Beaming Faces Against A Colourful Bokeh

Diwali is about lights – not just those which adorn our homes, but also those which dispel the darkness in our lives. Diwali isn’t just about the sweets that we crave or worshipping the divine power, it’s about the sweetness that infuses itself in our relationships, and embracing the strength latent in each one of us.

 

North Indian history has it that Diwali is celebrated every year to mark the day Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman retured from their 14-year exile. Every corner of Ayodhya was gleaming with the warmth and joy radiated by the innumerable Diyas. As for South India, Deepavali is said to be celebrated to mark the day the demon named Narakasura was slayed by Lord Krishna’s consort, Satyabhama. Among Jains, this is believed to be the time Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana. Different communities hold different beliefs adhering to different historic roots.

 

fb_img_1478146138510

 

Spirit intact, different ways of celebrating Diwali have evolved over centuries. Not every country gets to be called a ‘subcontinent’!
While Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdasi, Diwali Padva and Bhai Dooj are popular concepts in Hinduism, this time also marks the celebration of the attainment of Moksha by Lord Mahavira, Bandi Chhor Divas (the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughal Empire prison), among various other customs. Some communities worship the goddess Lakshmi. In Bengali homes, the goddess Kali is worshipped during Diwali.

 

With beaming faces against the most colourful bokeh, most parts of India are a sight to behold during this time. There are a lot of legends and local customs associated with Diwali celebrations. Firecrackers were believed to frighten away evil spirits. On the day of Diwali, shops remain open till the afternoon because good sales on this day are believed to predict a prosperous year ahead.

 

The Manipal skies bejewelled with swarms of breathtaking skylanterns, Diwali is, undoubtedly, one of the most awaited festivals of the odd semester.

 

fb_img_1478145997217

 

With sessionals right around the corner and end-sems hardly twenty days away, each one of us are slogging our verve off. Here’s MTTN wishing everyone all the best for the upcoming exams!

 

– Priyanjali Roychoudhury, for MTTN

Leave a Reply

Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Baskerville 2 by Anders Noren.

Up ↑