Diwali is a five-day Hindu festival, known as the Festival of Lights. It is a contraction of the word Deepavali, which means row of lights in Sanskrit.
Celebrating Diwali —
Diwali is a five-day Hindu festival, known as the Festival of Lights. It is a contraction of the word Deepavali, which means row of lights in Sanskrit.
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Diwali is not only celebrated by Hindus, it is also an occasion for celebration by Jains and Sikhs (pictured). The Sikhs celebrate Diwali to mark the return of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 political prisoners at the same time from Gwalior fort by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619.
A cause for celebration —
Diwali is not only celebrated by Hindus, it is also an occasion for celebration by Jains and Sikhs (pictured). The Sikhs celebrate Diwali to mark the return of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 political prisoners at the same time from Gwalior fort by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619.
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These small clay oil lamps are known as diyas. Hindus in India adorn their homes with lots of these lamps during Diwali to commemorate the Hindu legend of the return of Lord Rama from his 14-year exile after murdering the 10-headed demon Ravana.
Lighting the way —
These small clay oil lamps are known as diyas. Hindus in India adorn their homes with lots of these lamps during Diwali to commemorate the Hindu legend of the return of Lord Rama from his 14-year exile after murdering the 10-headed demon Ravana.
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According to Hindu mythology, everyone lit oil lamps along the road to welcome Lord Rama home. Diwali has come to symbolize the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and even the illumination of the soul and attainment of higher knowledge.
Festival of lights —
According to Hindu mythology, everyone lit oil lamps along the road to welcome Lord Rama home. Diwali has come to symbolize the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and even the illumination of the soul and attainment of higher knowledge.
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Brightly colored rangolis are drawn on the ground at the entrances to homes and offices during Diwali, using the fingers and colored flour, rice power, rice grains, flower petals, powders and chalk. They are usually geometric symmetrical designs and symbols of nature such as peacocks, butterflies, animals and flowers.
Colorful rangolis —
Brightly colored rangolis are drawn on the ground at the entrances to homes and offices during Diwali, using the fingers and colored flour, rice power, rice grains, flower petals, powders and chalk. They are usually geometric symmetrical designs and symbols of nature such as peacocks, butterflies, animals and flowers.
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In villages, the rangolis are drawn on top of fresh cow dung. The purpose of the rangoli is to welcome guests and to encourage the Hindu goddess Lakshmi inside.
Dung drawings —
In villages, the rangolis are drawn on top of fresh cow dung. The purpose of the rangoli is to welcome guests and to encourage the Hindu goddess Lakshmi inside.
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Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. She is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favorite of women. Both the oil lamps and the rangolis are used to try to encourage Lakshmi to come inside the home, and of course to welcome guests.
Enter Laskshmi —
Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. She is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favorite of women. Both the oil lamps and the rangolis are used to try to encourage Lakshmi to come inside the home, and of course to welcome guests.
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Diwali marks the start of the new Hindu financial year. During this time many businesses open new account books and on the third day of the festival business people in some states worship their account books and work laptops. This ritual is called "Chopda Pujan", and blesssings are sought from Hindu deities Lakshmi and Ganesha.
Blessing of the account books —
Diwali marks the start of the new Hindu financial year. During this time many businesses open new account books and on the third day of the festival business people in some states worship their account books and work laptops. This ritual is called "Chopda Pujan", and blesssings are sought from Hindu deities Lakshmi and Ganesha.
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During Diwali, it is common to set off firecrackers as the noise is believed to herald the defeat of evil and catch the attention of the gods.
Cracking festival —
During Diwali, it is common to set off firecrackers as the noise is believed to herald the defeat of evil and catch the attention of the gods.
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Traditional sweets, known as mithai, are in heavy demand during Diwali. Among them include karanji, a pastry stuffed with dried fruit, semolina and coconut, laddoos (ball-shaped sweets), puran poli (sweet stuffed flatbread), poori (fried bread), gulab jamun (sticky ball-shaped dessert), kheer (Indian rice pudding) and jalebi (deep-fried chewy dessert).
Sweet feast —
Traditional sweets, known as mithai, are in heavy demand during Diwali. Among them include karanji, a pastry stuffed with dried fruit, semolina and coconut, laddoos (ball-shaped sweets), puran poli (sweet stuffed flatbread), poori (fried bread), gulab jamun (sticky ball-shaped dessert), kheer (Indian rice pudding) and jalebi (deep-fried chewy dessert).
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Indian women buy gold jewelry on Dhanteras -- the first day of the five-day festival -- in the belief it will bring them good fortune.
Golden fortune —
Indian women buy gold jewelry on Dhanteras -- the first day of the five-day festival -- in the belief it will bring them good fortune.
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In the tribal villages of Jharkhand in the east of India, the Festival of Lights is associated with the harvest of rice in November and the celebration of cattle. Women also paint beautiful murals on the walls of their mud homes at this time and the cows are decorated.
Village life —
In the tribal villages of Jharkhand in the east of India, the Festival of Lights is associated with the harvest of rice in November and the celebration of cattle. Women also paint beautiful murals on the walls of their mud homes at this time and the cows are decorated.
Courtesy Bulu Imam