Diwali- significance of diyas, rangolis, lanterns and sweets

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Diwali- the festival of light- that lights up not just diyas but our hearts and souls. It's the day we celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Even though Diwali is known to be a religious festival of Hindus, over centuries, it has become one of the biggest national holidays which unites everyone despite their religion, and social and economic background.

There are several legends behind the celebration of Diwali, among which the most famous story is of Ramayana. According to the epic, Diwali commemorated the victorious return of Lord Rama from Lanka after the war with Ravana. For Sikhs, Diwali is the occasion on which their guru Hargobind was released after 12 years of imprisonment by the Mughal emperor Jahangir. For Jains, Diwali is the day on which their last Tirthankara attained nirvana. For Buddhists, it was the day the Mauryan emperor, Ashoka the Great, converted to Buddhism. Similarly in south India, the festival commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over Narakasura.

Many traditions have been followed for several centuries, which all have some deeper meaning than what seems at the surface.

The name arises from "Deepavali" which means row of lights and it is because this festival's trademark is lit-up clay lamps and bright lanterns.

Bright earthen oil lamps and dazzling lights illuminate homes and streets across the country to mark this special occasion. This tradition has its roots in the story Ramayana. When Rama returned at night, the villagers had lit up lamps to guide them to the palace. The lit-up diyas symbolize the triumph of light over spiritual darkness and encourage us to hunt for the good in ourselves.

Stunning and colourful lanterns, called akash kandeel, are another addition to the festivities. They can be of various sizes, colours and designs and they add to the beauty of the auspicious day. These lanterns also symbolise the power of knowledge and that light can lead us towards the good in life.

The complex-looking, ornate floor art that makes it difficult for us to take our eyes off of it- Rangolis- is a vital part of the Diwali festivities. Rangolis are made to welcome the goddess of prosperity and luck, Goddess Lakshmi, to our houses. It is said that the complex designs are made so that the negativity from the outside gets entangled in the designs of a rangoli and does not enter the house. Also, the stunning and bright colours remind us to be optimistic about life. Rangolis are also a way to get the children of the house involved with the festivities apart from bursting firecrackers and eating sweets.
Sweets- mithai- as they are called - are typical Indian culinary desserts made from flour, milk, ghee, sugar, rose water, and nuts. These include laddus, barfi, rasgulla, gulab jamuns, jalebis and countless others. In India, it's not a celebration without sweets. Sweets are believed to be a 'gateway to god'. They are seen as a token of love and joy which are to be shared with all. It is believed that if you have sweets on a special occasion, your future will be just as sweet.

Diwali has a charm, radiance and grandeur that illuminates us with knowledge and righteousness. It’s a day that brings a light of joy to everyone’s life and soul.