Diwali – the festival has couple of other names too. Divali, Dipawali, Deepavali and Dipabali are few of them. It is a dazzling festival filled with colorful lights and is celebrated with holidays all over India. Various customs and procedures are followed at different parts of the country.

How is the festival celebrated?

Though the festival is the same, there are several celebration procedures across the country. These celebrations last for 4 to 5 days. As it is a festival of lights, people make use of tiny lights or clay oil lamps to brighten their houses.  People also prefer decorating their house with water bowls with floating candles and flowers.

People also used to clean their houses and yard areas for Diwali. There is also a practice of taking oil bath on the day of Diwali. More than all these, wearing new clothes, preparing different sweet items at home, sharing them with neighbors and friends, and bursting variety of crackers stands on top. More than morning celebrations, evening times are enjoyed better.

As the way of interpretation of lunar calendar varies from one place to the other, the exact date of Diwali celebration also varies from one place to the other in India.

What are the public life changes during Diwali?

The day of Diwali is declared as a government holiday and hence all government offices including post offices, banks, etc will remain closed. In addition, private companies and business organizations will either remain closed or have partial working hours during this day.

People who reside elsewhere will move to their hometown for Diwali celebrations. Hence, travel facility will be increased on the days nearing Diwali. However, it is advisable to know the bus or train timing before planning the trip. There will be holidays even in countries like Australia, UK and Canada.

Background of the festival:

• Diwali is said to be sign of the victory of righteousness and elimination of spiritual darkness. The term Deepavali refers to rows of clay lamps – Diyas. According to the Hindu calendar, this festival falls on the 15^th day of Karthika month. Lord Rama completed his 14 years exile and returned to his kingdom – Ayodhya. This incident is remembered in the name of Deepavali. It is to be noted that the myths about Rama and Ravana are celebrated as Dussehra and Vijaya Dhasami.
• During Diwali, people worship goddess Lakshmi who is said to symbolize wealth and prosperity of humans. This festival is called as “Kali Puja” by West Bengal people.
• In the southern part of the country, it is believed that Asura Naraka imprisoned many people and that lord Krishna freed them all. Here, the festival is celebrated with this as the reason.
• Scholars believe that emperor Ashoka lived between 270 BCE and 232 BCE and that he had a conversation with Buddhism, and this day of conversation is celebrated as Diwali.

Symbols:

Out of all Diwali symbols, the electric lights, tiny oil lamps made with clay are important ones.