Violet
6/11/23
Diwali Celebrations
Diwali is a major festival which started in India and is celebrated every year by Hindus. Other religious groups, such as Sikhs and Jains also celebrate it in their own way too. The celebration lasts for 5 days.
On Day One of the festival people clean their homes and prepare for the celebrations to begin. On Day Two homes are decorated in bright colourful decorations, diya lamps (little oil lights in a clay holder) are lit and colourful Rangoli patterns are created on the floor to welcome the gods. Then on Day Three is the main day of celebrations when families gather together. On this day people give offerings to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and pray for good fortune for the year to come. Day Four is the first day of the new year with more time with family and friends and Day five is the last day of the festival, where brothers and sisters in particular meet together.
During Diwali people enjoy spending time with their family and friends, visiting each others homes, enjoying food together, especially yummy sweet treats and giving gifts to each other. People visit temples and offerings are given to the gods. New clothes are worn to welcome the new year in. People also think about ways they can improve their lives and start the new year with a fresh start.
What is Diwali?
Diwali marks the beginning of the new year according to the Hindu Lunar calendar and can be on slightly different days every year. It is a festival celebrating hope, peace and happiness. It is seen as a celebration of life and it is a time to be grateful for the things you have and for the people in your life.
There are lots of legends or stories important to the festival which celebrate good over evil, for example the story of Rama and Sita is told. This story is about them being banished from their kingdom unfairly and Sita then being kidnapped. But the story ends happily as Sita is saved and they return home after 14 years, guided by lamps people had placed to light their way home. This story celebrates good winning over evil and the light of goodness defeating the darkness.
Lakshmi, who is the goddess of wealth and good fortune is also important to the celebration. Hindus believe she will bless them in the year to come. They light diya lamps and place them in their homes so she can find her way there. It’s also one of the reasons the festival starts with cleaning as it is thought Lakshmi likes cleanliness and so the cleanest homes get visited first!
Festival of Light
Diwali is known as the festival of light. The word Diwali means ‘row of lights’ in the language Sanskrit. People celebrating Diwali light up their homes and temples with lots of lights to welcome the Indian god of wealth and good luck called Lakshmi into their homes during the festival and the beginning of a new year.
Diyas are lit, and used to decorate the inside and outside of homes. Other types of light are used to decorate homes during the festival such as candles, lanterns and fairy lights and fireworks are used to light up the night sky.
Rangoli Patterns
As well as using lots of lights, Rangoli patterns are also a common sight during Diwali. Rangoli patterns are beautiful, colourful patterns made from things like coloured sand and rice, as well as lentils, spices and flowers. The are most often created on the floor and you will often see them outside homes as they too are used to welcome the gods and bring good luck for the year ahead.
Happy Diwali
If you are celebrating Diwali we would like to wish you a very happy Diwali and hope you enjoy your time with family and friends. We hope it is full of light and laughter and you do indeed have a wonderful year ahead, love from Violet and all the other Whizzbots.
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