Deepavali

One of the two most famous Indian Festivals, Diwali or Deepavali is celebrated throughout India with a great fervor and enthusiasm. The name itself mean 'rows of lighted lamps'. Diwali celebration includes decorating homes by making 'rangoli' patterns, hanging mango leaves on the doors and lighting small oil lamps or 'diyas' and placing them in temples, courtyards, verandahs, roof-tops, all the rooms of the house including the kitchen and the bathrooms. Urban people often replace 'diyas' with candles to place on roof tops and outer walls as they last longer or now-a-days with colorful bulbs and neon lights. On this day, people worship Lord Ganesha, the foremost of all Hindu Gods and Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. People exchange sweets and gifts and celebrate with beautiful fireworks.

There are many legends attached to Diwali, the most popular being the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom of Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and defeating Ravana, the domineering and powerful demon king. In Bengal, the celebration is associated with the worship of Goddess Kali. People wear new clothes on this day and it indicates the beginning of the sowing season for the farmers. Joy and festivity reins every corner of the nation during the Diwali season. The festival actually is five-day long. It usually comes is October or November. People clean their homes on this day and re-paint them. For traditional Hindu businessmen, Deepavali marks the end of the financial year. In Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the new business year begins on this day. It is best time to start new ventures and symbolic auspicious business deals are done to mark the prosperity in business for the coming year.