Indian
Festivals: Diwali being the festival of lights, across India people
celebrate it via symbolic diyas or kandils (colourful paper lanterns) as
an integral part of Diwali decorations.
Holi is a spring festival also known as festival of colors, and
sometimes festival of love. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival
which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as
well as people of other communities.
In Islam, Eid is the name of two Islamic festivals: Eid ul-Fitr, after
fasting the month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal. Eid ul-Adha,
remembering Prophet Ibrahim willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah,
on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, for those not on pilgrimage. The Eids
are celebrated by Muslims all around the world.
Navratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity
Durga. The word Navaratri means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning
nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days,
nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped.
Ganesha Chaturthi is the Hindu festival celebrated on the birthday
(rebirth) of the lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. It is
believed that Lord Ganesh bestows his presence on earth for all his
devotees during this festival. It is the day when Ganesha was born.
Ganesha is widely worshiped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good
fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture or
at the start of travel.
Raksha Bandhan, (the bond of protection) or Rakhi is a Hindu festival
primarily observed in India, Mauritius and Nepal(Madheshis only), which
celebrates the relationship between brothers (shaurya), cousins and
sisters (shreya). It is also called Rakhi Purnima in most of India. It
is also celebrated in some parts of Pakistan. The festival is observed
by Hindus, Jains, and some Sikhs.
Diwali :- Deepavali or Diwali, popularly known as the "Festival Of Lights,"
is a five-day Hindu festival which starts on Dhanteras, celebrated on
the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu
calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on the second
lunar day of Shukla paksha of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. Dhanteras
usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra. In the Gregorian calendar,
Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.
Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka,
Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia,
Singapore and Fiji.
For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year
and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities
together in their homes. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of
moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC. Arya Samajists, celebrate this
day as Death Anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. They also
celebrate this day as Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti.
The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business
communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival
is called the Naraka Chaturdasi. Amavasya, the third day of Diwali,
marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The fourth day of
Diwali is known as Kartika Shudda Padyami. The fifth day is referred to
as Yama Dvitiya, and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their
homes.
Diwali celebrations are spread over five days, from
Dhanteras to Bhaiduj. In some places like Maharashtra it starts with
Vasu Baras. All the days except Diwali are named according to their
designation in the Hindu calendar. The days are:
1. Govatsa Dwadashi or Vasu Baras (27 Ashvin or 12 Krishna Paksha
Ashvin): Go means cow and vatsa means calf. Dwadashi or Baras means the
12th day. On this day the cow and calf are worshiped. The story
associated with this day is that of King Prithu, son of the tyrant King
Vena. Due to the ill rule of Vena, there was a terrible famine and earth
stopped being fruitful. Prithu chased the earth, who is usually
represented as cow, and ‘milked’ her, meaning that he brought prosperity
to the land.
2. Dhan teras or Dhanwantari Triodasi (28 Ashvin or 13 Krishna Paksha
Ashvin): Dhana means wealth and Trayodashi means 13th day. This day
falls on the 13th day of the second half of the lunar month. It is
considered an auspicious day for buying utensils and gold, hence the
name ‘Dhana’. This day is regarded as the Jayanti (Birth Anniversary) of
God Dhanvantari, the Physician of Gods, who came out during Samudra
manthan, the churning of the great ocean by the gods and the demons.
3. Chaturdashi is the 14th day This was the day on which the demon
Narakasura was killed by Krishna – an incarnation of Vishnu. It
signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness
(Gujarati: Kali Chaudas, Rajasthan : Roop Chaudas). In southern India,
this is the actual day of festivities. Hindus wake up before dawn, have a
fragrant oil bath and dress in new clothes. They light small lamps all
around the house and draw elaborate kolams /rangolis
outside their homes. They perform a special puja with offerings to
Krishna or Vishnu, as he liberated the world from the demon Narakasura
on this day.
4. Lakshmi Puja marks the most important day of Diwali celebrations in
North India. Hindu homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and
Ganesh, the God of auspicious beginnings also known as the remover of
obastacles, and then light deeyas (little clay pots) in the streets and
homes to welcome prosperity and well-being.
