Get ready for Diwali
Get to know why Diwali is celebrated and its significance in society.
· Diwali is the beginning of the Hindu New Year with a great deal of build up to the Diwali celebrations where most families will take the time to clean houses before decorating them with twinkling lights and lanterns.
Why is it called the festival of lights?
· Diwali’s name comes from the Sanskrit deepavali, “row of lights.” According to tradition, Diwali celebrates the joyous homecoming of Lord Rama, hero of the epic poem the Ramayana, after 14 years of exile. When Lord Rama and his wife Sita returned to rule their country, their people lit the way with small oil lamps called diyas.
What is a common Diwali custom?
· There is the typical practice of lighting small oil lamps (called diyas) and distributing them around the home, gardens and walls.
