The Festival of Lights:

Its glow never fades

The bright lights that illuminated our beloved Motherland just yesterday as our Hindu brothers and sisters celebrated one of the biggest festivals in their Hindu calendar, Deepavali, are still aglow, spreading their brilliance and warmth everywhere.

Due to the nearly three decade ethnic conflict that dampened the spirits of the Tamil people, most Hindus celebrated this significant festival with a heavy heart over the past years... However, now that our Motherland has been freed from the jaws of terrorism, and bridges of lasting peace are now being built between the two main ethnic communities that once looked at each other with suspicion and fear, Deepavali or Diwali as it is also known, was celebrated throughout the land with great joy in a grandiose manner this year.. It is indeed one of the biggest Hindu festivals and is called the Festival of Lights (deep = light and avali = a row i.e. a row of lights) because of the many lamps that are lit on this day.

Even though it's celebrated just for a day in our country, in India and most other parts of the world it is generally marked by five days of celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance and dazzles all with its joy.

The days of celebrations in the festival are separated by a different traditions, but the essence of it all is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.

How many of you participated in the celebration of this significant festival yesterday? Didn't you think the lighting of so many lamps was simply fantastic? Perhaps the glow of these lights would embrace us all even in the coming days and dispel the darkness that kept the communities apart.

Some of you may be aware of the origin of the festival, but there may be others who are not. So, let us trace the origin and enlighten ourselves about this festival which is very significant to our Hindu brethren.

Historically, the origin of Deepavali can be traced back to ancient India. It is believed that during that time it was probably only an important harvest festival. However, there are various interesting legends surrounding the origin of this festival.

While some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu, there are others who commemorate the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile, vanquishing the demon-king Ravana on this day.

It is said that the people of Ayodhya, the capital of Rama, were so ecstatic at the return of their beloved king that they illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers in celebration.

In another part of India, in Bengal to be precise, the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the Goddess of Strength. Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshipped in most Hindu homes on this day.

As it is not only the Hindus who celebrate this festival we need to examine what it signifies to others also.

It is a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and an official holiday in India.

In Hinduism, across many parts of India and Nepal, it is the homecoming of Rama after a 14-year exile in the forest and his victory over Ravana.

In the legend, the people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows of lamps , thus its name. Over time, this word transformed into Diwali in Hindi and Deepavali in Nepali, but still retained its original form in South and East Indian languages.Accordingly in Jainism, Deepavali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the Eternal Bliss of Nirvana.

Deposal festival may be steeped in simple rituals if one were to compare them with some of the more elaborate rituals, of some other festivals, but all the simple rituals have a significance and a story to tell.

Most often when firecrackers are lit at other religious or national events, we do not pay much heed to its significance, but when it comes to lighting firecrackers on Deepavali it is a different story.

The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an expression of obeisance to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity.

It is believed by some that the sound of firecrackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on Earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state.

In each legend, myth and story of Deepavali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepavali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.

From darkness unto light, the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity.

During Deepavali, lights illuminate everywhere and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of firecrackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Especially for a peaceful Motherland now that the war is fading into just a horrible memory.

Earthen lamps may have been replaced with stunning electric illuminations, dress code may have changed, but the custom and tradition of performing puja has been carried very well through generations.

People wake up at the crack of dawn to conduct the customary pujas. Dressed in brilliant silks and glittering gold jewelry families gather and light crackers to usher in the great evening. After a session of bursting crackers, its time to visit friends and relatives. Armed with sweets and savouries people meet their near and dear ones.

Even today, Deepavali is such a wonderful festival, a time of giving and sharing, a time to catch up with people, in other words its time to catch up with the little joys that we keep overlooking for the remaining part of the year.

Five days of Deepavali

Deepavali is a festival of joy, splendour, brightness and happiness. It is the festival of lights and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Hindus all over the world.In most parts of the world, especially in India it is a festival that spreads over five days. In Our country however, people generally celebrate only for day... And this year Deepavali fell on October 17.

The uniqueness of this festival is its harmony of five varied philosophies, with each day to a special thought or ideal. People celebrate each of its five days of festivities with true understanding, in the belief that it will uplift and enrich the lives.

The first day : Dhanteras

The second day: Choti Diwali

The third day : Lakshmi Puja on Diwali

The fourth day : Padwa and Govardhan Puja

The fifth day : Bhai Duj

Fast facts:

* Deepavali is a festival where people from all age groups participate.giving expression to their happiness by lighting earthen 'diyas' (lamps), decorating the houses, bursting firecrackers and inviting near and dear ones to their households for partaking in a sumptuous feast.

The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valour and fame..

* On Deepavali night, little clay lamps are lit in Hindus homes, but nowadays colored electric lamps are also used. To Hindus, darkness represents ignorance, and light is a metaphor for knowledge. Therefore, lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction, through knowledge, of all negative forces- wickedness, violence, lust, anger, envy, greed, bigotry, fear, injustice, oppression and suffering, etc

*According to the Hindu calendar, the five day festival is centered on the new moon day that ends the month of Ashwin and begins the month of Kartika, beginning on the 13th day of the dark half of Ashwin (Ashwin 28th) and ending on the 2nd day of the bright half of Kartika (Kartika 2nd). The main day of celebration varies regionally.

* In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment of Nirvana by Mahavira on 15 October, 527 BC.

* In India and Nepal, Diwali is now considered to be a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians and Nepalese regardless of faith.

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Significance of kolam

Most of you must be familiar with the beautiful kolam designs drawn by our Hindu friends during various festivals and special occasions such as weddings.At Deepavali too Hindus draw kolam, so let's check out what they signify...

Kolam which means "beauty" are floor drawings made of coloured flour and are used for ornamental or ceremonial design during festivities. In Northern India it is known as rangoli.This tradition is believed to have originated about five millennium ago in India , during the pre-Aryan period. The kolam has a dual function - both religious and ornamental. In Hindu philosophy, the principle of dharma states that one should be of service to all, humans and animals alike.

Traditionally, various motifs were drawn on the floor to feed insects with the design made out of edible (that which can be eaten) grains and the dyes from vegetable colouring. This act of charity has been recommended in Hindu scriptures.

The kolam is also drawn to welcome Laksmi, the Goddess of Prosperity into the home.

Its secondary purpose is to add aesthetic value to the Hindu home and are traditionally drawn in front of the home and may be small in size compared to those drawn in public places..They are also drawn on the floor in front of deities in pooja rooms. Various intricate designs are drawn by the people, but the simplest form of the kolam is called the pulli kolam or "dotted kolam".

Dots of rice flour are placed in a grid-like framework, which are then joined to take the form of a symmetrical shapes or a regular polygon.

The kolam is usually done by women, as it was the responsibility of the women to maintain her household. In India, girls are trained to create the kolam from their young age - as young as six years.

Besides geometrical shapes, the kolam incorporates natural motifs like animals, fruits, flowers, and conches. Colours are bright and co-ordinated with a touch of intricate trimmings added to kolams. Not only rice flour, other ingredients such as rice flour flowers, beads, grains lentils, shells, tinsel, salt, saw-dust, fruits and vegetables are also used.There are also tools to help women create their kolam, although the measure of a master is when the kolam is done free-hand. Today, the availability of tools to create the basic shapes have reduced the artistry of kolam drawing.

Facts and pix: Internet