ISLAMABAD – The Hindu community living across the globe including Pakistan celebrated the festivity of their festival of lights-Diwali late Monday with religious zeal and fervor. The festivity will continue for 5 days until Saturday, (November 17). The Hindu festival of lights, falls on the day of ‘Amavasyaa’, when the moon does not rise and there is darkness all around.
Light, being symbol of hope and positive energy, indicates the victory of good over evil. Hindu minority residing in Pakistan also celebrated their event at every temple through gatherings of Hindu families and decorating their houses and temples with colorful lights mainly in Sindh province while the Ministry of National Harmony will celebrate the festival officially on November 15 at the federal capital. Organisations like Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) and other small organizations also arranged some events to celebrate the festival in traditional way and exchanged greetings. Minister of State for National Harmony, Akram Masih Gill felicitated the Hindus on occasion of Diwali saying the festival of lights strengthens the true ethical values and brings peace, prosperity, progress and happiness to all sections of the society and promotes goodwill among all communities.
He said Diwali is a harbinger of peace, joy, and prosperity. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, and the spreading of the light of learning. It is a festival in which all communities rejoice in amity and friendship and celebrate the solidarity of the nation. By spreading light in every corner, the Hindu community try to destroy the reign of darkness, on the night of Diwali. People decorate their premises with diyas, electric bulbs and other decorative electric lighting fixtures, to make their surroundings filled with colorful light and to make it bright and beautiful.
Deepavali – the very name of this festival reveals its meaning. The festival is all about the lighting diyas. Later the term ‘Deepawali’ became ‘Diwali’. Deepawali or Diwali is also known as ‘the festival of lights’. Celebrated usually in the month of October or November, Diwali bears significance in the Hindu culture as well as among Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. The legends connected to the festival are different for different religions.
Diwali is mainly the Indian festival that brings a series of festivals with it. One after another, people get a chance to celebrate five ceremonious occasions. The people of all age groups and classes with equal zeal and enthusiasm celebrate Diwali throughout India and other parts of the world.
They put on new apparels and participate in the various activities that are related to Diwali celebrations.
It is a festival of celebrations such as lightings, crackers, cleanliness, colorful rangoli making, social gatherings to exchange greetings and sharing sweets with your loved ones.
Diwali is a festival filled with spiritualism and religious activities, such as worship of Goddess Lakshmi, worship of Lord Ganesha, worship of Ma Kali, worship of Lord Chitragupta and worship of Govardhan Parvat.
The celebration of the five-day long festival, Diwali, begins on Aswayuja Bahula Chaturdashi and concludes on Kartika Shudha Vijaya. The first day of this festival begins with ‘Dhan Trayodashi’ or ‘Dhanteras’.
After the Dhanvantari Trayodashi the second day of Diwali is ‘Narak Chaturdashi’, which is popular as ‘Chhoti Diwali’. The third day of Diwali, which is also called ‘Badi Diwali’ is the main day of celebrations of the festival of Diwali. People perform Lakshmi Pujan (worship of divine Goddess Lakshmi) on this day and offer prayers to her to bless them with wealth and prosperity. The fourth day of Diwali is devoted to Govardhan Pooja (worship of Lord Govardhan Parvat).
The fifth day of the Diwali is Bhai Dooj, the time to honor the brother-sister relationship.
