Diwali The Hindu Festival Of Lights Amazing Facts
Though the festival is special for Hindu kids all over the world, it is even more so for those living in India. That's because, in addition to a week's vacation from school, they also receive gifts, attend parties, eat delicious meals and best of all, get to play with fireworks.
Another traditional folklore attributes it to a goddess named Kali. According to the legend, the deity was so unhappy with the deterioration of the human society, that she made it her mission to wipe out every living creature on earth.
It was only when her husband, Lord Shiva intercepted, that she came to her senses and stopped the unnecessary slayings. Though the tales associated with the festival's origin may differ, they all have one common theme - celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
For a subsection of Hindus, Diwali also marks the end of the calendar year. On Thursday, November 12th, they will celebrate the first day of the year 2072. They are 57 years ahead of the internationally accepted Gregorian calendar because it is calculated using the shorter lunar cycles. The fifth and final day of the festival honors the bond between brothers and sisters and is celebrated with more yummy food and prayers.
There are numerous myths associated with the origin of this fun festival. Among the most popular is that the day was first celebrated to welcome back King Rama of Ayodhya, his wife Sita and brother Laksmana from a 14-year-long exile imposed by the king's mother.
The second day of the festival is known as Kali Chaudas or Narak Chaturdashi. For non-believers, it is just a day to prepare for Diwali, that falls the day after. However, many celebrate it by "cleansing" their homes of demons and bad spirits by performing some traditional rituals.
As is the case with most Asian festivals, the date is determined by the lunar calendar. Hence, it differs annually. This year's celebrations will begin in earnest on November 9th with Dhanteras. The name is derived from the words "wealth" (dhan) and "thirteenth" (teras), the day of the lunar month it falls on.
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 symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.
Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that's also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well.
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