Diwali - a Lightful Joy

 

My Heartily Diwali Greetings to all!

When I think of India, a huge colorful picture of a country comes in front of my eyes. A country, which has so many issues and scandals. But this is the only country I guess, where every month of English calender has something to celebrate, it has at least a single reason to be joyous. India is a country of Festivals. So many festivals are celebrated here but the chief attraction of all the festivals is Diwali. India celebrates this festival with a great joy.

Hindus are never in more pleasant mood then they're in Diwali. Every year they plan for this day to come and when it comes, they feel so much divine. It is a moment of greatness for them. This festival is a king of all festivals in Hindu religion celebrated in India. Just like others, this festival also has a legend which reveals a reason for its celebration.

Diwali is celebrated on one day and that night is full of darkness (No moon in sky - Amavasya) but it comes in the bunch of some beautiful days which are as a whole known as Diwali. It has five days.
1) Dhanteras
2) Kali Chaudas/Nark Chaturdasi
3) Diwali
4) New Year
5) Bhai Bij

On Dhanteras, Hindus worship Laxmidevi for their divine blessings. They request the goddess to keep a soft corner for them. As a symbol of Laxmidevi, Hindus worship Gold/Silver ornaments and currencies and Shri Yantra but the meaning to do this ritual is to ask for prosperity. Some believe that Hindus worship money? No it is not a worship of Money but a worship of a Goddess, a woman, who is responsible for prosperity!


Kali Chaudas/Nark Chaturdasi is a day when, according to the old legend, Shri Krishna killed Devil Narkasur with the help of Kaali Maa (Hindu Goddess responsible for destruction). On this day, people worship Kaali Maa and Hanuman (An Indian God) and offer their salutations to come out of the dark. They ask for protection from evil spirits to Kaali Maa.

 
Diwali is a day of celebration. Anyone can have a question that a celebration is a result of something, an outcome of any hard work. What is that hard work? Yes, Hindus celebrate Diwali in order to remember the return of Shri Ram (An Indian God). After killing Ravan (A Devil King), Ram returned to his home Ayodhya on this day and as he was returning with Laxman (his younger brother) and Sita (His wife) after 14 long years, people of Ayodhya had found that moment very joyous and they wanted to make this day memorable forever. In order to show their dewy-eyed feelings, they decorated their houses, after completely and thoroughly cleaning it, with flowers and lighted lamps. For them, darkness was over as Ram was returning.

In order to remember this day, as a tradition, Diwali is celebrated. Hindus start cleaning their houses before at least two months when Diwali is about to come! This is their enthusiasm! They start working as a family on the upcoming of this day as for them the day is much important. On this day, they're not Mr./Mrs. Someone but a family. They start buying new clothes to wear. They buy fire crackers to celebrate. On these five days, they do Rangolis (Rangoli is a colorful design which is drawn on the floor) in order to welcome prosperity to their homes. They welcome positive energy with full heart.

 

The very next day is the day of New Year for Hindus. As in the ancient India, the very next day after Ram's return, Ayodhya was going to find its ultimate count who was acclaimed best of the bests kings ever. A new chapter was about to begin in everyone's life at Ayodhya as well as in the ancient India and in order to mark this day, they called this as a new year. A new beginning!

The same spirit of welcoming is there in India today also. People wake up very early this day, take good bath, put on new clothes and get out of their homes. They go to the temples early in the morning, they meet their relatives by any mean. Be it personally, on SMS, on Call, on Email or - rare ones do this but by Card/Letter. At least once in a whole year from the busy life, they gather on this day to wish others a very hopeful and happy new year.

New year is not a dance party or a liquor party all over India, but it is a spirit of welcoming new year with open arms. This day brings Indian families closer and bind them tightly. The day brings more unity in a Family as it is a day of all and not of any single person. It is a combined celebration for an Indian family which makes it more stronger, more reliable and more durable. There may be and yes, there are so many examples of disputes in Indian families but mark my words friends, this is a day when every Hindu wants to be with Family!

 

In the deeper corner of any Hindu, there lies a strong feeling that he/she wishes to be with the family. This feeling of togetherness is sculptured in India by the means of festivals and Diwali is on the throne. It makes it all what a family wants after a great hard work throughout the year. After every hard work, there has to be a harder party and for Hindus, it is Diwali. End of the past year and Hopeful beginning of a New year.

Celebrate this day with great joy India! 

I wish and pray on this auspicious day that all of us find every day Holi and night Diwali! May great GOD bless us Healthy Mind and Healthy Body for New Opportunities!

Happy Diwali and a Very Happy and Hopeful New Year.