Diwali - The Festival of Lights

Diwali is the most popular and most widely celebrated festival of India. The festival is celebrated to mark the end of Lord Rama’s exile and his homecoming with wife Sita and brother Laxman. It is said that all the people of the Ayodhya were overjoyed on the occasion of the return of their king and decorated the entire town with lights. For this reason, Diwali is regarded as the festival of lights. To this day, houses are lit with earthen lamps, candles and now electrical lighting as well. Diwali also signifies the victory of good over evil. Lord Rama returned from his exile only after defeating Ravana, the evil king of Sri Lanka who abducted Sita. Diwali stands for the inevitable dawn, no matter how dark the night. In modern day India, Diwali has not lost its significance and is celebrated with great excitement and vigor. On Diwali, the interiors and exteriors of the house are decorated with flowers, rangolis, candles, earthen lamps and electrical lighting. Delicious meals are prepared and sweets and gifts are also exchanged with near and dear ones. Generally people wear new clothes on this festival. The night sky is lit in various hues and colors as people burst firecrackers to mark the occasion. Children immensely enjoy Diwali firecrackers and so they look forward to this extremely pleasurable festival. This time is also boom time for traders and shopkeepers as people buy lots of things to gift and celebrate. These products range from jewelry, utensils, decoration items, idols of gods, electronics, clothes, eatables and other such goods. The market places are alive with activity and laced with all kinds of colorful knick-knacks. Many organizations and local bodies also arrange several fairs, also known as Diwali Mela. However, the most important aspect of this festival is the Laxmi Pooja. In fact, preparations for Diwali celebrations begin with making one’s house spic and span, in order to welcome and please Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth who descends from the heavens to shower her blessings on the night of Diwali. It is believed that she enters the house that is cleanest and most well decorated and bestows blessings for wealth, abundance and prosperity on the same household. India stands for unity in diversity and though celebrated in several ways, Diwali unites the nation and instills in its people zest, hope, and the spirit of goodness. For more informations about famous hindu festival diwali please visit indianholiday.com .