Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Diwali – The Festival of Lights

Diwali is one of the popular Indian festivals. According to the lunar calendar of Hindus, it is celebrated for 5 days. This is basically the festival of Hindus but celebrated by all Indians. It starts in the late Ashwin but ends in early Kartika. The first day is called the Dhan Teras while the last day is known as Yama Dvitiya. Each day is associated with one historical tale.

Diwali

Diwali is also called Deepawali by many people. This festival of India is celebrated with great joy and harmony. The word Deepawali literally means a row of lamps. Diwali is actually the short form of Deepawali. On this day small clay lamps called diyas are filled with oil and lighted. The lighting of lamps actually signifies the victory of good over evil within an individual. People wear new clothes on this occasion and share sweets and snacks with each other. The happy people who celebrate Diwali go to each others' home and collectively celebrate the festival.

Diwali is also significant for some business communities as they start their financial year by opening new account books on this festive day. It is a prevalent fact that the lucky day of Diwali brings good fortune to the business as well as families. The festival marks the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the ruler of Lanka. It is a national festival of India and Nepal.

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