Short essay on Diwali Festival

Diwali is one of the most colorful, sacred and loveliest festivals of the Hindus. It is celebrated every year with great joy and enthusiasm throughout the length and breadth of the country. It marks the happy return of lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen year’s exile. It is a festival of lights and festivities. It comes off about twenty days after Dussehra and shows the advent of winter. It is to the Hindus what Christmas is to the Christians. It lends charms and delight to our life.

Diwali or Deepawali means a row or collection of lamps. A few days before Diwali, houses, buildings, shops and temples arc thoroughly cleaned, white-washed and decorated with pictures, toys and flowers. They look as beautiful as a newly, wedded girl. Beautiful pictures are hung on the walls and everything is tip-top. On the Diwali day, people put on rich clothes and move about in a holiday mood. People exchange greetings and gifts or sweets on this day.
At night, buildings are illuminated with earthen lamps, candle-sticks and electric bulbs. The city presents a bright and colourful sight. Sweets and toy shops are tastefully decorated to attract the passers-by. The bazaars and-streets are overcrowded. People buy sweets for their own families and also send them as presents to their friends and relatives. Children explode crackers. At night, Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, is worshiped in the form of earthen images and silver rupee. People believe that on this day, Hindu Goddess Laxmi enters only those houses which are neat and tidy. People offer prayers for their own health, wealth and prosperity. They let the light on so that Goddess Laxmi may find no difficulty in finding her way in and smile upon them. Businessmen open new accounts on this day. But it is very sad that some people gamble on this day. It marks the beauty and sanctity of the festival. Off the whole, this festival is an occasion for joy, thrill and excitement.