Diwali Festival of Lights: A Five-day Extravaganza

Sep 27
07:11

2012

Infibeam

Infibeam

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Festival of lights, joy, happiness & prosperity – Diwali is once again here. Celebrate this festival in a true Indian spirit. Spread the message of peace & brotherhood in the world. Let us melt emotional distances between each other and come close.

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Diwali is the second-longest festival after Navratri. Five days of Diwali celebrations bring much relief and rest for all for these five days,Diwali Festival of Lights: A Five-day Extravaganza Articles people revel into shopping, gorging on delicacies, get-together and go overboard on cheerful extravaganza. These 120 hours fill the hearts with energy and unforgettable memories for the next year; the charm of this festival of lights lies in its newness as every year, it brings new spirit, new enthusiasm and new ways of celebrations. Here is a description of how people celebrate each day of Diwali festival of lights.

Dhanteras/DHANTRAYODASHI
Dhan means wealth and Teras means thirteenth day of second half of Ashwin month. The first day of Diwali, Dhanteras signifies value of wealth, and perhaps this is the reason why people buy gold & utensils. The day is also celebrated as birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantari – the physician of Gods. On this day, Dhanvantari was emerged from ocean after arduous churning of ocean by deities and demons. Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped by Hindus because they believe that by offering prayers to him, good health is secured for the entire year. After Samudra Manthan (churning of ocean), Dhanvantari emerged with Shankh, Chakra, Amrit & Jalauka in each of his four hands.

Chhoti Diwali/Narak Chaturdashi
After Dhanteras comes Narak Chaturdashi (Kali Chaudas in Gujarat). On this day, Lord Krishna killed the demon Narkasura; Narak Chaturdashi signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. People wash and clean their houses and symbolically dispose of evils. South Indian states celebrate this day with much excitement; they wake up early and have bath with perfumed oil & water; they dress themselves with new clothes and draw rangoli near the doorstep of their houses. In Gujarat, on this day, people worship Goddess Kali to save themselves from evil spirits.
 
Laxmi Puja on Diwali
Now here comes Diwali – the last day of Hindu calendar. This day is celebrated by a host of activities together. Elderly are busy in Diwali Pooja and worship Goddess Laxmi; by performing this, they seek blessings of Laxmi – Goddess of Wealth. Children are overjoyed as they engage themselves in bursting crackers & gorging on sweets and other delicacies. Moreover, it’s time to enjoy social get-together; people visit their neighbourhood and also pay visit to their relatives. Exchanging Diwali gifts is a common practice on this day. Indians wear new apparels & jewellery and offer prayers in temples. Business community also performs Pooja of their ledgers; on this day, they close their old accounts as this is the last day of year.

Govardhan Puja/New Year
This day marks the beginning of a new year and hence, holds special significance for Indians. People get up before dawn and get ready to welcome the New Year. After completing their daily household chores, they visit temple to seek blessings from God. Then comes social gathering; they visit their neighbours and wish each other Happy New Year. This is accompanied by sweets & snacks; they also exchange Diwali gifts. Children welcome the year by bursting fireworks. Businessmen perform Diwali pooja and open their new ledgers & bill books. In North India, people worship Govardhan hill, which was lifted by Lord Krishna to save people from torrential rains poured by Lord Indra.

Bhai Dooj
Like Raksha Bandhan, this day also celebrates bond between brothers and sisters. On Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dooj, sisters invite their brothers to their homes and server him good meal. In return, brother gives Diwali gifts to his sister. With Bhai Dooj, Diwali festival bids farewell and promises more joy, excitement and happiness for next year.

This Diwali 2012, may God shower his choicest blessings on you and bless you with health, happiness and prosperity. May the good prevail and evil be destroyed in this world.