The Pujas apart Diwali is basically celebrated
as a New Year day for the Hindus world over. And the customs of wearing new garments
and gears and exchanging gifts and greetings have come to be associated with Diwali,
probably because of this of New Year celebration. Accordingly most of the traditions
of a New Year celebration are all present.
The occasion sees the spring-cleaning
and white-washing of houses; decorative designs or rangolis are painted on floors
and walls to greet the new year. New clothes are bought and family members and
relatives gather together to offer prayers, distribute sweets and to light up
their homes.
In today's world when pressing everyday problems are narrowing
down our world of relationships, the celebration of this day has its own importance
in continuing to maintain the love between brothers and sisters. Thus Diwali is
the day of food-sharing, gift-giving and reaching out to the inner most depths
of the hearts.
In fact, Diwali on the whole has always been the festival
with more social than religious connotations. It is more of a personal, people-oriented
festival than anything else, when enmities are forgotten, families and friends
meet, enjoy and establish a word of closeness.
Diwali
around the world
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