Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the main holidays observed by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. It is a celebration of lights. The event is observed during the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartika and typically lasts five days in between mid-October and mid-November. Early Sanskrit writings reference the five-day event, which has its roots in the Indian subcontinent. Diwali, one of the most well-known Hindu holidays, represents the metaphysical winning of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and Ganesha, the deity of knowledge and the remover of obstacles, are the two main deities most commonly linked with the festival. Numerous other regional customs also tie the celebration to Mother Sita and Lord Ram, Goddess Durga and Kali, etc. Additionally, it commemorates the day Lord Rama, His Wife Sita, and His Brother Lakshmana returned to their home country in Ayodhya after serving a fourteen-years of banishment. Celebrants get ready for Deepavali by cleaning, remodeling, and adorning their residences and places of business with Rangolis (which are colourful circular patterns of art on floors) and by lighting Diyas (which are oil-lamps; original word Deep) . People dress their best for Diwali, decorate the inside and outside of their homes with Diyas and Rangoli, hold Lakshmi worship rituals to honour the goddess of riches and success, ignite fireworks, and attend family feasts where Mithai (Indian sweets) and gifts are exchanged. For the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diasporas, Diwali is also a significant cultural occasion. [Information and Image Credit: Diwali, Wikipedia] [Image: During Diwali, rangoli decorations—made of coloured sand or fine powder—are very popular] [Image Availed Under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (Please Relate to Individual Image URL for More Usage Property)][License-Link : https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en ] [Original Source Image URL : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Rangoli_of_Lights.jpg ]
.jpg "Rituals and Customs")
Rituals and Customs
Voigt.jpg)
