DEEPAVALI CELEBRATION OF HINDUISME

hey! Another few more days to go for Hindu's to celebrate Deepavali festival of lights!
I'm too looking forward to it where will be full with excitement of coz..

Now let's see what actually 'Deepavali' in context means:-

In the South, Deepavali festival often commemorates the conquering of the Asura Naraka, a powerful king of Assam, who imprisoned tens of thousands of inhabitants. It was Krishna who finally subdued Naraka and freed the prisoners. Diwali Festival in the south is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aipasi (thula month) 'naraka chaturdasi' thithi, preceding amavasai.


Deepavali celebrations begins early in the morning. The eldest family member applies sesame oil on the heads of all the family members. Then, it's off for a bath, beginning with the youngest in the family. They emerge with new clothes and a look of anticipation at the thought of bursting crackers, which symbolizes the killing of the demon king Narakasur.


A puja is performed for the family deities in the morning. Breakfast consists of murukku , a sweet dish and, of course, idli or dosa .
In the evening, lamps are lighted and crackers are burst.


The Diwali Celebrations include a visit to the temple, gifts of clothes and jewelry, gorging on sweets and receiving blessings of elders. The groom's parents, brothers and sisters come down to join in the celebrations.


The Aim of Deepavali?

The aim of Deepavali celebrations is to get man moving on the spiritual path and ultimately attain illumination, become one with God. One need not be a Hindu to do this. Every man can go about it his way, following the percepts of his own religion.