Diwali is a festival of lights. It is one of the biggest and grandest festivals celebrated mainly in India. Diwali is a festival commemorated to mark joy, victory and harmony. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, falls during the month of October or November. It is celebrated after 20 days of the Dussehra festival. The word ‘Deepavali’ is a Hindi word which means an array of lamps (‘Deep’ means earthen lamps and ‘Avali’ means a queue or an array).

Diwali is celebrated in the honour of Lord Ramchandra. As per Hindu mythology, it is believed that on this day Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. During this exile period, he fought with demons and the demon king Ravana who was the powerful ruler of Lanka. On Rama’s return, people of Ayodhya lit diyas to welcome him and celebrate his victory. Since then, Diwali is celebrated to declare the victory of good over evil.
People also worship goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on the eve of Diwali. Lord Ganesha, known as a demolisher of obstacles, is worshipped for wisdom and intellect. Also, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on the occasion of Diwali for wealth and prosperity. Diwali puja is said to evoke the blessings of these deities.
The preparation for the festival commences many days prior to the festival. It starts with the thorough cleaning of houses and shops. Many people also discard all the old household items and get all the renovation work done before the onset of the festival. It is an old belief that Goddess Lakshmi visits people’s houses on Diwali night to bless them. Hence, all the devotees clean and decorate their houses with fairy lights, flowers, rangoli, candles, diyas, garlands etc. for the festival. The festival is usually celebrated for three days. The first day is called Dhanteras on which there is a tradition to buy new items, especially ornaments. The next days are to celebrate Diwali when people burst crackers and adorn their houses. There is also a custom to visit your friends and families and exchange gifts. Lots of sweets and Indian specialities are prepared on this occasion.
Diwali is a festival enjoyed by everyone. Amid all the festivities, we tend to forget that bursting crackers lead to noise and air pollution. It can be very dangerous for kids and can even cause fatal burns. Bursting crackers reduces air-quality index and visibility at many places which are responsible for accidents that are often reported after the festival. Hence, it is important to have safe and eco-friendly Diwali.
Diwali is a festival enjoyed by everyone. Amid all the festivities, we tend to forget that bursting crackers lead to noise and air pollution. It can be very dangerous for kids and can even cause fatal burns. Bursting crackers reduces air-quality index and visibility at many places which are responsible for accidents that are often reported after the festival. Hence, it is important to have safe and eco-friendly Diwali.