It is full of information and useful links to further information.
On the otherhand it contains lot of Indian words, characters will make difficult for people to understand. It is good start to know about Indian culture.
This is perhaps the most well-known of the Indian festivals. Diwali is by far the most glamorous and important festival of India. It is celebrated throughout India. Diwali is celebration of victory of good over evil. It is colloquially known as “Festival of Lights”. The word “Diwali” is corruption of the Sanskrit word “Deepavali”. “Deep” means light (lamp) and “Avali” means a row. It means a “row of lights”. Every home (the hut of poor or the mansion of rich) is lit with twinkling oil lamps (called Diyas). Diya is a small earthen lamp.
Origin of Diwali :
Hindus find different reasons for celebrating this festival. In North India Diwali is the day when King Rama’s coronation was celebrated in Ayodhya after is victory over Ravana, demon king of Lanka. The kingdom of Ayodhya and Mithilia was lit to welcome home the king Rama and his queen Sita after 14 years of exile. Rama is sometimes called Lord Rama or Sri Rama. Rama is seventh of the ten incarnations (Avatara in Sanskrit) of God Vishnu. The God Vishnu is known as preserver of the work.
In Southern India two legends are linked with Diwali. The first Narakasura (the demon of hell), was killed by Lord Krishna at dawn on the day Narakachaturdashi after two days of fierce fight. Lord Krishna is also the eighth incarnation of God Vishu.
The second is the King Bali the demon king. His growing kingdom on earth and skies became threat to the power of Gods. He was well-known for his generosity. Gods sent Vishnu as dwarf named Vamana and shrewdly asked for 3 steps wide land. Generous Bali granted wish. Cunning Vishnu expanded to himself, in one step he took skies second step whole earth. Now Bali did not have anything to give so he bowed his head. Vishnu pushed him to underworld. become huge and took earth and underworld (Patala). In return God gave him a lamp of knowledge to light up dark underworld and allowed him to visit his kingdom and people once a year. Return of Mahabali is celebrated as festival of Onam in State of Kerala in India
When is Diwali ?
Diwali is celebrated on 29th day of Ashvin of Hindu Calendar. Ashvin month is seventh month of Hindu year. It falls either October or November. Several major Hindu religious festivals take place in Ashvin month. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar and remarkably complex calendar based on positions of Sun and Moon. As per Calendar Reform Committee survey in 1950 there were about 30 calendars in use for setting religious Hindu festivals. In addition, Muslims in India used the Islamic calendar and the Indian government used the Gregorian calendar for administrative purposes.
Significance of Diwali days :
Diwali is celebrated over five days.
Day 1 : Dhan-teras or Dhan-trayodashi
Dhan means wealth and Trayodashi means 13th day. On this day people purchase valuables, light lamps and worship Goddess of Wealth.
Day 2 : Naraka Chaturdashi
On this day Lord Krishna killed demon Narakasura and released the world from the darkness of fear and oppression. On this day before sunrise people crush a bitter fruit (a symbol of the demon Narakasura) with underfoot and then take holly bath with herbs.
Day 3 : Actual Diwali day (Laxmi Pujan)
On this day people worship Lashmi,the goddess of wealth. A religious ritual (Puja) is performed both in the morning and evening. People keep the doors and windows open and all lights on expecting the goddess to come inside.
Day 4 : Varsha-pratipada, Bali-pratipada
On this day Lord Krishna saves the people of Brij from heavy rainfall due to storm by lifting mountain Govardhana. Also on this day Bali was sent to underground by Vamana (incarnation of Vishnu).
Day 5 : Bhayiduj, Bhaibeej
On this day brothers and sisters meet to express their love and affection for each other. Sisters put a ceremonial mark on their brother’s foreheads and wish them long life. On this Lord Yama , God of death visited his sister Yami. She put auspicious mark on on his forehead and fed him special dishes. While parting Lord Yama gave her gift too. And this tradition of brothers and sisters started.
Cheers,
Dinesh
