How to Celebrate a Safe Diwali

HOW TO CELEBRATE A SAFE DIWALI

Diwali is one of the most awaited festivals of the year and is a favorite of many old and young hearts. One loves everything about Diwali - the sweets, the gifts, house full of Diyas, the firecrackers. And, for me the best part of Diwali is that you can celebrate it for almost a week. Yes, at many places its still done in that fashion. And, its real fun.But, Diwali brings with it a lot of concerns too. Environment Concerns, Safety Concerns, Concern for Animals. When Diwali is a festival of celebration, why should such concerns be given a place. So, my message for everyone is to try and celebrate Diwali in the most fun way but with as much consideration for everything around you.The day of Diwali records more sound pollution than all the other days combined together in the year. Pets are afraid of the sounds made by the crackers on the day. The bomb sounds are deafening even for the human beings. Some naughty children do not think of anything but lighting crackers and do not care if they are on the road or if there are vehicles. There is always a danger of vehicles catching fire or the crackers harming someone else. And, the crackers release lot of harmful metals into the atmosphere and the smoke from the crackers is always choking. Well, we definitely do not want a day of celebration to bring so many evils upon us, right?

Diwali

Diwali 2012

DIWALI CELEBRATES TO VICTORY OF THE GOOD OVER THE EVIL AND LIGHT OVER DARKNESS. IS HAS A MAJOR RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE FOR HINDUS, SIKHS AND JAINS ALIKE - NOT ONLY IN INDIA, BUT ALSO FOR INDIANS LIVING ABROAD. IN THE WESTERN (GREGORIAN) CALENDAR, DIWALI FALLS ON A DAY IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER EVERY YEAR - JUST AFTER THE MONSOON SEASON IN INDIA. THE EXACT DATE VARIES AND IS BEING CALCULATED BASED ON THE HINDU LUNI-SOLAR CALENDAR (ACCORDING TO THE POSITIONS OF THE SUN AND THE MOON). THE DAY OF DIWALI FALLS ON ASHVINA AMAVASYA (THE LUNAR DAY OF NEW MOON) ON 15 ASHVIN (HINDU MONTH). THIS DATE ALSO MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE HINDU NEW YEAR, AND MANY BUSINESSES IN INDIA STARTING A NEW ACCOUNTING YEAR ON THE DIWALI HOLIDAY.

DIWALI IS A FESTIVAL OVER 5 DAYS. ON THE FIRST DAY (DHANTERAS) PEOPLE PRAY TO GODDESS LAXMI FOR PROSPERITY AND WEALTH. THE SECOND DAY (CHOTI DIWALI) IS ALSO KNOWN AS 'SMALL DIWALI', 'NARAKA CHATURDASHI' OR 'KALI CHAUDAS' IN SOME STATES. ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND, LORD KIRSHNA KILLED THE EVIL DAEMON NARAKASURA ON THIS DAY. PEOPLE WORSHIP GODDESS LAKSHMI AND LORD RAMA. THE THIRD DAY IS THE ACTUAL DAY OF DIWALI. MANY DEVOTEES VISIT THEIR TEMPLES FOR WORSHIPPING LAKSHMI, GODDESS OF BEAUTY, WEALTH AND WISDOM WITH LAXMI POOJAS AND ALSO PRAY TO GANESH, THE 'LORD OF BEGINNINGS' AND 'REMOVER OF OBSTACLES'. WHEN AARTI IS PERFORMED, OIL LAMPS WITH A COTTON WICK ARE PLACED ON A PUJA THALI AND OFFERED TO THE DEITIES, PRAISING THE DEITY BY SINGING WONDERFUL AARTI SONGS. AT NIGHT PEOPLE LIGHT UP LITTLE OIL LAMPS CALLED DIYAS, DIPA LIGHTS OR GHEE LAMPS AND PLACE THEM AROUND THEIR HOUSES. THEY HANG COLORFUL LANTERNS AND FAIRY LIGHTS, ENJOYING FIREWORK DISPLAYS OR BLASTING FIRECRACKERS. THE FORTH DAY PADWA IS 1 KARTIKA IN THE HINDU CALENDAR AND IS ALSO KNOWN AS GOVARDHAN PUJA OR ANNAKOOT. IT IS SAID THAT KRISHNA DEFEATED THE GOD OF RAIN AND THE HEAVENS INDRA ON THAT DAY. HE LIFTED MOUNT GOVARDHANA TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIFE FROM THE FLOODS. ON THIS DAY PEOPLE COOK MOUNTAINS OF FOOD RESEMBLING MOUNT GOVARDHANA. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER LEGEND FOLLOWED IN SOUTH-INDIA, VISHNU DEFEATED THE DEMON-KING BALI ON THIS DAY. FINALLY THE FIFTHS AND LAST DAY OF DIWALI IS CALLED 'BHAIDUJ' BHAI DOOJ  ALSO KNOWN AS 'YAMA DWITIYA'. THIS IS THE DAY FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. JUST LIKE YAMI PRAYED FOR HER BROTHER YAMA (GOD OF DEATH), SISTERS ARE PRAYING FOR THEIR BROTHER'S WELL-BEING ON THIS DAY, AND BROTHERS GIVE LITTLE GIFTS TO THEIR SISTERS IN RETURN.

ON DIWALI FAMILIES GATHER AND EATING LOTS OF FOODS AND SWEETS. IT IS ALSO COMMON TO SEND DIWALI GREETING CARDS TO FAMILY MEMBERS, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. RECENTLY HOWEVER IT IS BECOMING MORE POPULAR TO SEND DIWALI ECARDS OR DIWALI SMS. DIWALI MELA (FAIRS) TAKE PLACE NOT ONLY IN INDIA, BUT IN MANY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. SELLERS OF HANDICRAFT AND ARTWORKS LIKE TO RENT A BOOTH ON A DIWALI MELA TO OFFER THEIR ITEMS FOR SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND VENUES FOR THIS EVENT CAN RANGE FROM SMALL COMMUNITY HALLS TO THE SIZE OF A WHOLE STADIUM LIKE IN THE CASE OF THE DIWALI MELA 2012 IN DALLAS, TEXAS, USA IN THE COTTON BOWL STADIUM (DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012/TIME: 4PM TO MIDNIGHT) WITH APPROX. 100,000 ATTENDEES..

diwali