| Diwali
Beliefs And Practice |
Diwali
or more aptly Deepavali is very enthusiastically
celebrated for five continuous days and each day has its
significance with a number of myths, legends and beliefs.
The First day is called DHANTERAS or DHANTRAYODASHI which
falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Kartik. The
word "Dhan" means wealth. As such this day of
the five-day Diwali festival has a great importance for
the rich mercantile community of Western India. Houses and
Business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances
are made colourful with lovely traditional motifs of
Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of wealth and
prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small
footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder
all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through
the nights. Believing this day to be auspicious women
purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new
utensils. "Lakshmi-Puja" is performed in the
evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away
the shadows of evil spirits. "Bhajans"-devotional
songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and "Naivedya"
of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is
a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry
coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya.
Click
Here To Read More... |
|
|
