Saturday 17 October 2009

Diwali festival



Today India and Nepal celebrate Diwali or “festival of lights”. It is particularly sacred to Hindus, but followers of other Indian religions also celebrate Diwali. Jainist, Hindu, and Sikh communities all over the world commemorate Diwali with smaller festivals of their own. The timing of this holiday varies, since it is based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it is generally celebrated in the autumn. Diwali festivities in India involve everyone, not just the religious faithful, and the holiday is a major event in the Indian year.
The festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil; in Hindi, Diwali means “festival of lights,” and people light rows of lights to commemorate heroic figures in Indian mythology who triumphed over the forces of evil. Diwali is also a time for new endeavours, and many people clean their houses and open all their windows and doors to welcome luck and good fortune. The exchange of gifts is also traditional during this holiday, and many people host dinners and Diwali parties.

1 comment:

Whispering Walls said...

That dog didn't like the fireworks