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Diwali Celebrations across India
Goddess Lakshmi
Diwali literally means an array of lamps. It
is usually celebrated between October and
November.
It is the most signifi cant festival in North India
and hence, celebrated with great pomp
and grandeur over fi ve days. It is considered
to be an auspicious time to begin business
ventures. The fi rst day, especially, is considered
the best day to purchase gold and
steel. The third day marks the worship of
Goddess Lakshmi, the bestower of wealth.
People leave their windows and doors open
to let in Goddess Lakshmi into their homes.
Sweets are exchanged in large quantities
among friends. Above all, homes are decorated
with lights, lamps, candles or electric
fairy lights.
Family celebrates diwali
People wearing new clothes spend the evening
bursting fi re crackers. The festivities
end on the fi fth day with the touching ceremony
of Bhaidooj, literally the Feast to the
Brothers. Across the country, brothers and
sisters unite to meet up for a day of family
bonding and feasting.
Relevance in today’s times
In this day and age, when society is more
secular and time more scarce, one, native or
foreign, may easily fi nd that the celebration
of Dussera and Diwali has lost the original
sacredness.
Traditionalists argue that these are occasions
of connecting with Indian roots, and
remembering its history. It is also a time of
connect, of the common man with the divine
powers which omni presently and omni potently
control our lives. These are undoubtedly
Hindu values that refl ect in the rituals.
However, over time, these rituals have taken
a backseat, both for the good and the bad.
Durga Puja, for example, is a social and secular
celebration, where people from all walks
of life, creed and religion meet together to
celebrate. It is a grand occasion for human
bonding through the fi ne things in life. At the
same time, Diwali has been reduced to a
pompous show of wealth through the number
of crackers, which one buys and bursts.
The negative impact on our environment has
become an issue of concern and the Indian
judiciary is not only
enforcing a ban on
loud crackers, but
also protecting the
human rights of the
workers invol ved in
its manufacturing.
There is now a new
Vatsalya
breed of young children
who refuse to
burst crackers and thereby contribute to pollution
control. Vatsalya, is a ten year old student
of the Pathways World School, who has
THERE IS NOW A NEW
BREED OF YOUNG
CHILDREN WHO REFUSE
TO BURST CRACKERS AND
THEREBY CONTRIBUTE TO
FESTIVE WATCH
been seriously worried about his own carbon
footprint and cele-brated Diwali last year by
lighting lamps at home and photographing
them. He clarifies, “I didn’t use crackers
keeping global warming in mind… Not even
once did I miss the noisy, polluting crackers
and instead had more fun with my parents.”
Foreign light
Diwali lighting lamps
India, being a melee of cultures, is an interesting
dichotomy of secularism and religious
traditions. What do expatriates think and
feel when they witnesses or participate in
these festivals. Here are some expressions.
Janette Horne, a British homemaker, now
living in Gurgaon, remembers her fi rst experience.
“Last year we were ‘spectators’
of Diwali from our apartment balcony. We
all remember quite clearly the explosive
and multi-coloured skyline created by the
numerous fi reworks we could hear and see
all around us. Another memory is the smell
of bonfi res although we didn’t actually see
any effi gies being burnt and loud music as a
constant throughout the night.”
Jim and Janet Bradshaw, a British teacher
couple now working in Egypt, reminisce,
“Our fi rst Diwali in India was, strangely, in the
predominantly Christian Goa. On the night
that Diwali was to be celebrated, the hotel
had arranged for a cabaret of local singers
and dancers who joyfully demonstrated
their traditional fi sher-folk dances and songs
while the swimming pool was set ablaze
with fl oating candles. We were new to India,
and were held in thrall by the explanations
of Diwali’s meanings and the universality of
the celebratory worship.”
Lesley Davies, an educational consultant
working in the Middle East has lived in India
for seven years. She remembers fondly,
“What I liked about Diwali is that unlike
Christmas in the UK, it came, was celebrated
and then disappeared quite quickly. It contrasted
so much with Christmas in the UK
which seems to take forever to arrive and
forever to go. It proved to be one of my favourite
festivals from everywhere I have lived
in the world.”
In the end, the purpose of all festivals is to
create harmony and peace among people
and to remind us that positivity, happiness
and goodness are the fi nal victors. Here’s
wishing all of you enjoyable celebrations!