DIWALI BLOG
India is a country where every other day is a festival, all round the year people from all ethnicities celebrate some or the other festival and Why Not !!
With 1.3 billion people, India is a sizable and extremely diversified country. Diwali is One of the few festivals that is celebrated throughout all of India, regardless of the state where the celebrant resides or the religion to which they belong, is Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights.
Since there are believed to be 55 million Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism, Diwali has a long history that goes back to when the Gods were still present on Earth. Getting back to the point, let me tell you about Diwali and the myths and legends associated with it. Some of these are historically accurate, while others have been passed down through generations since our great-grandparents were young.
Diwali: Stories and Their Relevance for the Celebration.
All of us have heard the Ramayana story from our parents since we were young children,
and the tradition will continue because it teaches us that good will always triumph over evil and that the morning will always be bright when the sun rises. Lord Rama spent 14 years in exile before returning to Ayodhya, where the kingdom was lit with 1000 Diyas. It is said that every year during Diwali, Ayodhya vasis light up 1000 Diyas.
The Diwali celebration in South India has completely different mythology; it is stated that Lord Krishna vanquished the demonic Narakasura and established peace throughout the land. Narakasura asked Mother Earth to honour his passing each year with lights and colours after lamenting his deeds in his final moments. And we light Diyas and burn crackers every year as a result of his wish.
Would you believe me if I told you that Lakshmi Ji occasionally wanders the planet? You read it correctly. It is believed that on Diwali, the Hindu goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, reportedly roams the Earth and bestows people with money and happiness. As a result, Diwali is distinguished by colourful decorations, new garments, and showy displays of colours and lights.
Another widely held belief in Jainism is that Lord Mahavira, the final of the 24 Tirthankaras (Great Teachers), attained “Nirvana” on this day.
One of the more recent traditions surrounding Diwali is found in Sikhism, despite the fact that most Diwali customs are hundreds of years old. Sikhs believe that Guru Hargobind Ji, along with numerous other Hindu rulers, was freed from the Mughal ruler Jahangir’s captivity in Gwalior, which is why they happily celebrate this day.
Did you know that Indian culture is so varied?
Along with a lot of Diwali lights and Diyas, Indians explode crackers, which at times are noisy and pollute the air, which is why in four states throughout India, bursting crackers was outlawed. For some people, it’s reasonably acceptable, but for a significant part of people, Diwali means bursting a lot of crackers, and the government prohibiting crackers has wounded the sensibilities of a lot of people.
After the Chinese Crackers entered the Indian Market, the Indian Crackers Industry suffered as a result of their lower prices, and they began to lose money. As a result, many politicians questioned the Central Government about what they were doing to address this issue, and GREEN CRACKERS came into being in the Indian Market, but the question was affordability, as it was more expensive than the Chinese Crackers, and the rest is history!
So, crackers have been outlawed in four states, and the National Capital Delhi has banned them till January 2023, which also implies “No crackers on New Year’s”? Maybe ! Although fireworks are prohibited, we may still celebrate Diwali in 2022 like we did last year!
The question that follows is: How can we celebrate a green Diwali? Is it even conceivable? What other options are there besides purchasing Green Crackers?
When you think of Diwali, what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you’re wondering how to make this Diwali more environmentally friendly, consider that the word “Diwali” is derived from the word “Dipa,” and as Diwali is a festival of lights, there’s no need to use electricity when you can light Diyas instead. Diwali wouldn’t be the same without gifts, but presents wrapped in plastic packaging are bad for the environment. Instead, use paper to wrap your presents.
Nowadays, toxic chemicals are used in rangoli; instead, flowers can be used to provide colour to your home. Do something different and kind for Diwali this year by giving clothes or sweets to the less fortunate. It’s time to become the Diya of Someone’s Life and brighten their special day by contributing to environmental and charitable causes.
