Diwali or Deepawali is the biggest and the most important festival of the Hindus. Diwali is also known as the “Festival of Lights” and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India and various other parts of the world.
Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Ram to his kingdom Ayodhya along with his wife Mata Sita and brother Laxman after serving a fourteen-year exile wherein he overpowered the demon king of Lanka, Ravana.
Diwali or Deepawali is known as “an array of lights.” Diwali consists of two words – “deep” meaning lamps and “avali” meaning row of lamps. So, Diwali means a row of lighted lamps and is rightly called as the Festival of Lights.
Diwali is celebrated over a period of five days. It begins with the celebration of Dhanteras and continues till Bhaidhooj. The main Diwali Puja is celebrated on Amavasya in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. It mainly falls in the month of October or November. Hindus worship Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali who is considered as the giver of wealth and prosperity.
People take special effort to clean their homes during the Diwali festival. They decorate their homes with flowers and clay lamps. Fire crackers are burnt on the evening of Diwali. People wear new clothes and distribute sweets to their friends, relatives, and business associates. Many people observe full day fast on Diwali Puja.
Lakshmi Puja is the biggest highlight of Diwali celebrations. People worship newly installed idols of Goddess Lakshmi along with Lord Ganesh. Kuber Puja is also performed. All the puja ceremonies are observed in accordance with Hindu religious beliefs and traditional customs. Businessmen worship pens, ink bottles, and new account books on Diwali.
Diwali is a festival to welcome peace, prosperity, and happiness in our lives. It’s simply a great Hindu festival that crosses the boundaries of caste, color, creed, region, and religion. It’s the biggest and the brightest festival in India.