Diwali Greetings to all

Diwali, the festival of lights and happiness. This is the most important festival in India among all Hindus. Not only in India but all Hindus spread across the world. Diwali or Deepawali literally means a line of lights and that is how it is celebrated. We light a line of small lights (called diya, diva, panati depending on which Indian language you speak) in front of our house and worship Goddess Lakshmi to bestow on us prosperity and happiness. This also marks the beginning of a new year for the merchant class as they close the books on previous year and open up new books.

This is the day when the pious mythological king Ram returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile (called vanwaas) and killing the demon king Ravan from Lanka (modern day SriLanka). It is said that the people of Ayodhya welcomed Ram, Sita and Lakshman by lighting small lamps on the streets of Ayodhya.

Diwali is also a time for all to visit their relatives, friends and loved ones and exchange wishes, sweets and generally good things. People clean up their houses and dress in new clothes and celebrate diwali with great joy and enthusiasm.

As a child I loved diwali because I got to light all sorts of firecrackers and used to have a lot of fun. As far as I am concerned firecrackers are an integral part of Diwali. Diwali is not diwali if there are no firecrackers. Apart from visual entertainment, lighting firecrackers signals the arrival of new year and prosperity to me.

These are small joys in our lives which should be enjoyed to the fullest. Here's wishing you all the best of wishes and may you all have a very happy diwali and a very prosperous new year to come. May the festival of lights remove all darkness from your lives and bring light and happiness and enlightenment.