Anita Badhwar
So here we are – that time of the year that can be so busy celebrating all the Indian festivals like Navratri, and Dusshera. And if you are like me, and live in the U.S., you also have Halloween and Thanksgiving to add to the craziness!
Diwali is now fast approaching, so I need to be thinking about preparations for this big festival. In particular, every year, I make a list of puja items needed, decide on Diwali gifts, and of course, decide on the delicious Diwali mithai!
We also need to clean house, and I mean really clean house. That means donating toys, books, bikes, clothes, old appliances etc. and to clear out any clutter in the house. (My most least favorite task :))
But among the Diwali preparations, I’d like to share some fun facts that I’ve discovered about Diwali over the years:
- Fireworks are part of the Diwali celebration for the purpose of warding off evil spirits
- Diyas symbolize lighting the “good” inside of us
- Diyas and lamps burn through the night to help Goddess Laxmi find homes to visit and bless families for a prosperous New Year
- It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati played a game of dice, which after playing, Goddess Parvati declared that whoever gambles on Diwali night will prosper
- In North India, Diwali is celebrated to honor the return of Lord Ram to his kingdom after slaying the demon Ravan, whereas in South India, Diwali is celebrated to honor Lord Krishna slaying the demon Naraksura.
So as you can tell, there are several meanings to the rituals and customs that are practiced during the festival of Diwali, which I personally find fascinating. I hope you do too.
Wishing you all a very happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful Diwali!
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