Celebratory Travels - Diwali
Hello hello everybody! My name is Aeris and I will be your tour guide on this leg of our Celebratory Travels holiday tour! Today we'll be making a stop at a Diwali celebration!
Diwali
Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is the festival of lights celebrated throughout the Indian subcontinent. The festival is named for the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means "row of lights", and celebrates the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil. While Diwali was originally celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, over time it has evolved into both a religious and cultural holiday celebrated by people of many different faiths.
Because Diwali is celebrated by so many people from all over South Asia and the rest of the world, there are many traditions. The most common ones are the lighting of diyas, or oil lamps, and creating rangoli. Rangoli is an art form where beautiful patterns on the floor are created using materials like colored rice, colored sand, flower petals, or even quartz powder. Rangoli brings good luck and fortune to people.
Additionally, for many people, Diwali is a time for gratitude. Many clean out their homes, buy new clothes, give to charity, go to temple and say prayers, and check in with their loved ones. As a holiday that centers around the triumph of good over evil, people like to use the celebration as a time to perform acts of kindness.
Now it's your turn! Tell me:
🪔Have you celebrated Diwali before? If you have, what were some of the traditions you included (including any I didn't mention!)
🪔 The triumph of good over evil is something celebrated around the world! Are there any holidays from your culture that celebrate this?
🪔 Are there any aspects of Diwali that are similar to celebrations you have been part of in the past?
🪔 This event could not have been possible without the amazing YPOC, GS, and R&F teams! If you're not already, go visit these subcommunities (click on the names!) and join them to be notified about more events!
Thank you for joining me for this Diwali celebration! Hop aboard 7Cups Airlines and we'll take you to our next stop!
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@aeris156
1. Yes, I have celebrated Diwali. We start cleaning our house before 2 days of Diwali. On the morning of Diwali, we decorate our house and praying area, prepare sweets, and wear our traditional dresses. In the evening around 7:30 we pray then, we decorate our house with diyas. It is a tradition that we lit a diya on the intersection of the road, in the temple, around the tulsi, the scared fig which is also known as peepul tree, and around one tap.
2. There are many other festivals that we celebrate for the triumph of good over evil. Like we celebrate Dusshera before 20 days of Diwali. Lord Ram had killed Ravana that day. We celebrate Holi. There is a really good story behind Holi. It is a story based on the faith of a worshiper on his god.
(I answered the question according to what I could understand 
)
@Mishi1053
thank you so much for such a lovely response! my family and i celebrate the killing of Ravana during Diwali as well! you described so many familiar traditions, and i really appreciate you taking the time to respond!
@aeris156
@aeris156
The Diwali tour was very enjoyable and informative. 5 stars; highly recommend!
🪔Have you celebrated Diwali before? If you have, what were some of the traditions you included (including any I didn't mention!)
I never celebrated Diwali, although I have many friends that do and I plan on having a zoom to celebrate our cultures together. This year will be the year and I can't wait!
🪔 The triumph of good over evil is something celebrated around the world! Are there any holidays from your culture that celebrate this?
Yes! In Lunar New Year, there is a belief that there is a demon that will hurt the children so there are rituals such as "sweeping the floor" or "burning paper money" to give respect to our ancestors that passed away and hoard off demons.
🪔 Are there any aspects of Diwali that are similar to celebrations you have been part of in the past?
When you mentioned that Rangoli brings good luck and fortune to people, it reminded me of how in Lunar New Year, we give red envelopes with money for literal fortune and the metaphorical sense of good luck.
@HannahChu777
there are so many similarities between Diwali and Lunar New Year! i have some friends who celebrate Lunar New Year and they would tell me about all of those traditions you described as well! it's really cool how holidays from completely different parts of the world can have so much in common 
@aeris156
🪔Have you celebrated Diwali before? If you have, what were some of the traditions you included (including any I didn't mention!): No, I don't celebrate Diwali.
🪔 The triumph of good over evil is something celebrated around the world! Are there any holidays from your culture that celebrate this?: No
🪔 Are there any aspects of Diwali that are similar to celebrations you have been part of in the past?: Yes. Vesak is a bit similar to Diwali as there are alot of lanterns and lights involved.
@azuladragon34
i'm familiar with vesak! it's a lovely holiday, and i've seen it celebrated once or twice before! thank you so much for sharing
@aeris156
Have you celebrated Diwali before? If you have, what were some of the traditions you included (including any I didn't mention!)
Yes, I do celebrate Diwali! We usually do Puja, eat delicious food, meet and greet people, lighting of lamps and lanterns, bursting crackers and preparing rangoli. Its so much fun and exciting! the whole atmosphere is full of hope and happiness.
💓
@incognitoknight0101
yes!! all the reasons you described are exactly why i love diwali too! preparing rangoli is my personal favorite part, but i like it all! thank you so much for sharing