Culture and Heritage

Diwali is one of the most colorful, sacred and loveliest festivals of the Hindus. It is celebrated every year with great joy and enthusiasm throughout the length and breadth of the country.

The festival of Diwali marks the happy return of lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen year’s exile. It is a festival of lights and festivities. It comes off about twenty days after Dussehra and shows the advent of winter. It lends charms and delight to our life.

Diwali or Deepawali means a row or collection of lamps. A few days before Diwali, houses, buildings, shops and temples arc thoroughly cleaned, white-washed and decorated with pictures, toys and flowers. They look as beautiful as a newly, wedded girl. Beautiful pictures are hung on the walls and everything is tip-top. On the Diwali day, people put on rich clothes and move about in a holiday mood. People exchange greetings and gifts or sweets on this day.

At night, buildings are illuminated with earthen lamps, candle-sticks and electric bulbs. The city presents a bright and colourful sight. Sweets and toy shops are tastefully decorated to attract the passers-by. The bazaars and-streets are overcrowded. People buy sweets for their own families and also send them as presents to their friends and relatives. Children explode crackers. At night, Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, is worshiped in the form of earthen images and silver rupee. People believe that on this day, Hindu Goddess Laxmi enters only those houses which are neat and tidy. People offer prayers for their own health, wealth and prosperity. They let the light on so that Goddess Laxmi may find no difficulty in finding her way in and smile upon them.

Diwali is a big occasion for celebration and we should always play it safe. Fire crackers and fire works are a big part of Diwali celebrations. People enjoy to celebrate the Festival of Light by lighting up the sky in various colors. But, these crackers are not without disadvantages. Using fire crackers causes lots of noise and air-pollution. Some crackers are loud enough to disturb human-beings. And it can stressing to the pets as well. Take it upon you as a social responsibility to celebrate a peaceful Diwali by promoting a noiseless festival. Here are few alternative ways to celebrate Diwali.

• Placing lanterns in the garden: Colored lanterns look so magical and you can also wind a string of lights around a tree for a beautiful effect.
• Using soundless and eco-friendly: These days, it is possible to purchase soundless and eco-friendly lights that give you all of the light and color but none of the boom.
• Donate: The amount you would have otherwise invested in buying firecrackers can be instead donated for a good cause among the poor and the needy.
• Make, eat and distribute sweets: Spend more time in enjoying the other traditions of this festival like savoring the food delicacies.

Businessmen open new accounts on this day. But it is very sad that some people gamble on this day. It marks the beauty and sanctity of the festival. Off the whole, this festival is an occasion for joy, thrill and excitement.