Darren Roland Rosario ,Mumbai : Even though it may mean different things to hindus in different religions , diwali is as important to Hindus as Christmas is to Christians. Diwali is also a meaningful celebration to the sikh community. The word Diwali is adopted from ten Sanskrit words “Deepavali “ which means a row or cluster of lights . Diwali itself is known as the festival of lights . It is an annual observance held during the autmn month , the hindus called Karthika . Common ly the celebrations held throughout the hindu world is the presence of a display of lights .
In India is a time to worship the goddess of wealth, who is known as lakshmi . Houses are prepared for her arrival by being completely cleaned and white washed on the night of the festival , the homes are illuminated many lights weather , candles , oil lamps , or electric bulbs . Its not uncommon for a house to display row of lights , oil lamps on its outer walls , yards or its garden in the coming year . Some hindu communities else where celebrates diwali some what differently. In Malaya for instance, the day begins as four in the morning with a ritual bath and a lamp is lit for worship of lakshmi later in the day people dress in new clothes and visit their friends and neighbours . Exchanging gift is also customary great feasts are prepared and eaten , and the day ends with a display of row of oils lamps .
In diwali we are adopted by different people to serve different purposes . Yet for all those people diwali remains an impressive and important occasion who shall set off the first chain of crackers that go boom , bang and vroom ? and who is the owner of the 10mins “banger “ that steals the thunder from your little chain of needle sized crackers ? does the boy next door have more crackers than me . Competition is stiff and even the little girl in silk frocks and their finery are watching out for the best sparklers and it is believed that Lakshmi will not give her blessing to a home that is not illuminated for her welcome . As in festivals of other cultures , fire woods are lit to celebrate this special night , but as well as delighting the spectators , the fireworks are believed to chase away evil spirits. Almost every house participates in the fireworks displays , and noisy and colourful celebrations illuminates whole street and villages well into the night . In some villages there is a big communal bonfire of firewoods brushed and even oilseeds soaked rages , which send the fire leaping high in the sky. As the fires rises it is accomplished by drum beats and the spectators around the fire share in the joyous occasion. Diwali also holds special significance for people in the business community . On this day business close their accounts books and then it is placed before a picture of Lakshmi to receive her blessing , in the hopes that the goddess of wealth will multiply profits . Deepavli is a festival where people from different age groups participate , they give expression to their happiness by lighting of lamps decorating the houses and bursting fire crackers and inviting near and dear ones to their house holds for partaking in a sumptuous feast. The lighting of lampsis away of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health wealth, knowledge, peace and frame . It is one time in the whole year that children volunteers to leave their beds long before this day begins . In fact , the traditional oil bath at 3pm is the only thing that stands between them and the pre drawn adventures . The emerge scrubed clean to get into their festive attire , and light up little oil lamps , candies and scented stickers agar bathis the where withal for setting alight crackers and sparklers ..