The reasons are many and differ from region to region in India, but Diwali is the most celebrated festival in India. Whether we are celebrating the slaying of Naraksura or the return of Rama and Sita to Ayodhya, the churning of the ocean that brought forth Goddess Lakshmi, or the coronation of King Vikramaditya, Diwali is a time to dispel darkness.
We clear out the clutter by cleaning and clearing out old and unwanted material from our homes, buying new things that we need and lighting up our homes and meeting family and friends.
Did you know that the reason we light lamps in every corner of the house? When you light a lamp you dispel darkness and ignorance. So by lighting lamps everywhere you are dispelling darkness and ignorance from every corner of your life. Diwali is celebrated for different reasons all over India, but it is a season to dispel ignorance and embrace knowledge.
We also clean our homes in preparation for wealth and prosperity symbolised by Goddess Lakshmi. While the tradition is that Goddess Lakshmi will grace only those homes that are clean, it also becomes a way to ensure that all that has been unused and unwanted all year long is given away or discarded. A cleaner home also is a healthier home. Clearing clutter also helps us de-clutter our minds and lives.
It is also a festival of love and togetherness as it brings families together and celebrates their bond. Traditionally you visit friends and family on the day after Diwali and exchange gifts and sweets, thus expressing affection that you may not have a chance to otherwise.
Diwali is also considered a start to a new year and starting the year on a bright note with friends and family and food is the theme behind the celebrations.
Siblings celebrate their bond on Bhai-dooj with a meal together. In the busy times we live in the tradition has even greater significance as we make time from an otherwise busy schedule and bond with the siblings we grew up with.
So whatever our different traditions and the reasons we keep them going, Diwali is a time to celebrate old bonds and make new ones. It is time to do away with darkness and ignorance as we start afresh in the New Year. We wish you all a wonderful celebration!