DIWALI Essay
Diwali is one of the four most important festivals in India. It is celebrated in the month of Kartik on the Amavasya day soon after the rainy season. This festival of light is celebrated all over India. It marks the beginning of winter.
At this time of the year, the rice crop is almost ready.
Hence the farmer's house wears a general look of prosperity. The rural folk
clean their houses and make beautiful motifs on the wall depicting the goddess
of Laxmi and lord Ganesha, who are the chief deities of this festival. While
the people living in the urban areas, clean and whitewash their houses.
They also carry out minor repairs.
The roots of this festival lie in the revered story of Lord
Rama. It is said that the Lord returned to his home in Ayodhya after remaining
in exile for fourteen years. During that period, he defeated the demon Ravana,
the king of Lanka, who had abducted Sita deceitfully. The people of Ayodhya
expressed their joy on the return of Rama by illuminating the city with earthen
lamps. Since then, Diwali has been celebrated with great rejoicing every year.
Not just mythology, this festival also has a medical significance. Diwali occurs soon after the season of the rains. Rain brings with it many water-borne diseases like malaria, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, etc. Besides rains are known to cause damage to houses and other property. After the rains, people repair their houses and clean the dirt accumulated by the rainwater. This cleaning drives away mosquitoes and other pests, thus making the houses free from any disease. And those who had fallen sick, rejoice for becoming well again.
Preparations for this festival start many days before the festival. On this day women prepare sweets and other special food. Men go out and buy crackers, toys made of sugar and parched paddy, small earthen lamps, cotton for wicks, flowers, and oil. They also buy small clay statues of lord Ganesha and goddess Laxmi. The houses are cleaned white-washed and decorated with pictures and calendars. People wear new clothes and the houses and shops are illuminated with electric bulbs, candles, and earthen lamps. Families gather around the decorated statues and pray for each other's well-being. They then light crackers, with each other and distribute sweets.
The markets of the city are decorated with electric lights.
There is great hustle and bustle in the bazaars on this day. The shops are
decorated. The sweets display different varieties of sweets. Markets are full
of people. They purchase various items needed for Diwali prayers. Children
spend their pocket money on crackers. Elders buy gifts for everyone in the
household. New clothes are purchased. The traders open new account books on
this day and close old accounts. They perform special prayers before
Goddess Laxmi, who is also considered to be the Goddess of wealth and
prosperity. The people keep their houses open at night so that Laxmi may visit
their house. Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana. Swami Dayanand
Saraswati and Swami Rath Tirath died on this auspicious day.
However, only one bad custom, of gambling, mars this
otherwise unique festival. People believe that by gambling on this day the
Goddess of wealth will be pleased. But it is only sometimes so and many people lose
a considerable sum of money and become poor. Some people commit suicide. It is
a pity that this festival is marred by such evil practices. People should give
up gambling. That would maintain the purity of the festival.
Diwali is the festival which is eagerly awaited by young and old alike.
Words Translated in Hindi
वनवास
| Demon
Deities - देवी-देवता
Revered - सम्मानित
Exile राक्षस
Illuminating - अलंकृत करना
Mythology पौराणिक कथा
Pests - नाशक जीव
Paddy - धान
Wicks - बत्तियां
Prosperity - वैà¤à¤µ, समृद्धि
Suicide - वैà¤à¤µ, समृद्धि
Suicide - आत्महत्या
Auspicious - शुठअपहरण करना
Deceitfully - धोखे से
