|
Diwali
 Asvina
is a month which marks the end of the harvesting season. This month ends
with the festival of lights Diwali, which is a four-day festival. The
first day of the festival starts with the Lakshmi Puja. The second day
is considered as the day of casting off evils. The third day is the main
Diwali day. On this day every home is illuminated with earthen lamps and
the courtyards decorated with Rangoli designs. The fourth and the last
day is the New year day for the Gujarati's when people visit temples in
colourful costumes and greet each other. The day following the new year
day is called the Bhai bij day when brothers are invited by their sisters
to partake of sweets with them.
The full moon day of the Kartika month, with its preceding
eleventh (ekadashi) day is called the Dev-Diwali. On these days the
marriage of the Tulsi plant with the Shaligram, symbolising Lord Vishnu,
is celebrated in every Hindu home in Gujarat. It also marks the termination
of the Chaturmans (fast), observed for the four months of rainy season,
during which Hindus, mostly ladies, miss a meal on every Ekadashi day
and the ascetics do not move about.
|
