Posted by Diwali or Deepawali as it is called in Hindi will fall on 14th November this year. The most celebrated festivals for Hindus across the globe is celebrated on the 15th day of the lunar calendar of Kartik. The day marks the victory of good over evil, light over dark. According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama defeated Raavan and returned to Ayodhya with his wife and brother on this day. To welcome him and express their happiness, the people of the kingdom lit lamps and illuminated the entire city. The tradition of lighting lamps and diyas has been carried off from those times itself.
Diwali as a festive celebration is said to spread over 5 days. The festivities start from Dhanteras, Narak Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali, Lakshmi Poojan/ Diwali, Govardhan Pooja and Bhai dooj. True celebrations are said to last for this span of 5 days for Diwali. Families get together during these days, light lamps, burn firecrackers, make rangolis and eat feasts during these festive days. It is a period of fun and frolic for Hindu households.
During the pandemic, there might be certain restrictions on how to celebrate Diwali. While kids celebrate this festival mostly by lighting lamps and burning crackers, due to eco friendly norms, crackers are being discouraged over the years. Since crackers get banned in few years due to high noise and air pollution levels, thus it is best to engage the kids also in other activities for Diwali. While kids can make their own paper patakas at home, they can also buy less polluting green crackers. Other than that they can help their parents by decorating the house, making rangolis with colors and paints. They can also make hand made Diwali cards and send to their relatives and friends since visiting family during Diwali might not be an option this year.
Other things that can be done to celebrate Diwali at home is to cook together. Families can plan to cook sweets and feasts at home. This will not only ensure that the whole family stays busy and bonds but will also make up for a lot of good eating for the family. Families like to dress up in ethnic clothing and those can be ordered online. One can order diwali gifts for families as kurtis, lehangas etc online and everyone can dress up in ethnic Indianwear to celebrate on the Diwali day.
One can even indulge kids in celebrating Diwali at home by making lamps at home. Flour can be moulded into diya shapes and dried to form lamps. Then mustard oil can be used along with cotton strands to light these lamps. Rangoli colors can also be made at home. Alternatively people also choose to use watercolor paints which are washable to make designer rangolis at home.
Families often believe in playing cards and other games on Diwali day. Since large gatherings cannot be done this year thus games can be played amidst family members themselves. Feasting, decorations and general fun and frolic are what mark Diwali celebrations in India. And all of this can be done even when at home. Thus the pandemic should not stop anyone from celebrating Diwali at home.
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