Diwali also is known as Deepavali, or Dipawali is a very big celebration that celebrates the festival of light, especially in India. The name Diwali came from the words Avali, meaning a series, and Deepa, meaning a traditional lamp. People celebrate Diwali because it symbolizes the good that wins over the bad, thus having light as its main symbol as it symbolizes the light that took over the dark.
Five-day Celebration
Diwali is the most anticipated and biggest festival in India. The festival is usually held during the new year based on Hinduism and is held for 5 days straight. They usually celebrate Diwali with their family to strengthen their relationship with family members. The five-day festival has meaning to each day of celebration.
The first day is called the Vasu Daras, the day for the cows that are known to be holy in Hinduism.
The next day is called the Dhan Teras that commemorates the emergence of Dhanvantari from the ocean.
The third day is the peak of the Diwali Festival as it commemorates the victory of Lord Krisna against the monster Narakasura that symbolizes evil and people usually make Rangoli which is a decoration made from colorful rice and flour, and this day is known as Naraka Chaturdashi.
The fourth day is called Laksmi Puja where people worship Lord Laksmi and Lord Ganesha.
The last day is to commemorate the day that Lord Krisna lift Govadhana Hills to save the people from the flood.
The Return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya
Diwali also represents the day that Lord Ram returns to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the Demon King, people light up lights across the whole country to celebrate his return to Ayodhya.
Traditional Indian Lamp
In India, people celebrate Diwali with a traditional lamp called diya, and is made from clay. Usually, the whole town will be lit up with a series of diya, and people celebrate with firecrackers.
Other Countries Also Celebrates
Diwali is not only celebrated in India but also in other countries with minor Hinduism as it is treated as a cultural celebration nowadays. There are various countries that make Diwali their national holiday like Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Suriname, and more. On another hand in Leicester, England, it is known to be the biggest host of Diwali outside of India.
What Are The Differences Compared to Holi
Holi is also one of the biggest celebrations in India, however, it is slightly different from Diwali. We all know that Diwali is a festival of light, however, Holi is known as the festival of spring, or festival of colors. People celebrate this day by throwing each other colorful flours made from natural ingredients.
