Diwali

Many of the Indian festivals are a wonderful spectacle to behold. Diwali is an important Hindu festival that is celebrated by millions of Indians located in the country and abroad. The Festival of Lights, as Diwali is often referred to, is celebrated 20 days after the festival of Dussehra.

What is Diwali all about?

Diwali is a 5-day long festival dedicated to Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess for Wealth. Aswayuja Bahula Chaturdasi signals the commencement of the festival that ends on Kartika Shudda Vijiya. The holy festival is held to celebrate the victory of knowledge of over ignorance. Darkness symbolises ignorance and the light leads the way towards knowledge. Diwali candles, lights, rangoli, diya and food, all have a very important role to play in the celebration of the festival.

Goddess Lakshmi

On the occasion of Diwali, Hindu households are brightly lit with the help of lamps and lights. It is believed that at night Goddess Lakshmi pays a visit to the brightest homes. Many of the believers keep the windows and doors of their house open to allow Goddess Lakshmi a free passage into their home.

Firecrackers

A Diwali without firecrackers is quite impossible to imagine. Kids and adults enjoy bursting several, noisy firecrackers on Diwali. The night skyline is illuminated by the bursting of all kinds of firecrackers.

Some of the popular firecrackers that are burst on Diwali have been listed below.

• Flower pots
• Electric crackers
• Ground wheel
• Rockets
• Sparklers

Sweets, Gifts and New Clothes

The practise of presenting boxes of sweets to loved ones is quite prevalent in India. You would find plenty of Indians exchanging gifts and sweets on the occasion of Diwali. Wearing brand new clothes also forms a delightful part of the festival of Diwali in India.

Diwali is one of the Hindu festivals in India that help family and friends to enjoy some auspicious and delightful time together.