Diwali. The Festival of Lights
Diwali is an annual festival of India and Nepal that takes place near the end of October or beginning of November.
The festival dates are not the same each year because they are based upon the lunar months in the Hindu calendars. In south India, the festival starts in the month of Ashwin and finishes in the month of Kartika. In north India the festival falls the middle of Ashwayuja/Ashvin. The festival happens at almost the same time all over India and Nepal – it’s all seems to be a bit confusing because the different regions use their own calendars.
In the Gregorian calendar, the next Diwali festival is on October 28th, 2008.
The festival is known around the world as the Festival of Lights.
It is called the Festival of Lights because of the lighting of clay lamps all over Hindu homes on Diwali night.
There are 3 main reasons for the lighting of lamps.
The first reason is to show the gods Rama and Sita their way home to their north India home of Ayodhya.
The second reason is that, to Hindus, darkness represents ignorance whereas light represents knowledge. The lighting of lamps destroys the dark forces of ignorance, and all of the negatives forces, and replaces them with the light of knowledge.
Diwali also falls over the start of the Hindu financial year and the third purpose of the lights is to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
Friends traditionally swap gifts of sweetmeats, nuts and dried fruit and Diwali day is spent eating these gifts as well as easting other cooked, savory, snacks.
Hindus have migrated far and wide and nowadays Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated all over the world with parades, music, dance, food and fireworks.
Go to a Diwali celebration if you get the opportunity. There is always great entertainment and the food is delicious.
