So this festival, here in South Asia, it like... well 4th of July, Christmas, & New Years
all rolled into one! This Hindu festival traditionally celebrates the returning of the god Ram from his 14 year exile away from his kingdom, he was welcomed back with lights.
Our neighbor's daughter is studying in America... but came home to celebrate this festival with her parents & family here. Most people will tell you it is for the worship of Laxmi, the goddess of fortune and wealth. Most people do ritual worship to Laxmi and Ganesh on this evening, hoping for wealth, money and success in the year to come.
It is several nights & days in a row of homemade & locally bought fireworks
shot off in the road directly in front of your home! Some will also tell you the lights and fireworks is to keep out evil and bad spirits from entering the house.
Most folks even put individual candles or oil lamps outside their homes to guide and welcome Laxmi to enter their house. I was told it is the darkest night of the year, so they try to make sure their house is very well lit, which also is the reason for the fireworks.
No comments:
Post a Comment