Diwali
The Hindu festival of lights
by Holly Hartman
Diwali, the Hindu "festival of lights," is the best known
of Hindu festivals and certainly the brightest. Amid the dark skies of
autumn, lights illumine homes throughout India and its diaspora, while families
celebrate with visits, gifts, and feasts.
Diwali generally 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 the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls in October
or November; in 2009, it begins on October 17.
Bright Beauty
Diwali’s name comes from the Sanskrit deepavali, "row of
lights." According to tradition, Diwali celebrates the joyous homecoming of
Lord Rama, hero of the epic poem the Ramayana, after 14 years of 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, these lamps shine in rows along homes and
temples—adorning windowsills, staircases, and parapets—or glow
from little boats that float down rivers. Colorful candles are lit alongside
diye, while fireworks light up the night sky.
Feasts and
Festivities
Fresh flowers and freshly cleaned homes welcome the days
of Diwali. Many families draw a colorful rangoli, a decorative
pattern made in rice flour, at the entrance of the home. Friends, family,
and neighbors visit to share feasts and festivities as well as little treats
such as khil (rice puffs) and patashe (sugar disks).
Puja, worship 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 honored during Diwali.
Diverse
Traditions
Like other aspects of Hinduism—the world’s
oldest religion—the origins of Diwali are remote. The celebration
probably has its roots in ancient harvest festivals. And like Hinduism,
observance of Diwali is richly varied among the faith’s 800 million
adherents.
Although the Rama tradition is widespread, in some parts
of India Diwali honors the marriage of the goddess Lakshmi and the god Vishnu; in others it remembers 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 honor the
fearsome goddess Kali. Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, is
also widely honored, as are other gods and goddesses.
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