Favourite festival Diwali (dipawali)

     

Festival of lights

              ESSAY ON DIWALI FESTIVAL
         As we know that DIWALI is a festival of lights. Many people come together to celebrate this festival. The religious significance of the festival goes back to the day when Rama returned to Ayodhya after being in exile for fourteen years. He returned after slaying Ravana, the evil king of  demons, who had kept Rama and Sita his wife, and his brother Lakshman captive. In South India it is believed that Lord Krishna killed the evil Narkasura and brought peace on earth.

            The tradition of lighting up the house with diyas or candles and today even electric bulbs goes back to this when the whole of Ayodhya was lit up to welcome Rama,Sita and Lakshman. Hence Diwali is known as the festival of lights.

            Diwali has no fixed date and is celebrated in the month of October or November and it heralds the winter.

            Preparation for Diwali begins well in advance with the whitewashing of the house, the cleaning and scrubbing of floors and giving the house the annual spring cleaning. Gifts are bought to give to relatives and friends and there are boom sales of sweets and dried fruits. Large sums of money are spent on buying crackers as this is part and parcel of this festival.

            The night is eagerly awaited, especially by children who wait to burst their crackers and fireworks which light up the skies practically the whole night.

            Diwali lights up not only homes, but hearts as well, because it is at this time that near and dear ones exchange sweets, gifts and more importantly, love!