The Festival of Lights - Diwali
Since the past week India has been joyous, gearing up with escalating enthusiasm to celebrate the festival of Diwali with much fanfare. People in India have tradition, history and mythology attached to this festival which is welcomed with warmth and excitement every autumn. Diwali is the biggest festival celebrated in india for about 5 days, each day having a wonderful story of heroism to go with.
The kids engross themselves in bursting firecrackers while the girls occupy themselves with `Rangolis` and `Diyas`. `Diyas` have a special purpose in Diwali celebrations as they indicate the radiance of happiness. The mothers, aunts and grannies get together to cook for the family a treat of lip-smacking festive food. Gifts and wishes and are distributed among friends and families.
Diwali is the time when the entire family, distant cousins and friends get together to burst firecrackers and binge on sweets. Diwali witnesses spectacular illumination on a no-moon day with diyas, lanterns and fire-crackers adorning the festive sky. It is a happy ocassion, a festival of joy where houses are decorated and people dressed in their best to perform a special `Puja` to welcome the Goddess of Wealth into their homes.
Diwali is the festival associated with prosperity and hence playing cards and shopping during diwali has a special purpose. The motive behind the tradition of exchanging Diwali Gifts is to accentuate the feeling of love and brotherhood in the society. Through gifts people convey their respect, good wishes, blessings, love and appreciation for a person and his family. Shoppers revel in this festival and shopping malls do brisk business during this time of the year.
Diwali indicates the return of mythic King Lord Rama to his kingdom Ayodhya from exile. In some parts of the country it indicates the Harvest festival as each harvest is associated with prosperity. The first day is celebrated as `Dhanteras` where grains are worshipped and gold and silver is bought, the second day is `Narak-chaturthi` where an early dawn bath with `uptan` is stressed upon. The third day is the most important day of this festival and `Laxmi-puja` is performed, to worship the the Goddess of Wealth. The fourth day is `Padwa` which is the commencement of a New Year and the final or the last day is `Bhai-dhuj` which glorifies the bond between a brother and a sister.
Diwali is also called as `Deepawali`, it literally means `Rows of Light` in Sanskrit. It is celebrated on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. It symbolizes the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness.
Schools and colleges are granted a 3-weeks long vacation for this festival and offices are granted atleast a few days of holiday. It is a festival which celebrates love and brotherhood among people. This festival is a renewal in hope for success, prosperity and happiness in life. Indians believe there is one main moral to this festival: Good always wins over evil.
-Isha.
29/oct/08
※本人による日本語訳
光の祭り「ディワリ」先週からインドでディワリという祭りがあり興奮がいっぱいあります。インドの人々はディワリに伝統,歴史と神話を関連付けています。ディワリは秋の祭りで、と5日ぐらい続きます。
子どもたちは花火をして女の子はランゴリ（床絵）やディヤ（インドの伝統的なランプ）といろいろなお菓子を作ります。家族にプレゼントをあげてみんな楽しいです。
ディワリのとき家族のみんなは一緒に花火をしておいしい食べ物を食べます。月が無い日の夜に花火は空をi照らします。人々の家で提灯もあります。この祭りのときは、みんな新しい洋服で祝います。また、プジャと呼ばれる儀式もあります。。このプジャをして幸の神様に歓迎します。
ディワリは繁栄の祭り買い物をしたり、カードゲームをすることは幸先の良いことだと信じられています。プレゼントをあげることは愛や兄弟愛を意味です。この時期は買い物はとても重要なので店はいっぱいのものを売っています。
ディワリは神話で おお様ラマが自分の国に帰るためのお祝いと言われています。初めの日をデャンテラスと言います。その日に穀物の儀式をして金と銀を買います。次の日はナラクチャテュルティと言います。その日の出の前でシャワーをします。次の日は一番大切とラクシュミプジャと言います。4日めパドワと言います。その日から新しい年が始まります。最後の日はバイデュジュと言います。その日が最大の尊敬とl愛の祭りです。
ディワリはディパワリとも呼ばれています。ディパワリの意味はサンスクリット語でランプを並べることです。ヒンズカレンダーのアシュウィン月にあります。この祭りは暗闇をなくして光を広げるです。
学校と大学は3週間ぐらい休みになります。職場は5日ぐらい休みです。この祭りのときはみんな一緒に行ってお祝いします。この祭りの道徳は：「善は悪に勝つと言うことです。」
―イシャ。
10月31日
Comments