festival is marked by illumination, making of toys of enamel and making of figures

out of crystal sugar popularly known as Misiri. The sugar crystals take the place of sweets.

• Burning of crackers in the evening of the festival is a common practice of this festival.

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Diwali in Japan• Japan, the land of the rising sun also celebrates Diwali (Deepawali) as the

day, which awards happiness, progress, prosperity and longevity in life. The festival here is celebrated in a unique way which is not common in India.

• People go out into the orchards and gardens and hang lanterns and paper made hanging structures on the branches of trees. Dance and music continues throughout the night.

• Putting on new clothes and going for boating and broom cleaning of the house are also some of the other related activities. The places of worship are decorated with beautiful wallpapers to bring in the festive mood and the auspicious beliefs related to the festival.

Diwali in Thailand • Loy Krathong is a "Festival of Lights" similar to Diwali and is celebrated in

Thailand in the Oct-Nov period. A small raft (krathong) made of banana leaves, and decorated with flowers and topped by a candle flame, is set adrift on the waterways (of Thailand), under a full moon, by many at the same time. There is fireworks too. Deities thanked include Mae Kongka (known as Mother Ganga (Ganges) in the Indian subcontinent)."

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Diwali in South Africa• The South African culture is a mix of variety of cultures. • It had the largest immigrant Indian community in the world a decade prior to

the colonization by the United States of America. The immigrant Indians are concentrated in the eastern regions of Natal and Transvaal of the country.

• Diwali also holds an important place in the festival calendar of the region. Most of the Hindus here are from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu and continue to follow their regional variations of Hinduism.

Diwali in Kenya and Tanzania • They also celebrate the major Indian or Hindu festivals of the Hindu calendar.• The significance, customs and belief related to the festival of light, therefore is

almost same like that of India. Illumination, worshipping of God and Goddess of wealth and prosperity are some of the common practice.

• Diwali is also declared as a National holiday in Kenya.

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• Diwali in Britain • The occasion is marked by visit to the local temple to worship the shrine to Lakshmi,

which they have made for Diwali. • Eating special sweets, burning of incense sticks, lighting the home and surroundings and

the blowing of the conch shell follows the prayer session in the Lakshmi temple.• The festival here is celebrated is in one of the cold, damp and windy months in

Britain. The enthusiasm of the festival celebration makes the task of leaving small lamps on windowsills or by open doorways possible ignoring the chill.

Diwali in Australia • Australia the wonderful island country on Indian Ocean. • For Hindu here Diwali is one of the festivals that is celebrated with

enthusiasm. • The lightening of lamps and Diyas is a common practice. However,

the non-availability of the appropriate material of or some other reason have influenced and given in the touch of modernity in the

celebration of the festival of light

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Diwali in Trinidad and Tobago

• Trinidad is the most southern of the Caribbean, colorful islands of the West Indies. The Diwali celebration has a unique flavor here in the Caribbean island nation.

• The Diwali celebrations are usually marked as an occasion to unify the nation that consists of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Indo-Trinidadians and Afro-Trinidadians.

• The festival day is regarded as a National holiday. The functions and celebrations also have an official imprint as the Ministers of the Government also participate in the celebrations sometimes.

• The celebrations continue for over a week and the headquarters of the National Council of Indian Culture at Diwali Nagar becomes the focal point.

Diwali celebrations in Guyana• The Co-operative Republic of Guyana in Southern America celebrates Diwali according

to the Hindu calendar and declared as a national holiday in the official calendar of Guyana

• The celebration of the festival includes, distribution of sweets, illuminating the inside and out side of the house, exchange of greetings, cleaning of houses and wearing of new clothes. The celebrations hold special significance for the people of Guyana

• The distribution of sweet signifies the importance of serving and sharing whereas exchange of greeting cards denotes the goodwill of each other.

• They believe that wearing new cloth is the symbol of healthy souls in healthy bodies. Cleaning of their homes and keeping them well illuminated in and outside is a practice meant to illuminate the road for Goddess Lakshmi so that while goddess Lakshmi visits their home she faces no problem of light as the diwali night is regarded as the darkest night of the year.

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Diwali- festival of light – conclusion

Nobel Poet, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore has so aptly put forth the true significance of Diwali in these beautiful lines:

“The night is blackKindle the lamp of LOVEWith thy life and devotion."

WISH YOU ALL VERY HAPPY & PROSPURAS DIWALI & NEW YEAR

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Diya – Made of Clay

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Rangoli - Decoration

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Ganesh-Lakshmi

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Annkoot & Bhai-Duj

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Have Fun!

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