We celebrated our first Diwali this week. Diwali is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. Diwali is a five day celebration that Indians nationwide celebrate with strings of lights, oil lanterns, festive sand decorations called rangoli, flowers, fireworks, sharing sweets, and for many, worship of the Goddess Lakshmi. Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights, honoring Lakshmi, Goddess of prosperity. Many people light their doors or steps with glowing candles or glittering oil lamps to guide Lakshmi into their homes. It is a family celebration where the family feasts together on the foods they've prepared in Lakshmi's honor and stay up all night to bring in the new year and welcome prosperity.
In Pune it seems to be celebrated mostly with really loud fireworks. But unlike fireworks celebrations in the US where people tend to gather to attend large shows or gather in neighborhoods to set some off together, here it seems that every home does fireworks, and large, loud explosives are especially popular.
Our caretaker, Balu, helped us to decorate with strings of lights, and his wife made a different rangoli each night on our front steps and in the driveway below a lighted decoration, in the reflected light from above.
In Aundh, the closest part of town where we usually shop, there were piles of marigolds everywhere, with men and women stringing them onto garlands to be purchased to decorate homes and businesses. We bought some from a couple different vendors and hung them on our driveway's gate and above our front door.
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| I didn't ask this man if I could take his photo, which was really rude. But when I apologized he gave me a giant smile. And I bought two garlands from him. |
Each night the rangoli changed to represent the different days in the festival. The children were even invited to help create the rangoli on 2 of the days.
Even the malls and shopping centers were highly decorated with rangoli and festive lights.
Balu works as our caretaker. He came with the home. He and his family live in a small apartment behind our garage on the driveway. They are lovely people who have helped us out so much. When George got sick and needed to be rushed to a doctor, Balu's wife and 6 month old daughter rode with us to translate and make sure we made it there safely. Their kindness has made us feel like we can do this. Without them, I'm not sure I would feel like we could get past the culture shock and make a real life here. Usually people give their staff (they're still called servants here, but I am really uncomfortable with that word) a bonus at the end of the year. Diwali is the biggest holiday, so that is the best time to make the gift. While Balu has only worked for us for one month, he's been a lifesaver. I think he was very pleasantly surprised when we gave him a month's salary as bonus on Diwali. He went out the next day and bought some beautiful little dresses for Adniya. We chose to honor him early in our relationship both to recognize his kindness and show our thanks, and as a good faith gesture. He rewarded us with a very fun Diwali celebration, lighting fireworks for the kids and putting up lights and creating rangoli. He made us feel like a welcome part of the celebration. And the best part is that he truly delights in our children.
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| Even Starbucks had a beautiful rangoli out front. |
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| View from our tuck-tuk ride to do some shopping |
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| Our housekeeper's daughter, and Gracie's new friend, Gaytri, dressed in her holiday best. |
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| The decorations on our gate. |
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| Balu and Sudniya, giggling like school kids when the fireworks go off. |
From National Geographic Kids: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/diwali/#diwali_candles.jpg
Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith: Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs.
Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live:
Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live:
- In northern India they celebrate the story of King Rama's return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps.
- Southern India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.
- In western India the festival marks the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule the nether world.
In all interpretations, one common thread rings true—the festival marks the victory of good over evil.
Non-Hindu communities have other reasons for celebrating the holiday:
Non-Hindu communities have other reasons for celebrating the holiday:
- In Jainism, it marks the nirvana or spiritual awakening of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.
- In Sikhism it marks the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru was freed from imprisonment.
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Five Days of Diwali
On the first day of Diwali, people consider it auspicious to spring clean the home
and shop for gold or kitchen utensils.
On the second day, people decorate their homes with clay lamps and create
On the second day, people decorate their homes with clay lamps and create
design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand.
The third day is the main day of the festival when families gather together for
Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi followed by mouth-watering feasts and
firework festivities.
The fourth day is the first day of the new year when friends and relatives visit with gifts
and best wishes for the season.
On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with
On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with
love and a lavish meal.
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