Diwali or Deepavali, the festival of lights.
This festival is among the most popular of the Hindu festivals. It takes place between October and November at the new moon. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness or of knowledge over ignorance. According to legend, it commemorates Rama’s victory over Ravana. This festival can last between 3 to 5 days depending on the regions in India. During this festival, the Hindus illuminate the city and they do geometric designs outside their house or workplace doors to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity and commemorate the victory of the God Rama.
Day 1: Dhanteras! It is the day of the celebration of the goddess Lakshmi. Hindus pray to the goddess and Ganesh for get a prosperous and happy life. They normally buy new things for the house, jewelry or gold. They considers that the goddess enters houses in the form of new things.
Day 2: Naraka Chaturdasi! It is the commemoration according to the belief of the day when Krishna killed the demon Narakasur to free the world of fear. God would have covered himself with the demon’s blood to show his victory. It is therefore customary for believers on this day to get up before sunrise and take a ritual bath like Krishna on his return to the kingdom.
Day 3: Diwali, day of the new moon. Most important day of the holiday. It is customary to wear new clothes but also new jewelry for women. The ritual for Lakshmi is performed at dusk and the oil lamps are lit in the house but also all around and in the streets. Fireworks and firecrackers erupt all night. They express the joy of Hindus to the Gods.
Day 4: Padwa or Govardhan! According to legend, that day, Krishna raised Mount Govardhan to save the inhabitants from anger of the God of rain Indra. Hindus take sacred cow dung to create Mount Govardhan outside their front door, they Add a Krishna figurine and make an offering of flames and flowers. That night they cook up to 108 different types of food for BHOG or food offering for Krishna. In the temples of Krishna, the god is bathed in milk and they dress him in his most beautiful clothes. They surround the divinity with offerings which will then be redistributed to the faithful.
Day 5: Bhai Dooj! It is the last day of the festival and it is dedicated to the brother-sister relationship. The sisters deposit a Tilak (red mark) on the forehead of their brothers and pray for their prosperity. The brothers bless their sisters by giving them gifts.
This holiday is also celebrated in other countries of the world where the Hindu population is large such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, …
