What is Diwali and How is it Celebrated in India?

In India, with its 5000-year-old complex history, which ranks second in the world in terms of population, lives a multinational people. On the Indian subcontinent, the religious systems of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism originated. Followers of these religions make up over 80% of the total population. For them, Diwali is the main Indian holiday .

Traditions and Significance of Diwali

Having a deep religious and symbolic meaning, Diwali - the “Festival of Lights”, marks the victory of the forces of light, creation, and knowledge over chaos, destruction, and ignorance. In the country’s fundamental religious directions, true wisdom and light are understood as following orthodox canons, while ignorance - apostasy, personifies darkness. Other important reasons for the holiday are the end of the harvest and the onset of the New Year.

Indians put on new clothes, clean their houses, decorate the entrance with flower garlands, and place lamps at the doors. In addition to physical purity, spiritual purity is required, renunciation of vices and passions. Lust, greed, anger, egocentrism, excessive love for the pleasures of the material world are inappropriate these days. Meditation is performed to harmonize all levels of consciousness. Each day of the celebration has its own history, specific ritual, and traditions.

Day 1

God Dhanvantari, born from the ocean, brought Ayurveda knowledge to people. After performing ablutions at sunset, Hindus offer a burning lamp and prasad (sacred food for offering) to Yama Raja, the deity personifying Death, with a request to extend their existence. Residents throw old things out of the house, buy jewelry and dishes, puffed rice, and sugar figurines - an indispensable attribute of the festive ceremony.

Day 2

Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura, freeing the world from terror. Participants of the holiday do a relaxing oil massage of the body, bathe, and rest, gaining energy for the celebration. They begin launching firecrackers.

Day 3

The culmination of the holiday. They pay homage to the Goddess of wealth and happiness Lakshmi. Lamps light her way and attract her to the dwelling. Bells ring and drums beat in the temples, in the afternoon the time for fireworks comes.

Day 4

Krishna created the hill Govardhan Parvat to protect people from the wrath of Indra. The ministers of the sanctuaries wash the deities in milk and dress them in sparkling clothes with precious jewelry, offer ritual sweets, and then offer them to visitors.

Day 5

The final day of the celebrations is dedicated to the sibling relationship between sisters and brothers. Brothers give gifts and congratulate their sisters, who pray for their brothers and treat them to festive food. Everyone can see and participate in Diwali these days, not necessarily in India, but also in numerous Hindu and Buddhist communities established in several countries.

Differences in Diwali Celebrations in Different States

There are differences in the celebration of Diwali in each state of the country.

1. In the Western provinces, trading communities begin a new financial year. Festive illumination at night floods the surroundings of shops with light. Traditionally, during this period, fleets of ships loaded with goods set sail overseas.
2. In most states of the country, milk with coins is offered to Vishnu’s wife - Lakshmi, the Goddess of happiness; at night, doors and windows are opened so that she does not pass by the dwelling.
3. In the southern states, they recall Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, who sowed chaos. Hindus lubricate their bodies with coconut oil, symbolically cleansing themselves of sinful actions. The rite is comparable in strength to a sacred immersion in the Ganges.
4. In Bengal, where the main temple of Kalighata (in English, Calcutta) is located, and in a number of eastern states, a ritual is performed for Kali - the Goddess, personifying the power of eternal time, the destructive aspect of the creator Shiva. For ten days, adepts pray to a sacred object depicting the Deity, after which the believers drink a sacred drink (wine or water) and immerse the shrine in a reservoir.
5. In the north, Muslims celebrate the appearance of Lakshmi with festive fire, playing cards and dice. Goddess Parvati, playing with her husband, promised: “Whoever plays for money on Diwali night will be lucky all year”.
   Rituals have a deep meaning. A house illuminated with bright light means the presence of light in the soul. Burning lamps - a thinking being, carrying within itself the basic primary elements - air, fire, earth, water, and the universal ether. The manifestation of fire is the soul, and the fuel is spiritual food.
   Knowing the traditions of folk festivals, you can better understand the country and the people living in it. The Diwali festival in India is accompanied by folk festivities, general fun, songs and dances, salutes, the launch of firecrackers and fireworks lasting until morning. No one is left hungry or deprived of attention. Streets and temples, hung with luminous garlands, turn into spectacular installations, turning night into day. After all, where there is light, there is no evil!