Guestling Bradshaw CE Primary School

Diwali, or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolise the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.

Diwali, celebrated in October or November each year, originated as a harvest festival that marked the last harvest of the year before winter. India was an agricultural society where people would seek the divine blessing of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, as they closed their accounting books and prayed for success at the outset of a new financial year. Today, this practice extends to businesses all over the Indian subcontinent, which mark the day after Diwali as the first day of the new financial year.

Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith: Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs.

Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live:

In North India they celebrate the story of King Rama's return to Ayodhya with his wife Sita, after their 14 year exile (see the video clip below).

South India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.

In western India the festival marks the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule the nether world.

In all interpretations, one common thread rings true – the festival marks the victory of good over evil.
 

Non-Hindu communities in India have other reasons for celebrating the holiday:

In Jainism, it marks the nirvana or spiritual awakening of Lord Mahavira: The founder of Janism is Lord Mahavira. During Diwali, Jains celebrate the moment he reached a state called moksha (nirvana, or eternal bliss).

In Sikhism it marks the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Sikh guru was freed from imprisonment in 1619. But Sikhs celebrated the festival before this date. In fact, the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the most holy place in the Sikh world, was laid on Diwali in 1577.

Day 1 - Dhun Teras
Dhun means money or wealth. Traditionally people would wash their money on this day. In their homes, people literally wash coins in milk and water and worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. It can also be said that to give or distribute money to the poor and needy, is a way of ‘washing your wealth’.

Day 2 - Kali Chaudas
Some people learn their mantras on this day. Others offer food to the goddess that is local to where they are originally from, in order to cast off evil spirits. Some families also offer food to their forefathers on this day.

Day 3 - Diwali
Diwali is the last day of the Hindu year and thus also the end of the Hindu financial year. Many businessmen close their account books and do rituals to open their new account books for the next financial year, in order to gain prosperity.

In the Ramayana (an epic poem), Rama, Sita and Lakshmana returned to the kingdom of Ayodhya on this day as it was the last day of the last year of their 14 year banishment. As it was so dark, the subjects of the kingdom, lit ‘divas’ (little wicks doused in ghee) to light the path. The lights are seen as a triumph of good over evil, light over dark, happiness (the homecoming) over sadness (the banishment).

Day 4 - New Year's Day
The new cycle of days now starts with Bestu Varush or New Year’s Day. Everybody greets each other with good wishes and a happy new year. The young bow down and touch the feet of their elders to gain blessings. Money or gifts of clothes are also given. At the temples 56 different foods are offered to the deities; the food is blessed and offered as prashad to the people who come to worship at the temple, and to the poor and needy.

Day 5 - Bhai Bhij or Bhai Duuj
Sisters call their brothers and his family to their homes for a meal. Brothers normally take a gift or leave money under their plates when they have finished their meal. Traditionally this was so that the brother could check that all was well with his sister in her marital home.

Indians celebrate with family gatherings, glittering clay lamps, festive fireworks, strings of electric lights, bonfires, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship to Lakshmi. Some believe that Lakshmi wanders the Earth looking for homes where she will be welcomed. People open their doors and windows and light lamps to invite Lakshmi in. Rangoli patterns are drawn on the floors, with brightly coloured rice flour or clay powder - the most popular subject is the lotus flower.

The festival is also a time for spring cleaning the home, wearing new clothes and exchanging gifts.

The Hindu calendar follows the moon, rather than the sun. Every Hindu month is divided into a light half, when the moon waxes (gets bigger) and a dark half, when it wanes (gets smaller). Diwali begins on the 13th day of the dark half of the Hindu month of Asvina. By the Gregorian calendar (the one we use) Diwali falls in October or November; in 2014, it begins on October 23.