Festival of lights: Diwali

Diwali is an important event in the Hindu religious calendar —as significant as Christmas for Christians. The five-day Festival of Lights is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world. It celebrates the victory of hope over despair, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil.

Diwali marks different historical events for each religion. Hindus celebrate the return of the gods Rama and Sita after exile, and the destruction of the demon Mahisha by Mother goddess Durga. Jains commemorate the moment their founder, Lord Mahavira, reached nirvana, a state of eternal bliss. Sikhs honour the day that Guru Hargobind Ji was freed from imprisonment.

LIGHTING THE LAMPS

For all religions that celebrate Diwali, however, it symbolises the triumph of light over darkness. The name ‘Diwali’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘deepavali’, which means ‘row of lighted lamps’. This is because people light rows of diyas, small oil lamps, at home, on the streets, in temples and afloat on rivers. It is a beautiful sight.

GOOD LUCK

There are also many other traditions to celebrate Diwali. Floors are covered with rangoli, colourful designs made of rice, sand or flower petals. Doors and windows are opened so that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, can enter to bless the occupants.

Some people gamble to attract good luck for the year ahead. By playing card games, they commemorate the contests between the gods Shiva and Parvati. In honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins.

SPECIAL DAYS

Each of the five days has its own observances. On the first day, called Dhanteras, people clean their homes and buy small, gold items to bring good fortune. The second day, called Narak Chaturdashi, is dedicated to prayers for ancestors. Diyas are lit and floors decorated with rangoli. The third day, known as Lakshmi Puja or Diwali Puja (puja means ‘prayer’), is the main day of the festival. Families gather to pray to Lakshmi, followed by feasts and firework firework displays. The fourth day, called Goverdhan Puja, celebrates Lord Krishna’s defeat of the god king Indra. People visit friends and families with gifts. It is also the start of the new year in the Hindu calendar, so business people perform religious ceremonies and open new account account books.

HONOURING the family

The fifth day, called Bhai Dooj, celebrates the bond between siblings. Brothers bring gifts to their sisters, and sisters pray for their brothers to have long and happy lives.

Diwali in Leicester

Leicester, in the East Midlands, hosts the biggest celebrations of Diwali outside of India, with thousands of lights decorating the city’s ‘Golden Mile’. The city has a large Asian community. Many Hindu and Sikh people moved there in the 1950s and 1960s. A decade later, many Asian people expelled from Uganda also came to Leicester. Diwali was celebrated in their homes at first. As the community grew, the council, community workers and residents decided to display Diwali lights in the city. The first public lights were lit in 1983. By the 1990s, Diwali became a major festival that attracted people from all over the country. Today, some 6,500 lights are lit and fifty events held, including music, dance and, of course, a spectacular fireworks show.