The festival can be traced back to ancient times and is one that is widely celebrated around the world by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. Whilst many will have learnt about the religious history of Diwali, nothing beats the lead-up and actual physical act of celebrating said festival. For those who may not know, Diwali marks the return of Hindu God, Lord Rama after 14 years of exile and his defeat of evil King Ravana. Rama returned in tow to Ayodhya, alongside his wife Sita and brother, Lakshman. The festival, therefore, symbolizes the defeat of good over evil and of light conquering the darkness.
Though I might not be going home this year to my home of Leicester (a city that holds one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India), my immense joy for the festival prevails.
We light Diya’s, burn incense, eat the yummiest food, and gather in abundance with our relatives. Diwali is a truly joyous occasion!
The festival itself is usually a 5-day celebration. In my household, we kickstart the festivities with the day of Dhanteras. On Dhanteras, we worship and give thanks to Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity and wealth. We pray for good fortune for the upcoming Indian New year which commences the day following Diwali. The third day is usually considered the main Diwali day. It is often referred to as Lakshmi Puja, whereby Lakshmi is believed to be invited into our homes, blessing us with good fortune. We light Diya’s, burn incense, eat the yummiest food, and gather in abundance with our relatives. Diwali is a truly joyous occasion!
For me, the biggest excitement in Diwali comes from the opportunity to see many of my relatives and of course the delicious food. On Diwali day, my family and I often dress up in our Indian clothing, head to the temple, and pray. We give our thanks to all the Gods and Goddesses that we worship, and pray for good health and abundance. Following the temple, we often visit various relatives, spend time catching up, and eat wonderful Diwali savoury snacks and sweet mithai (sweet treats) that we have made.
We give our thanks to all the Gods and Goddesses that we worship, and pray for good health and abundance.
To say that Diwali is a joyous celebration is truly an understatement. Whilst I could write all day about the truly beautiful festival of light, I will end by saying a big HAPPY DIWALI to all those who are celebrating. I hope that everyone gets the chance to truly celebrate in style this year.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay, @Bhuppigraphy