- In North India, people celebrate the story of Rama's return to the ancient city of Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps.
- In South India, people celebrate Diwali as the day Krishna defeated Narakasura.
- In western India, the festival marks the day that Vishnu sent Bali to rule the netherworld.
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Diwali originated as a festival that marked the last harvest of the year before winter. Why would people celebrate the end of the harvest season, and why would they do so with a “festival of lights”?
People celebrate the end of a harvest for two major reasons, both tied to agriculture.
- In ancient agricultural societies, the end of the season traditionally meant less need for the backbreaking work of harvesting crops. If the harvest was successful, the end of the season also meant the community had abundant food for the winter. Less work, more food—those are both good reasons to celebrate!
- A festival of lights is perfectly timed as autumn turns to winter. Days start getting shorter and nights start getting longer as the winter solstice approaches.
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Can you think of any other autumn harvest festivals?
- Thanksgiving is probably the most familiar.
- Mehregan is a Persian festival associated with the end of the harvest and financial seasons—just like Diwali.
- The Mid-Autumn Festival is considered “intangible cultural heritage” in China, and is also celebrated in Vietnam.
- Oktoberfest is a harvest festival associated with the autumn grain harvest in Germany.
- Sukkot is a Jewish festival associated with the autumn harvest.
- Samhain is an ancient Celtic celebration of the end of the autumn harvest season.
- Chuseok is a three-day harvest festival celebrated in the Koreas.
- Onam is another Indian harvest festival, this one celebrated largely by the people in the state of Kerala, honoring the traditional end of the rice harvest.
- Crop Over is a little-known festival on Barbados tracing its roots to the sugar cane harvest.
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Can you think of any other autumn or winter “festivals of light” celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere?
- Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light, is probably the most familiar.
- Christmas is often associated with bright lights.
- Tazaungdaing is an ancient Buddhist festival that is a national holiday in Burma (Myanmar).
- Leister, England, may have the largest Diwali celebrations outside India, with more than 37,000 people attending the festivities.
- Some attendees have claimed the Diwali celebrations in Melbourne are the biggest public parties in Australia.
- In Nepal, Diwali is more frequently known as Tihar. In addition to traditional Diwali celebrations of family and good fortune, Tihar also honors pets and other animals with which people have strong relationships. Dogs, cats, crows, and cows are celebrated with special treats during Tihar.
- On the Caribbean island of Trinidad, the Diwali celebrations last nine days, not five.
- More than 100 communities in the United States plan Diwali festivals. One of the biggest celebrations takes place in Times Square, New York City.
- East African countries such as Kenya and Tanzania have large Indian communities and often have subdued Diwali celebrations.
- In the South American country of Guyana, Diwali is celebrated with a parade featuring lavish floats depicting Hindu deities.
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management of financial information.
the art and science of cultivating the land for growing crops (farming) or raising livestock (ranching).
very old.
season between summer and winter. Also called fall.
person who follows the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha).
to observe or mark an important event with public and private ceremonies or festivities.
to design, garnish, or adorn with festive additions.
very holy or spiritual being.
evil spirit or magical creature.
having to do with a god.
Hindu festival of lights, celebrated every autumn throughout India by citizens of all faiths.
day or other period of time set to celebrate or commemorate an event, usually with a series of parties, ceremonies, or observances.
having to do with money.
controlled explosive devices that produce a striking display of light and loud noise, used for signaling or as part of a celebration.
most elevated title in the Sikh religion, applied to only 10 Sikh leaders who have provided divine guidance to humanity. The eleventh guru is the Sikh book of holy scriptures.
the gathering and collection of crops, including both plants and animals.
religion of the Indian subcontinent with many different sub-types, most based around the idea of "daily morality."
period of celebration or honor.
landmass in south-central Asia carried by the Indian tectonic plate, including the peninsula of India.
way of understanding an event or set of facts.
follower of the religion of Jainism, which supports nonviolence toward all living things.
spiritual principle mostly associated with Hinduism and Buddhism, in which the intentions and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual.
having to do with Earth's moon or the moons of other planets.
spiritual or mythological world and culture that exists beyond death.
dark phase of the lunar cycle when the moon is invisible or barely visible, occurring when the moon passes between the sun and earth.
in the Buddhist religion, an end to personal reincarnations, achieved by the highest enlightenment and freedom from personal passion, hatred, and delusion.
to begin or start.
hard-surfaced road or path created with asphalt, concrete, brick, or rocks.
ritual worship of a particular Hindu god.
to buy.
folk art in which colorful and intricate designs are created on floors using colored sand, powder, flour, or flower petals.
to restore or make better.
not having to do with religion or spirituality.
brother or sister.
people and culture that believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, and community service
having to do with the sun.
to represent an object, idea, organization, or geographical region.
tool or instrument for preparing or eating food.
difference.
honor, adoration, or glorification, usually to a religious god.
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