My dad, sis and I went to Little India for lunch today and this WELCOME banner caught my eye. Upon closer viewing and considering it is displayed near a flower stall, I realized that it was made entirely of flowers! Man was I vastly impressed! It's not a very good shot since I was in the car but cool, no?
Diwali (or Deepavali as it is known here) is the next local festival coming up. It's the Hindu Festival of Lights. The road decorations were already up naturally since the date draws close to the day. These would look spectacular in the evenings too, I reckon. Sure would explain the busy buzz in the air as the local Hindus got busy with their shopping.
A little brief info on Diwali, which is a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and an official holiday in India (as well as in Singapore and Malaysia). Adherents of these religions celebrate Diwali as the Festival of Lights. They light diyas - cotton string wicks inserted in small clay pots filled with oil - to signify victory of good over the evil within an individual.
There are several significances to this festival but I recall this most from a local children English-language Diwali show several years ago. On this day Lord Krishna slayed Narkasur. A powerful demon called Bhoumasur or Narkasur formerly ruled a place named Pragjyotishpur. He began harassment of both deities and people. This cruel demon began to harass women. He kept sixteen thousand princesses of marriageable age whom he had won over in battles, in prison and planned to marry them. This created chaos everywhere.
When Lord Krishna heard this, along with Satyabhama He attacked the demon, slayed him and set the princesses free. The dying Narkasur asked Lord Krishna for a boon, "On this date (tithi) let one who takes an auspicious bath (mangalsnan) not suffer in hell". Lord Krishna granted him that boon. Consequently, the fourteenth (chaturdashi) day of the dark fortnight of Ashvin also came to be known as Narak chaturdashi and on that day people started bathing before sunrise. On this day when Krishna returned home at dawn, after slaying Narkasur, adorning a spot (tilak) of Narkasur's blood on His forehead, Nanda gave Him an auspicious bath. The women expressed their joy by moving lit lamps about His face (ovalani).
1 comments:
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Keep doing!
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