Diwali!

Hello everyone! This is Priya. I hope everybody is doing fine.

Today, I would like to talk about a famous Indian festival called Diwali. Diwali is sometimes also referred to as Deepavali in southern India. It is one of the most important Indian festivals. It falls on November 7th this year.

So, why is this festival held? It is held to celebrate a legend in Hindu mythology. The festival celebrates the return of Lord Rama (a very important Hindu god) to his kingdom after 14 years of exile. According to mythology, his people lit ‘diyas’ when he returned to give him a grand welcome.

What are diyas? Diyas are small oil lamps which are made from clay. They are placed at the entrance of houses, offices and shops to celebrate Lord Rama’s return. As a result, Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights.

Diwali is also marked by setting off firecrackers on the streets. Affluent people living in cities spend money on gold, jewelry, clothing and pricey gifts which they purchase for themselves and their near and dear ones.

Moreover, Hindu people believe that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, will visit their homes during this period if they are lit, decorated and kept clean. As a result, houses are cleansed and windows and doors are kept open so that the goddess can enter their homes. 

Furthermore, ‘rangolis’ are drawn on the ground. What are ‘rangolis’? They are brightly colored designs made on the ground. These designs are geometric and are symbolic of nature. They are drawn to welcome guests and Goddess Lakshmi.

Diwali is also the start of the Hindu financial year. It is typical for businessmen to open new account books. In some states in western India, businessmen worship their account books.

So, what are some words you should remember for today? I would like you to remember ‘as a result’ which has been used twice in this blog.

《Today’s Lesson！》

‘As a result’ can be used like this:

-She was sick. As a result, she skipped work.

-He was upset. As a result, I left him alone.

-It snowed the whole day today. As a result, I did not venture out.

-I woke up late. As a result, I was late to work.

-Today is Sunday. As a result, I will relax at home.

Hope these examples help a bit!