Ingredients Of Diwali Celebrations

The Hindu calendar is filled with many festivals and each of these festivals has a special meaning. Some are celebrated by a particular religion, some by a region and some by a state. However there is one festival i.e. the festival of Diwali, which brings the whole world together in the Diwali celebration of joy and peace everywhere. Diwali is a festival of sweets and lights. It is celebrated by people of all ages all over the world.

Here are some important ingredients for the Diwali celebrations, which should help you prepare for Diwali 2011.

Lights: Diwali or Deepavali is essentially the festival of lights. It is believed that the light ‘shoos’ away the darkness and brings hope and joy to the world. Therefore, the festival cannot be complete without lights. Bright coloured strings of lights are used to decorate the houses, streets, offices etc. Traditional earthenware decorative diyas (a small cup-shaped oil lamp made of baked clay) are used to light up every corner of the house and drive away the darkness. Apart from these candles and lanterns, lamps are also used. The basic idea is to light up the dwelling as much as possible to attract the gods of wealth to your house.

Sweets: No festival is ever complete without sweets. It is a tradition to exchange sweets with your loved ones on this day. The exchange and distribution of sweets is to celebrate the death of darkness (evil). Nobody who comes knocking on the door can leave without eating sweets. Diwali sweets include Gulab Jamun, Cashew barfi (Indian fudge), Ghujia (sweet roll), Coconut fudge, Rasagulla (Indian cheese dipped in sweet syrup). The most popular sweet is the Ghujia.

New clothes and jewelry:  Wearing new clothes are considered to be a good omen on this day. People from all walks of life wear new clothes for the evening prayers on the day of Diwali. Buying new jewelry is also considered as an invitation to the gods of wealth.  It is customary to dress up in your best clothes to celebrate Diwali. The new (fresh) clothes mark the celebration of a new season and new beginnings.

Firecrackers: The part of Diwali that attracts the children the most is the firecrackers. Different kinds of firecrackers such as mini bombs, sparklers, coloured matches, flowerpots, rockets, ground wheels (chakra) etc.  The whole sky is lit up with the lights and sounds of firecrackers, which are enjoyed, by both the old and the young.  The lighting of firecrackers produces fumes, which burn the evil away.