5. Kartika or Shukla Paksha Kartika : In North India, this day is
celebrated as Govardhan Puja, also called Annakoot, and is celebrated as
the day Krishna – an incarnation of god Vishnu – defeated Indra and by
the lifting of Govardhana hill to save his kinsmen and cattle from rain
and floods. For Annakoot, large quantities of food are decorated
symbolising the Govardhan hill lifted by Krishna. In Maharashtra, Tamil
Nadu and Karnataka, it is celebrated as Bali-Pratipada or Bali Padyami.
6. Bhaiduj (also Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika) (Kartika or Shukla
Paksha Kartika): on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express love
and affection for each other (Gujarati: Bhai Bij, Bengali: Bhai Phota).
It is based on a story when Yama, lord of Death, visited his sister Yami
(the river Yamuna). Yami welcomed Yama with an Aarti and they had a
feast together. Yama gave a gift to Yami while leaving as a token of his
appreciation. So, the day is also called 'YAMA DWITIYA'. Brothers visit
their sisters’ place on this day and usually have a meal there, and
also give gifts to their sisters.
Rangoli Designs at Diwali
Rangoli,
also known as kolam or muggu is a folk art from India. It is usually
made during Diwali, Onam, Pongal and other Indian festivals. Typically
consisting of bright colors, rangoli is a decorative design made in
living rooms and courtyard floors during Hindu festivals . They are
meant to be sacred welcoming areas for the Hindu deities.
The purpose of rangoli is decoration, and it is thought to bring good
luck. Design depictions may also vary as they reflect traditions,
folklore and practices that are unique to each area. It is traditionally
done by women. Generally, this practice is showcased during occasions
such as festivals, auspicious observances, marriage celebrations and
other similar milestones and gatherings.
Rangoli designs
can be simple geometric shapes, deity impressions, or flower and petal
shapes (appropriate for the given celebrations), but they can also be
very elaborate designs crafted by numerous people. The base material is
usually dry or wet granulated rice or dry flour, to which sindoor
(vermilion), haldi (turmeric) and other natural colors can be added.
Chemical colors are a modern variation. Other materials include colored
sand and even flowers and petals, as in the case of flower rangolis.
Recipes at Diwali
Diwali is festival of lights, fun, share happiness with friends and
family. There are no set recipes for diwali except for the sweets and
snacks that are usually made or brought ready made. So giving a list of
recipes that are usually made during festivals or celebrations like Diwali, Christmas, Eid and other festivals.
We have classified them into the typical diwali sweets and snacks which we make and some lunch/dinner menu recipes. some of these diwali recipes can be easily made vegan by substituting with soy milk, cashew milk, almond milk or cashew yogurt or peanut yogurt.
Holiday Plans During Diwali
During Diwali times, if you plan to go for a travel trip in Indian
places then you must remember one important point. The quintessence of
Diwali can be experienced only if you participate in the carnival with
the local people. The celebration of Diwali, however, is more prominent
in the Northern parts of India. According to Delighting India, the top Diwali destinations in India are Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Goddess Lakshmi Puja:-
Diwali marks the end of the harvest season in most of India. Farmers
give thanks for the bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good
harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marked the closing of
accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and is the last
major celebration before winter. Lakshmi symbolises wealth and
prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.
There are two legends that associate the worship of Lakshmi on this day.
According to the first legend, on this day, Lakshmi emerged from Kshira
Sagar, the Ocean of Milk, during the great churning of the oceans,
Samudra manthan. The second legend (more popular in western India)
relates to the Vamana avatar of the big three Vishnu, the incarnation he
assumed to kill the king Bali. On this day, Vishnu came back to his
abode the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of
her benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material
well-being.
As per spiritual references, on this day "Lakshmi-panchayatan" enters
the Universe. Vishnu, Indra, Kubera, Gajendra and Lakshmi are elements
of this "panchayatan" (a group of five). The tasks of these elements
are:
1. Lakshmi: Divine Energy (Shakti) which provides energy to all the above activities.
2. Vishnu: Happiness (happiness and satisfaction)
3. Kubera: Wealth (generosity; one who shares wealth)
4. Indra: Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)
5. Gajendra: Carries the wealth
6. Saraswati: Knowledge
7. Diwali is not only celebrated by Hindus; it is somewhat also a Sikh
festival as it marks the Bandi Chhor Divas festival
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