Festivals and Fairs in India: Diwali
Add a Comment
Festivals and Fairs in India: Diwali
Monday, December 25, 2006
As with other Indian festivals Diwali has many legends and religious accounts to it. Celebrated 20 days after Dusherra, on the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin (October-November), Diwali in northern India signifies the home coming of the legendary figure Ram after defeating the evil Ravana and his coronation as king. In Gujarat and in parts of northern and southern India, the festival honors Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. Houses and business places are renovated and decorated, entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the goddess.
Festivals and Fairs in India
* Religious ceremony that celebrates good over evil
* Festival of lights
* Houses are decorated with colorful motifs and designs
The ceremony of Diwali begins with the invocation of Lord Ganesha, who is considered as the God who clears all obstacles.
To the eastern part of the country, in Bengal the festival is associated with Kali, the fearful and ferocious form of the mother goddess Durga. Kali Puja is an intense invocation to the fearsome goddess, to seek help for destroying evil - both in the outside world and the world within us.
It is also said that Diwali signifies a harvest festival, as it coincides the end of a cropping season, when farmers offer prayers and express their gratitude to the Almighty for the bounty they received.
Regardless of the many explanations, the festival of lights really stands as a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship, a new beginning of life cleared of all vices and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple yet not so simple joys of life.
Learn More:
Contact us to create your private, guided Indian safari.
Family Philanthropic Adventures
Raising Philanthropists
My First Philanthropic Travel Experience
Nobel Peace Prize for Micro Credit Pioneer
Why are they so Happy?
by: David, Exquisite Safaris
Philanthropic Travel: Enlightened Experiences
The Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel experience integrates indigenous local culture into every personalized experience we recommend. These personal introductions create authentic cross cultural friendships that generate trust, respect, and generous donations funding philanthropic travel projects worldwide.
Comments