India is a land of festivals. Many festivals are celebrated here with great pomp and show. Each festival has a religious or mythological significance behind it.
Diwali is one of them. It is the festival of lights. It is celebrated for several days. It falls in the month of October or early November. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus. It is also my favourite festival. It marks the victory of Rama over Ravana.
It is celebrated on the occasion of Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. Before it falls, people clean and whitewash their houses. The toy and picture shops are rearranged. Sweets are bought and distributed. Candles and crackers are sold briskly.
It is a festival for shopping. Laxmi Pooja is performed. Shop-keepers perform pooja in their shops as well as at home. People greet their relatives and friends with sweets and crackers. Shops are lighted with colourful bulbs and attract a huge crowd.
The evening is the most interesting part of the day when houses are illuminated with earthen lamps or candles. Children burst crackers. One hears the sound of bursting bombs across the city. Everyone looks happy.
Most of the people worship the goddess of wealth ‘Lakshmi’. They pray her to give them wealth. Some people start their new business from this very day.
Gambling is also common on Diwali day. Gambling is evil. Diwali gives the message of joy and happiness and not to lose money. Diwali is considered the best festival all over India.
It is called rightly the festival of lights. It gives a message of love, brotherhood and festival. The hearts of everyone should be illuminated by light like houses and shops.
