CELEBRATE DIWALI LIGHTS NOW

DIWALI

A most beautiful time of year is approaching. Each autumn, stunning firework displays, brilliant rows of lamps, and gleaming electric lights, light up the nights of Diwali, the holiday known as the “Festival of Lights.”

Homes, business, and public spaces are decoratively lit for this five-day celebration.

Diwali is India’s biggest and brightest national holiday. It is also celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs in Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries.

The holiday coincides with the new moon of the Hindu New Year. This year, Diwali takes place from October 17-21.

Diwali, also called Dipawali, or Deepavali, gets its name from the “avali” or gleaming rows of “diyas” or clay lamps that are traditionally lit outside of homes.

The most widely-accepted history of Diwali tells the 15th century BC story of Lord Rama and his wife Sita who finally defeat the demon king Ravanna after 14 years of exile and return to their kingdom. The epic battle symbolizes the victory of good over evil, a major theme of the holiday.

As the legend goes, when Lord Rama returned to his homeland, the entire city was lit with thousands of oil lamps and decorated with beautiful “rangolis” - exquisite designs made of colored rice, powder, sand or flour. Replicas of these gorgeous decorations are displayed during modern day Diwali celebrations.

Today, contemporary artists display modern light art in celebration of Diwali. Captured in photos that we can admire long after Diwali is over, these light sculptures are fascinating interpretations of the beauty of light.

Diwali is also a celebration of the last harvest before winter. In the ancient Indian agricultural society, people would seek the divine blessing of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, as they completed their harvest and prayed for success in the new year. Today, homes radiant with diyas are meant to welcome Lakshmi and her blessings.

On the first day of Diwali, known as “Dhanteras,” families clean and prepare their homes and businesses. The second day, known as “Choti Diwali,” is the time to decorate houses with diyas and rangolis. Rangolis are usually created on the floor of the entrance to the home, and may include colorful flower petals.

The third day of Diwali is when the Lakshmi Puja, a demonstration of worship to the goddess Lakshmi and the central ritual of the holiday, occurs. When the Lakshmi Puja is over, beautiful fireworks are set off to symbolize the joy of Rama’s return.

The fourth day of Diwali, known as “Govardhan Puja,” is the first day of the new financial year.

The fifth day, known as “Bhai Dooj,” is when the “Bhaiyadooj,” or Feast of Brothers, is observed. Sisters invite their brothers to a meal where delicious food and traditional sweets are prepared.

In the United States, Diwali is celebrated in over 100 communities. A Diwali celebration is held annually at Times Square, drawing tens of thousands of people. Diwali festivities will be featured in Disney’s Festival of the Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California from November 10 through January 7. The festival will include traditional Indian dance performances and a Bollywood dance party.

Diwali will also be celebrated in San Antonio on November 4 at La Villita, a historic arts village. The event draws more than 15,000 people each year and will feature Indian dance, food, fireworks and lighted candles along the city’s River Walk.

As you can see, there are plenty of places to celebrate the beauty of Diwali. Get out there and shine your light!

Read more about Autumn Gatherings in Most Beautiful Films at Woodstock Film Festival and More Beautiful Woodstock Film Festival Films.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly BN Newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr. Join our BeautifulNow Community and connect with the most beautiful things happening in the world right now!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Contest. We run new creative contest every week! Now, it’s even easier to enter with the new BeautifulNow App!

Plus check out the rest of our App’s beautiful features. It’s free to download here.

IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Jayashree B. “Diwali.”
2. Image: by Khokarahman. “Diwali Festival.” India.
3. Image: by Jayashree B. “Diwali.”
4. Image: by Paul Carvill. “Diwali lanterns floating in Trafalgar Square.” London, UK.
5. Image: by Arun Inapakolia. Diwali celebration. India.
6. Image: by Kartikeya Kaul. “Diwali. My sister lighting the diya’s around the rangoli on the day of Diwali.”
7. Image: by Prabhakar Banerjee. Diwali lights. India.
8. Image: by SEN. “Diwali.”
9. Image: by David Davies. “Happy Diwali.”
10. Image: by Glenna Barlow. “Tangles of lights.” Mumbai, India.
11. Image: by Ashwin Kumar. “Diwali.” Chennai, India.
12. Image: by BN App - Download now!
13. Image: by Brahma Kumaris. “Dilwali Celebration in Brahmakumaris Shantivan.” Shantivan, India