Celebrating The Festival of Lights!
Diwali is one of the biggest and auspicious festivals celebrated by Indians all around the globe. The festival of lights signifies peace and joy, the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness every day. During this festival, people clean their homes, decorate every corner with lights, lamps, diyas, flowers, rangoli, and candles. Families also get together to perform Lakshmi Puja and pray to the goddess of wealth to bless them with health, wealth, and prosperity. Besides this, people also visit each other’s homes to exchange gifts and play cards. Diwali is also known for the delicious sweet and savory food that is cooked and exchanged as gifts as well. Decked up in new clothes and jewelry, it is perhaps one of the biggest festivals in India.
If you don’t know or need a quick recap on the days leading up to and after Diwali, here’s what we know: The first day, known as Dhanteras, is dedicated to cleaning homes and purchasing small items of gold. The second day, called Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali, commemorates Krishna’s destruction of Narakasura. On the third day, families seek blessings from goddess Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity; light diyas, candles, and make rangoli. This is the day when families visit temples together as well. It is the main day of the Diwali festival. The fourth day, known as Goverdhan Puja, commemorating Krishna’s defeat of Indra, the king of the gods, is also the first day of Karttika and the start of the new year in the Hindu calendar. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. The fifth day, called Bhai Dooj, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers.
According to Hindu mythology, the Prince of Ayodhya, Ram, returned home with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman on the auspicious day and since then, every year, that day is marked by the festival of Diwali. They came back to Ayodhya after spending 14 years in exile and defeating Ravan. People of Ayodhya had celebrated their return with great enthusiasm by lighting rows of lamps and diyas.
We, at New Indian Supermarket, wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous and delightful Diwali and hope that the upcoming year brings all the good things for you and your loved ones.
