SUSRI'S ARRAY OF DELECTABLE VEG FOOD: DIWALI / DEEPAVALI ... The Festival Of Light

DEEPAWALI…. A FESTIVAL OF LIGHT

Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival in India. The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night, 15^thday of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika . Bursting Crackers is an great entertainment in this Festival.

Deepawali or Diwali is a festival of lights symbolizing the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. The word “Deepawali” refers to rows of diyas, or clay lamps. It is the celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings…. and will glow throughout the night.

Rangoli / Kolam will decorate the entrance of the house.

This festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile. The Goddess Lakshmi is Vishnu’s consort and she symbolizes wealth and prosperity. She is also worshipped on Diwali.

In Tamil Nadu, The killing of evil Narakasura called for celebration. So it was followed by purifying ourselves with a ‘Ganga snanam‘ and all the members of the family would have their bath before the sunrise. It is believed that a bath before sunrise when the stars are still visible in the sky is equivalent to taking a bath in River Ganga, and hence Tamilians greet each other with “Ganga Snanam accha?” meaning “Did you have a bath in Ganga?”

In the wee hours of Chaturdashi, The senior most female member would sing a traditional song “Gowri kalyanam vaibhogame” and apply the heated and treated sesame oil (Goddess Lakshmi is believed to reside in sesame oil) on the heads of all the family members , who would take turns to sit on a small wooden platform called ‘Manai’ which is decorated with traditional “maa kolam” (rangoli).

In Puja room, new clothes , after applying a dash of Kumkum, would be arranged in front of the deities, alongside homemade sweets and savories and also carefully wrapped firecrackers.

After taking a nice oil bath and wearing new dress…. people partake the medicinal concoction ‘Deepavali legiyam‘ which acts as an antidote to all the sweets and savories taken later.

Whole day will be spent meeting relatives and getting blessings and greeting each other , … eating lot of sweets and savories ,… bursting fire crackers …. Comparing whose house front is loaded with more dust of fire crackers ….

Although Diwali is largely an Indian festival, it is widely celebrated in other countries as well such as Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal, Myanmar, Maurititus and Fiji. In fact, Diwali is a national holiday in each of these countries. Diwali is now celebrated world over, even the White House!

HAPPY DIWALI … PLAY IT SAFE !

Let us see some of the home made Sweets and Savories ...