India has been described as the “Land of Festivals” and this is certainly true as with its rich cultural traditions, its colourful pantheon and the numerous holy days and feasts to be celebrated, it is rare that a festival is not taking place in one or more places throughout the subcontinent each and every day of the year. Hinduism is one of the world’s most ancient religions and its 800 million adherents are most devout and involved in preserving their rich heritage over the centuries.
Diwali is the Hindu “festival of lights” and is the best known of Hindu festivals and certainly the most joyous and brightest. As autumn brings dark skies and shortening days, hundreds of lights illuminate homes throughout India, with families celebrating throughout the country and in foreign lands where Hindus have migrated with visits, gifts, and feasts. Diwali lasts for five days, beginning on the 14th day of the dark half of the Hindu calendar month of Asvina. (every Hindu month is divided into a light half, when the moon waxes, and a dark half, when it wanes.) By Gregorian calendar reckoning, Diwali falls in October or November - in 2007, it began on November 9.
In Sanskrit deepavali means “row of lights” and Diwali, the name of the festival is derived from this etymology. Traditionally, Diwali celebrates the joyous homecoming of Lord Rama (hero of the epic poem the Ramayana), after 14 years in exile. When Lord Rama and his wife Sita returned to rule their country, their people lit the way with small oil lamps called “diye”. During Diwali, this type of lamp shine in rows along homes and temples, adorning windowsills, staircases, and parapets—or glow from little boats that float down rivers. Colourful candles are lit alongside diye, while fireworks light up the night sky.
Although the Rama tradition is widespread, in some parts of India, Diwali honours the marriage of the goddess Lakshmi and the god Vishnu; in others it commemorates the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka. While for most Hindus the worship of Lakshmi is a focus of Diwali, Hindus in Bengal honour the fearsome goddess Kali. Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, is also widely honoured, as are other gods and goddesses.
Homes are freshly cleaned and decorated with fresh flowers to welcome the days of Diwali. Many families draw a colourful “rangoli”, a decorative pattern made in rice flour, at the entrance of their home. Friends, family, and neighbours visit to share feasts and festivities as well as little treats such as “khil” (rice puffs) and “patashe” (sugar disks). “Puja”, worshipping of deities, takes place at home and at temples with prayers and other offerings.
Diwali also marks the beginning of a new financial year. Households and businesses begin new accounting in new ledgers, which are often decorated with images of Lakshmi. The goddess of fortune, she is the main deity honoured during Diwali. The celebrations probably have their roots in ancient harvest festivals.
Happy Diwali to all my Hindu friends here on 360! In honour of the festival, here is a beautiful song from the film “Devdas” starring the stunningly beautiful Aishwarya Rai. The song is “Silsila Yeh Chahat Ka” with music by Ismail Darbar and lyrics by Nusrat Badr.
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