Diwali
"The Festival of Lights"
What is Diwali and Who Celebrates it?
How do the Hindus Interpret Diwali?
The Hindus Five Days of Diwali
Day Two: On the second day of Diwali, the Hindus are supposed to take it easy and just bathe and rest for the day. They do not light Yama Deeya, and massage their body with oil instead. They do this to relieve tiredness and stress.
Day Three: On the third day, Hindus bathe and then join with their families and their Pandit (priest). Everyone gathers together to worship the goddess Lakshmi and to achieve the blessings of wealth and prosperity, light over darkness, and the triumph of good over evil.
Day Four: On the fourth day of Diwali, the Hindus worship Gorardhan by performing Govardhan. They do this because thousands of years ago, Lord Krishna ordered the people of Vraja to perform Govardhan Pooja. Since then, Hindus perform it in honor of the first Pooja done by the people of Vraja.
Day Five: Day five of Diwali marks the end of the five day celebration. Brothers usually go to visit their sisters for welfare, while sisters pray for their brothers safety , success, and well being.
Did You Know..?
- Did you know that Diwali is celebrated in over eleven countries?
- Did you know that Diwali is the largest and most famous holiday celebrated in India?
- Did you know that Diwali marks the end of harvest season and the onset of winter for the farmers? And that it marks the beginning of the new financial year for businesses?
Bibliography
Diwali. Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India.
http://www.diwalifestival.org/five-days-of-diwali.html
National Geographic Kids. Reenita Malhotra Hora. 1996-2013
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/diwali/
"Diwali." Compton's by Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
<http://school.eb.com/all/comptons/article-9321568