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Diwali

Diwali (also called deepavali), the festival of lights is one of the most important Hindu festival .this is celebrated on a nation-wide scale.20 days after dussehra on amavasya- the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of kartikeya (October November). It is believed that lord Rama returned to ayodhya after 14 years of exile and after defeating king ravana. Diwali is also celebrated as narakat chaturdashi, day when the demon of darkness and dirt, narakasura, was destroyed by lord Krishna. it also marks the day when mother goddess is believed to have destroyed a demon called mahishasur.it celebrates the victory of god over .another myth links the festival with laxmi,the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. The faithful believe that on this day laxmi goes around and visits her devotees and sets up residence in the house she finds best spruced up and most hospital...

Diwali signifies different things to different people around the country. In Gujarat, the festival honors laxmi, goddess of wealth. The Jain community celebrates diwali as a new year. Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, is believed to have attained nirvana on the day of diwali. For the Gujratis, marwadis and business community, diwali marks the worship of goddess laxmi and beginning of the new financial year. Sikhs celebrate diwali to express joy at the return of their 6th Guru, Guru Hargovind Singh to Amritsar in 1620., emperor Jahangir had imprisoned him along with 52 Hindu rajas .the guru was granted freedom but he refused to leave until the rajas were also released.

Diwali is the festival of joy, merry-making and get together. Gaily-dressed men and children go to the temples and fairs, visit friends and relatives. Families exchange gifts and sweets .markets are beautifully decorated. Everybody attired in new and bright clothes captures the social mood at its happiest. This is an occasion for the young and the old, men and women, rich and poor to celebrate. In the evening laxmi puja is held and then celebrations start with lightening and firework. Houses and business establishments are illuminated by oil lamps, candles and electric lights. Fire crackers are burst. It is an occasion for spring cleaning and painting of houses. Numerous people keep the doors and windows of their homes throughout the night so that goddess laxmi may enter their premises and bring them good fortune. A ritual traditionally associated with diwali is gambling. Friends get together end indulge in games of chance, dice or cards.