Diwali is a word that reflects the light of the soul. It is the pure eternal light that transcends the mundane world and touches the metaphysical level. On this auspicious day we celebrate the birth of this inner light, that is the soul, just as we celebrate our birth on this earth.
Since time immemorial Diwali has been teaching us the lesson of humanity and helps us to drive away the darkness of ignorance and light up in our hearts the lamp of knowledge. Even after ages, Diwali is celebrated in the same traditional manner, thereby keeping alive the ancient spirit of the festival.
Diwali or Deepavali is a Sanskrit word, which means "the row of lighted lamps". Diwali is observed on the fifteenth day of Kartika according to Hindu Calendar. Popularly known as the 'Festival of Lights', Diwali stands for the triumph of virtue over vice and imparts the message of happiness and rejuvenation of goodness to the humankind. As it is considered to be the Hindu New Year Ganesha Pujan is an important action. Lakshmi Puja too holds equal importance in Diwali celebrations.
Anyone who has been celebrating Diwali for years would know that Diwali celebration date varies year by year. Hindu Calendar works according to the Lunar Cycle, which is not the basis of Gregorian Calendar. This results in the varying dates of the festivals in Western Calendar. As per the Christian Calendar, Ashwayuja is the month around October/November.
The celebrations of Diwali stretch for over five consecutive days at the end of Hindu month of Ashwayuja. Diwali comes exactly twenty days after Dussehra as it is believed that Lord Rama took twenty days to reach Ayodhya after killing Ravana in Lanka. In between these twenty days there is a festive mood all around. After Sun sets each member of the household gets busy in preparing for the Puja celebrations. Puja rituals are then followed by bursting firecrackers. Everybody, from kids to an elderly people, take part in this activity with immense craze. With lights glowing every corner and decorations adorning houses and markets, every heart is overwhelmed with joy and enthusiasm.
