With the commence of Autumn, festive season of joy, splendor, brightness and happiness begins in India. This is the time when each and every Indian, despite of all their worries and tensions, completely immersed themselves in the merrymaking moments.
Navratri, Dusshera, Durga puja, and Diwali are some of the most popular festivals of Autumn season in India. Among all of them, Diwali is a pan India festival. Though it is a Hindu festival but with the gradual passage of time Diwali is celebrated by every Indian, irrespective of their caste and creed, with utmost joy and gaiety.
According to Hindu mythology, Diwali is a festival that marks the homecoming of Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and younger brother Laxman after defeating demon king Ravana. They had returned to Ayoydha after a long exile of fourteen years and to welcome them people of Ayodhya has decorated their homes with earthen lamps. Due to this it is also known as “festival of lights”.
Eras have gone by but still Diwali festival is celebrated with same enthusiasm throughout the country. With the onset of Dusshera festival, the bells for Diwali festival starts ringing every where in India.
Delhi, the capital of India is famous in the entire world for its special Diwali celebration. From Dusshera, Delhiites starts their frantic shopping spree, spring-cleaning and white-washing of their houses and shops.
Be it a small shop or big multiplex shopping mall, Diwali is the time to do good business and to do so the shopkeepers of Delhi embark on shopping bonanzas to woo more number of customers. Various market places and shops dotted in every nook and corner of the city, overflowed with the latest clothes, accessories, electronic appliances, materials of home decor, colorful candles, earthen lamps and many more things.
Diwali is a five day long festival and Delhites celebrate each day of the festival with much pomp and show. The first day of the festival is known as Dhanteras. On this occasion, people usually purchases kitchen utensils or jewelry as it is considered as an auspicious day to buy some metallic things and pray to God Yama, king of death to save the family members from untimely death. The second day is known as Choti Diwali or Narak Chaturdasi. It is believed that on this day Lord Krishna has killed demon Narakasur. On this occasion people have to massage their body with oil to get rid of tiredness and bathe. So, that they can celebrate Diwali with full devotion and vigour.
The third day is the main day of Diwali festival. On this day people decorate their houses with earthen lamps and rangoli (designs made by powdered colour). They pay their homage to Goddess Laxmi ( the deity of wealth) so that she showers her blessings to the entire family. Another main attraction of this day is the bursting of various kinds of firecrackers by people of all ages. On the fourth day of Diwali, Govardhan puja is performed by Hindus to honour the first puja done by the natives of Vraja. Last but not least, the fifth day of Diwali is celebrated as Bhai Duj or Bhai fota. On this day, sisters keep fasting and pray to God for the well being and prosperity of their brothers.
Another prime attraction during Diwali season are the Ramlilas. These are the dramatic rendition of the Ramayan epic, which are staged in every locality of the city. Various local bodies organizes these shows on makeshift stages that displays the triumph of good over evil. Thousand of people attend these shows to witness the burning of huge effigies of demon king Ravana.
Even in the Delhi’s corporate sector, Diwali is celebrated with much enthusiasm. Its become a trend in the corporate sector to gift bonuses and sweets, dry fruits or other things to the employees as Diwali gifts. Not only companies, even family members and friends also exchange gifts to one and another.
In a nut shell, Diwali, the festival of light brings the moments of fun and enjoyment by erasing darkness from our life.