The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Diwali

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 08, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Diwali – the festival of joy

The best known of the Hindu festivals, Diwali is celebrated throughout India. It is known as the "festival of lights", for people traditionally light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them around the home, in courtyards, verandahs and gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls.

A harvest festival and a celebration of the Lunar New Year, Diwali has strong astrological energies, like similar festivals the world over.The celebration of Diwali happens this year on November 9, 2007. It always features the exchange of sweets and the enjoyment of fireworks, but basically, this is a seasonal, astrological festival marking the transition from the old lunar year to the new in Hindu India. Diwali (from the sanskrit: deepaavali, meaning "a garland of lamps") is the perfect description of this marvellous Indian festival of lights.

In North India, the lamps are lit to remind us of Lord Rama’s return from fourteen years in exile to his kingdom of Ayodhya after conquering the tyrant Ravana, who had abducted his wife Sita and held her in his island fortress of Lanka.Rama’s heroic deeds are set out in the Hindu epic Ramayana and Diwali celebrates the victory of virtue over vice. In the story, Rama, the rightful heir to the throne of Ayodhya, accepts an exile in the forest due to his father’s vow to his scheming stepmother.

He is accompanied in his exile by his lovely Sita and his brother Laksmana. Ramayana is the story of his conquest of evil with the aid of Hanuman, the monkey king, and the undying love of Sita.

Different meanings, but the same festivities - As with other Indian festivals, Diwali signifies many different things to people across the country. In North India, Diwali celebrates Rama’s homecoming, his return to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana and his coronation as king; in Gujarat, the festival honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; and in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali.

For Jains, the day commemorates the passing into Nirvana of Mahavira, the most recent of the Jain Tirthankaras, or saints. The lighting of the lamps is explained as a material substitute for the light of holy knowledge that was extinguished with Mahavira’s passing. Everywhere, it signifies the renewal of life, and so it is the done thing to wear new clothes on the day of the festival. It seems to have begun as a harvest festival, yet, as the beginning of the lunar New Year, it heralds the approach of winter and the beginning of a new sowing season.

Five-Day Festival

Diwali is a five-day festival, beginning on the 15th day of the Hindu calendar month of Kartika (Ashwin). By the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls in November in 2007, it happens on November 9, 2007. Gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared during Diwali. Diwali is celebrated with the lighting of lamps and candles, and lots of fireworks. It is time to replenish wardrobes with new clothes and exchange gifts (often clothes) and sweets with friends and neighbours.

After Diwali puja, all have the prasad and go out to burst Diwali crackers.

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