I was five year old. I barely remember that day, my mom was pulling my hand and taking me towards the hall where our other family members were applying oil to their body. But I didn’t wanted to apply oil, I didn’t knew why we celebrate Diwali.
But all the festivals we celebrate has some or the other reason to celebrate. So Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights which we celebrate after the summer harvest in the Hindu calendar month of Kartika.
It signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. Narakachaturdasi being the very first day of the five days celebration is one of the important days of Diwali. It is believed that on this auspicious day Lord Krishna killed the demon called Narakasura.
Somewhere I read we celebrate Diwali in honour of the return of Lord Rama, his wife Seeta and his brother Lakshmana from exile of 14 years (After Rama defeated Ravana). To illuminate the way from Lanka, villagers of Ayodhya lit Diyas to celebrate victory of good over evil.
Some people tell that Diwali is celebrated in return of Pandavas after 12 years of Vanavas and one year of ‘Agyatavas’.
Furthermore, Diwali is linked to the celebration of Lakshmi, who is worshipped by Hindus as the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The five days festival of Diwali begins on the day Goddess Lakshmi was born from the churning of cosmic ocean milk by Gods and Demons; while the night of Diwali is the day Lakshmi chose Vishnu as her husband and they married, which symbolises newly married couple celebrating the festival of lights and exchanging the gifts.
Some Hindus believe that Diwali is the day Vishnu came back with Lakshmi to their abode in the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of her good mood, and therefore are blessed with mental, physical and material well being during the year ahead.
Five day festival starts with Danteras, Naraka Chaturdasi, Deepavali/Diwali, Diwali Padwa (dedicated to wife–husband relationship), Bhai dooj(dedicated to brother-sister bond similar to Raksha bandhan).
Totally this festival signifies good over evil, light over darkness.
May this light festival of Diwali brings lots of Good luck and Success to you…
Enjoy your Diwali festival with this mouth-watering dish Karanji/ Gujiya.
Wishing Very Happy Diwali to all… 🙂
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