Write an essay on any one of the following topic in about 150 words: (10Mrks)
a. Diwali – The Festival of Lights
Answers
Answer:
Diwali is one of the most important festivals in Hindu culture. It is one of the most important holidays in the Hindu calendar. Diwali gets its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Deepavali’ that roughly translates to ‘a row of lights.’ It is a great time to have fun with your family and friends. People decorate their houses with oil lamps and fairy lights at night. They cook delicious food and share them with their neighbors. It is a festival of lights; every street is lit up with beautiful lights. It spreads cheer and joy among people and makes them fall in love with their culture.
The festival of lights Diwali has been around for a long time. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama returned home to Ayodhya on this day after killing the demon king Ravana. Upon the arrival of their king, the residents of Ayodhya lighted the streets and houses with oil lamps to celebrate the occasion. Since then, the Hindus have been following the tradition by celebrating the festival with pomp and fervor. It is easily the favorite festival for kids as they get to eat their favorite sweets and wear new clothes.
The festival teaches us that good always wins over evil and that we must eradicate darkness with light. A festive atmosphere can be seen during Diwali in every Indian household. Everyone is busy cleaning houses, preparing sweets, or lighting up lamps. A religious ceremony usually precedes the celebrations in the evening.
Festivals are the perfect way to know your neighbors and celebrate with them. Diwali teaches us to be kind to everyone and has a patient heart and mind to wait for good results to come through. Our beliefs shape our minds; therefore, we must never lose faith in festivals. Diwali has long been associated with bursting crackers but, is it necessary? Of course not! Diwali can still be celebrated amazingly if we all stay at home and enjoy a hearty dinner with our friends and family. Bursting of firecrackers releases harmful gases to the atmosphere that ultimately results in air pollution.
Firecrackers hurt the animals living around us. We must responsibly celebrate the festival without compromising the safety of others. During Diwali, the households are filled with the thick scent of delicious aroma rising from freshly cooked food. Scrumptious delicacies are cooked and consumed during the festival. We must keep in mind that festivals have been made to foster the important spirit of brotherhood among us and not to destroy our surroundings in the name of celebration.
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First of all, understand that India is the land of festivals. However, none of the festivals comes close to Diwali. It is certainly one of the biggest festivals in India. It is probably the brightest festival in the world. People of different religions celebrate Diwali. Most noteworthy, the festival signifies the victory of light over darkness. This also means the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is known as the festival of lights. Consequently, there are bright lights all over the whole country during Diwali. In this essay on Diwali, we will see the religious and spiritual significance of Diwali.
The Religious Significance of Diwali
The religious significance of this festival has differences. It varies from one region to another in India. There is an association of many deities, cultures, and traditions with Diwali. The reason for these differences is probably local harvest festivals. Hence, there was a fusion of these harvest festivals into one pan-Hindu festival.
According to the Ramayana, Diwali is the day of the return of Rama. This day Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya along with his wife Sita. This return was made after Rama defeated demon King Ravana. Furthermore, Rama’s brother Lakshmana and Hanuman also came back to Ayodhya victorious.
There is another popular tradition for the reason of Diwali. Here Lord Vishnu as an incarnation of Krishna killed Narakasura. Narakasura was certainly a demon. Above all, this victory brought the release of 16000 captive girls.
Furthermore, this victory shows the triumph of good over evil. This is due to Lord Krishna being good and Narakasura being evil.
Association of Diwali to Goddess Lakshmi is the belief of many Hindus. Lakshmi is the wife of Lord Vishnu. She also happens to be the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.
According to a legend, Diwali is the night of Lakshmi wedding. This night she chose and wed Vishnu. Eastern India Hindus associate Diwali with Goddess Durga or kali. Some Hindus believe Diwali to be the start of a new year.