Why diwali

Govardhan Puja is observed on the fourth day of the five-days-long Diwali festival to honor of Lord Krishna and the festivities of Diwali culminate with Bhai-Dooj, the day where a brother-sister bond is celebrated. The prime minister said this while addressing soldiers on the occasion of Diwali at Nowshera sector in the border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

On this special day, families worship Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth. Devotees believe that if they perform the special puja they will be blessed with health, wealth, and prosperity.

They exchange gifts and complete the day by eating delicious food. Firstpost Conversations 9 Months S. Home India News Diwali Here's all you need to know about why Diwali is considered to be the festival of lights. Representational image: Pixabay. Significance of lights on this festival: Diwali is the symbol of the victory of good over evil, of hope over despair and of knowledge over ignorance.

In one of the main stories in Hindu mythology, Diwali is the day Lord Rama, his wife Sita Devi and brother Lakshmana return to their homeland after 14 years in exile. The villagers lit a path for Rama, who had defeated the demon king Ravana. Reenactments of this story are part of celebrations in some regions. Another Diwali story in Hindu mythology is that Diwali marks the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura and freed the people of his kingdom. After he slayed the demon, Lord Krishna declared it a day of festivities.

In some parts of India, people burn effigies of the demon kings in both stories as part of the celebration. People also celebrate the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali. In other cultures, Diwali coincides with harvest and new year celebrations. Households across India celebrate by decorating their space with small lamps called diyas and other colourful lights. People cover streets and buildings in festive lighting and there are lively songs and dance.

Dazzling fireworks go off, creating a spectacle of noise and light. This helps to scare away evil spirits and celebrate the victory of good over evil. Many people clean, renovate, decorate their homes and buy new clothes in preparation for the upcoming year. Diwali is also a time to settle debts and make peace. According to another popular belief, Diwali may have originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year before winter.

In western states such as Gujarat and some northern Hindu communities of India, the festival of Diwali signifies the start of a new year. Visit www. Follow us on :. Saumya Agrawal. Updated Nov 11, IST.

We don't celebrate Diwali just to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. Here are 11 other reasons why the festival of lights is celebrated:. Unsung achievers of India get recognition. What problems do they face? The Urban Debate. What does the future hold for cryptocurrency? Dani Alves to return to Barcelona under new coach Xavi Hernandez.