Diwali – Festival of Lights India

Official Diwali celebrations in Mysore. Photo by UrbanUrban_ru, CC-SA-2.0

Diwali, India’s biggest and most significant national holiday, is a delightful celebration of the inner light. Central to Hindu philosophy is the belief that there’s something beyond the physical body. In the deepest recesses lies the light of higher knowledge that can reveal one’s true nature – a more compassionate human being woven smoothly in the fabric of nature.

The Diwali Festival of Lights (also referred to as the Hindu New Year) is as significant to Indians as the Christmas holiday is to Christians. Today, regardless of faith, men and women in India celebrate with big family reunions, festive fireworks, and strings of endless food treats.

Homes, such as above, and buildings are decorated with festive lights for Diwali. some are simple, some elaborate, some with traditional lamps on roofs and window sides. Photo by Prabhakar Banerjee, CC-SA-3.0.

When is Diwali Celebrated?

Diwali is celebrated In October or November, depending on the cycle of the moon. Though the main days are common and fall on the same set of days across India, the Diwali festival is celebrated for a differing numbers of days by varied regions. It’s best to check online when next year’s festival week is before booking your flight to India.

Days have Special Meanings

Each day of the festival carries a special meaning. On the first day of Diwali, housewives consider it favorable to clean the house and shop for gold or kitchen utensils. On the second day, people adorn their homes with diyas (clay lamps) and create design patterns on the floor using colored powders or sand.

On 12 November 2012, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite recorded this view of the Indian subcontinent at night during the festival of Diwali. The picture is based on data collected by the VIIRS “day-night band,” which detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared.

Each autumn, Hindus around the world light lamps, candles, and firecrackers as part of a five-day festival known as Diwali. The celebration, which has roots as a harvest festival, usually falls between mid-October and mid-November. In 2012, it began on 11 November.

The picture has been brightened to make the city lights easier to distinguish. Most of the bright areas in the picture are cities and towns in India, the country with the world’s largest Hindu population. India is home to more than 1.2 billion people and has 30 cities with populations over 1 million. (For comparison, China has 62 cities with more than 1 million residents and the United States has 9). Cities in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan are also visible near the edges of the picture.

The main festivities take place on the third day while the fourth day is celebrated as New Year’s Day. On the fifth and last day, brothers and sisters get together and share food to honor the bonds that tie them.

Diwali is celebrated not only by Hindus, but also in other countries, usually for other reasons. Even in India Diwali is celebrated somewhat differently in different areas of India. However, they all spiritually mark the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.

Indian Culture Abounds

Indian culture will be on display in every street corner. Diverse stalls are set up to give you a taste of authentic Indian cuisine. Marvel at delicate hand-made Indian jewelry, traditional Henna painting and outstanding Bollywood dance performances. Try your luck in gambling as well while you’re in India during Diwali. It is believed that the goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva, and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Who knows?

Diwali as seen from Chennai’s Adyar bridge. Photo by Sriram Jagannathan, CC-SA-2.0

Day and Night Celebrations

In New Delhi, Meharch and Market Festival at Lodhi Garden offers the perfect place to shop and dine. Here, the festive mood fills the ambiance with genuine happiness. You’d even find strangers greeting you. Café Turtle in Greater Kailash will mesmerize you with traditional Indian art forms of embroidery. For that father-and-son bonding, head to Sundernagar Mela, a grand fair with lots of amusement rides and game stalls.

In Mumbai, Bollywood figures grace events with their star presence. It’s total mayhem as fans go wild. Mega Diwali Fest in the Club is expected to be one of the major events where you can shop for some mind blowing designer products.

Diwali decorations – Floors are covered with festive designs. These are called Kolam (South Indian Hindus) or Rangoli (North and West Indian Hindus). Photo by Jon Robson, CC-SA-2.0

Of course, this isn’t Diwali without the glittering lamps that light up the ‘darkness’. Wear comfortable clothes because all the candlelight makes this festival a very warm and atmospheric event. Young and old light vibrant firecrackers in the night. The fireworks going off can be very loud so prepare your ear plugs if your hearing is sensitive. Be prepared for air filled with smoke from firecrackers as well.

Diwali is a fun and honored “festival of light” and if you are fortunate to be in India at the time of celebration you will really enjoy the experience.

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Diwali Fireworks 2013

Uploaded to YouTube on Nov 4, 2013

Fireworks Show @BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir – Lilburn, GA

Dhada Diwali Deepaanni Video Song – Kajal Agarwal Hot Song

Uploaded to YouTube on Apr 22, 2012

STORY: Viswa Naga Chaitanya is a dhadar chasing beggers who attempts to buy in a supermarket and after he catches them and handovers to his brother. Later his family members are introduced. His older brother, (Srikanth), and his sister-in-law (Samiksha). Viswas meets Rhea(Kajal) who is an only daughter of wealthy business tycoon (Mukesh Rishi) who is concerned about money and growth but not about affection and love. While Viswas is trying to get attention of Rhea he will accidentally get into a quarrel with a gang who does business with human trafficking.