Happy Diwali.

Diwali is one of the most fascinating and important festival of India. It is celebrated every year all over the country with great delight and enthusiasm. This festival is celebrated on Amavasya night in the month of October or November. The particular day for celebration is decided according to the Hindu calender. People celebrate it very diligently as it marks the return of Lord Rama after killing Raavana to Ayodhya from the exile of 14 years.

According to the popular mythology, on return of Lord Rama the people of Ayodhya lighted candles and diyas as a sign of their happiness. Diwali is also known as Deepawali, the word Deepawali means collection or lines of light. Diwali is the symbol of victory of good over evil. There are still more beliefs related to Diwali such as return of pandavas to their homeland, rising of Goddess Lakshmi from the sea, freedom of Guru Hargobind from the jail, birth of Goddess Kaali etc.

It marks the beginning of new buisness year in India. People start doing great preparations and arrangement even one month before Deepawali.  Houses, temples, buildings, shops, pathways all are thoroughly cleaned , painted and decorated with beautiful pictures, hangings, flowers and lights. All celebrate this festival happily with their family, relatives and friends. People share sweets, exchange gifts and give good wishes of the occasion.

Diwali festival includes five days long celebration, the first day of Diwali is known as the Dhanteras, second day is Choti Diwali, third day is Diwali, fourth day is Govardhan puja and fifth day is Bhaiya Dooj. All the five days are celebrated with great joy and delight.

On Diwali night, people worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu. People offer prayers for their own health, wealth and prosperity to Goddess Lakshmi. Children celebrate this festival by burning crackers and eating delicious dishes. Although Diwali is festival of India but it is also celebrated in countries such as Nepal, Srilanka, Malaysia,  Mauritius, Singapore and Myannmar.

Diwali  is a festival of fun and frolic but we should always play it safely. While burning crackers we must be careful enough that it couldn’t harm us as well as others. The burning of crackers should be in limits as they cause lots of air, water and soil pollution leading to harmful diseases.

On the whole, Diwali is one of the most significant, sacred and loveliest festival of Hindus. This festival creates feeling of togetherness among the people and is the symbol of unity.