Diwali - Deepavali

Diwali - Deepavali

Diwali known as the festival of light is the only festival that is celebrated through out India without the difference of caste creed or religion. It is accompanied by grand and glorious rituals which colors the entire panorama bright. Diwali falls in the month of akshayuja as per the north Indian calendar. Akshayuja marks the beginning of the north Indian calendar. May be the new year celebrations would have got transformed in to all these festivities or there any matter in the accompanying mythologies is any body‘s guess.

According to the most popular legend diwali marks the return of Sri Ram and Sita after spending their fourteen year penance in the jungle, when people welcomed them with lighted lamps and decorations in the streets and courtyards. The other story about Diwali is that goddess Shakti observed twenty-one days of penance to please Lord Shiva , Shiva was so pleased that he accepted her as the left part of his body. Hence Lord Shiva came to be known also as Ardha nareeswara (half-woman).

The business community of India observes this day as the accounting year and account books are opened on Diwali. They -though not always are very generous- during Diwali give extra money and presents to the workers and let them also enjoy the festival with geity. In Indian stock markets there is a special session of trading known as the Mohurat trading where traders who are very prudent also indulge in rampant speculations as a mark of celebration. Luck on Mohurat trading is believed to last through out the year.

The distribution of sweets to the neigh-bours, Buying new clothes to every members of the house, buying consumer durables etc. are done as per the financial capacities of the family; however poor the members be they use to buy and give gifts as much as they can. Because Diwali of a year is for them to store as much pleasant experiences so that they can cherish the memories till the next Diwali after all Diwali comes only once a year.

North Indian cities all wear spectacular look during Diwali where building and streets are expensively decorated with lights and decorations. People sing and dance wearing new colorful dresses. sharing jokes and good wishes. The shopping spree during Diwali is so big that money literally flows through the streets ! Good time for the traders and the business people . All sorts of product promotions are let loose flooding entire media , from small enterprises to multinationals are there with fervor offering seasonal offerings free gifts and scemes. good times to consumers “ value for their money “as the ad goes!

Happy Diwali to All.

Author: Sasi Kumar

Source: Naturemagics.com - website on Kerala Tourism

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