Diwali (Deepawali)

Diwali Festival is one of the major and most celebrated Indian festival. Diwali is celebrated as the 'Festival of Lights' in India. Entire country looks magnificent on Diwali as people illuminate their homes with traditional earthen diyas, candles and luminous strands of electric bulbs. Hindus believe that brightness on the day of Diwali helps to dissipate darkness of ignorance and spread the light of knowledge all around.

This is a huge festival all across India, and is a wonderful time to visit. Of course, many family members may already be visiting, as Diwali, like many religious festivals, is not only a time of religious celebration but also a time for people to get onto Fly.com and arrange to come and stay with their family. The large Indian community in London, UK is just one example of Hindu people who visit for the period.

When is Diwali Celebrated?

Diwali in India is celebrated on the amavasya or no moon day that comes on the 5th day of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November). The date of Diwali comes about 20 days after the festival of Dussehra or Vijayadashmi.

Legend Behind Diwali Festival in India

According to legends, Diwali Festival in India marks the coronation of Lord Ram as the King of Ayodhya on his return to the Kingdom after 14 years of exile and slaying of demon King Ravana. People of Ayodhya were so delighted to have Ram as their King that they lit diyas and burnt firecrackers. To this day people Hindus carry on this ritual by celebrating Diwali Festival.

Diwali - Festival of Lights

Sanskrit word for Diwali is Deepawali, which is a combination of 'Deep' and 'Avali' where 'deepa' means lamp and 'avali' means row. Deepawali therefore means row of lamps. Diwali is so called as people celebrate Diwali as Festival of Lights. On the Diwali day people illuminate their houses by lighting diyas and candles all round. During the evening firecrackers are burst and there is radiance everywhere.

Diwali Preparation

Preparations for Diwali Festival start months before the festival. Those staying away from their homes make plans for a visit home as everybody wishes to celebrate Diwali with loved ones. Elaborate shopping takes plays before Diwali as everyone buys new clothes and decorative for home. People also buy Diwali Gifts like sweets, dry-fruits, candles, puja thalis, show pieces and other items to express their good wishes. This is considered important in India as people celebrate Diwali as the biggest gift giving festival.

Diwali Celebration

On the day of Diwali people wake up early and spruce up their house. Auspicious Rangoli patterns are drawn in front of the house or in the courtyard. Womenfolk prepare traditional festive goodies like laddoos, mathris, dahi badas etc. During the day people visit their friends and dear to exchange Diwali greetings and traditional Diwali Gifts. Later in the evening all members of the family wear new clothes and participate in the Laxmi Ganesh Puja. This is followed by a lavish Diwali feast and bursting of crackers.