Diwali - (Festivals in India)

Bakri-Id - Festival of Sacrifice - Muslim
Buddha Jayanti - Buddha's Birthday - Buddhist/Hindu
Diwali - Festival of Light - Hindu
Dussehra or Dusshera - Lord Ram - Hindu
Guru Nanaks Birthday
Holi - Festival of Colour - Hindu
Kumbh Mela - Festival of the Pot -Hindu
Meelad-Id - The prophet Muhammed's birth and death - Muslim
Onam - South Indian celebration of good over evil - Hindu
Rakhi - Sibling closenes - Hindu/Many

Diwali - Festival of Light

 

Diwali comes exactly 20 days after Dussehra on Amavas (new moon), during kartik (the dark fortnight), some time in October or November. It always strikes me how neatly this festival fits with the lanterns of Hollowe'en and Guy Fawkes and a combined celebration is common in our household. There is similar overlap with stories and legends in India with Ram again involved, Naraka mentioned in the north and south and Lakshmi worshipped with gambling added to the celebratory activities in some areas. My personal favourite festival.

 

 

 

After retrieving his wife, Sita, from the demon Ravan, with the help of his brother Lakshman, Hanuman and an army of monkeys Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Dussehra, celebrates Ram, killing Ravan and Diwali his return to Ayodhya 20 days later.

In the north of India, this triumphant return is lit by earthen diyas (lights) and celebrated with firecrackers and fireworks.

In the south, Diwali or Deepavali festival often commemorates the conquering of the Asura Naraka, a powerful king of Assam, who imprisoned tens of thousands of inhabitants. It was Krishna who finally subdued Naraka and freed the prisoners.
Diwali Festival in the south is celebrated in the Tamil month of aipasi (thula month) 'naraka chaturdasi' thithi. The preparations begin the day before, when the oven is cleaned, smeared with lime. The house is washed and decorated with kolam (rangoli) patterns with kavi (red oxide). Betel leaves, betel nuts, plaintain fruits, flowers, sandal paste, kumkum, gingelly oil, turmeric powder, scented powder are kept. Crackers and new dresses are placed in a plate after smearing a little kumkum or sandal paste.

The Diwali celebration lasts for 5 days:

Dhanteras Goddess Laxmi is worshiped to provide prosperity and well being. Hence Dhan Teras holds a lot more significance for the business community.
Chhoti Diwali or 'small Diwali'. It is Diwali on a smaller scale, with fewer lights lit and fewer crackers burst.
Lakshmi-puja is entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. On this very day sun enters his second course and passes Libra which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Lots of Diyas and fireworks
The Killing of Narakasura - Unable to bear the tyranny of the demon, the celestial beings pleaded with Lord Krishna to save them from his torture. But Naraka can only die at the hands of his mother Bhudevi. Krishna 's wife Sathyabhama , is the reincarnation of Bhudevi and accompanies Krishna . When he is felled by an arrow of Naraka, Sathyabhama returns the arrow killing Naraka instantly.
Emergence of Lakshmi - Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess who governs all form of wealth and success. As the Consort of Lord Vishnu, who is the god of preservation, Lakshmi Devi is the goddess of health and beauty. As a female counterpart of Lord Vishnu, Mata Lakshmi is also called "Shri", the female of the Supreme Being. Goddess Lakshmi means "Good Luck" to Hindus. The word "Lakshmi" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Laksya", meaning 'aim' or 'goal', and she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. Also 'lakh' which means "one hundred thousand' as a monetary unit in India , is the first part of Lakshmi's name, symbolizing her blessings that pour forth abundantly.

In Himachal, as in parts of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, gambling with cards picks up and reaches peak on the night of Diwali. A few expensive nights in for the author!

Although traditionally Diwali is not celebrated by the Sikhs, they do participate in the festival to the extent of making a trip to the Gurudwara, and then lighting candles in the evening and letting off fire crackers as well.