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Little boys seen waiting for customers to sell Diwali Diyas on a busy road at New Market area Dimapur.[/caption]
Dimapur, October 29 : With the onset of autumn, Dimapur city is lively especially with the arrival of the festival of lights, Deepavali or Diwali.
Diwali is one of the most significant festivals in India. It is a festival for which a person does not mind shelling out on fireworks to celebrate the event grandly. Houses are already lit with diyas (lamps) to make the occasion even warmer and brighter.
Diwali is one of the most popular festivals in India. For the Jain, it is a very important occasion. It is a festival of glory and achievement of ‘Bhagwan Mahavira’ who attained Nirvana on this day, says Anand Sethi, a prominent businessman in Dimapur. On Diwali morning, he shared Nirvan Ladoo is offered to Lord Mahavira in all jain temples across the world. However, Sethi added that ‘Jains tend to avoid firecrackers as they cause harm to living organisms. Jain temples, homes, offices shops are decorated with lights and diyas. The lights are symbolic of knowledge’.
On the streets of densely populated Dimapur, Diwali is can be broad—Naga and non-Naga persons, irrespective of faith, takes pleasure in the festival, especially when it comes to the use of fireworks! Perhaps in a way, it also offers a sense of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
For the Bengali, Diwali coincides with Kali Puja—the community worships the goddess Maa Kali to destroy all evil from the world; 14 diyas are lighted in all corners of the house to ward off evil spirits. “No person is comfortable with darkness and there is always a sense of security with light. And Diwali or Deepavali connotes the festival of light” says KK Paul, a social worker.
The colourful customs and meanings associated with the festival can vary from the Hindu, the Sikh and the Jain for various reasons. However, the main theme is the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
The Diwali fever has gripped the city and people are already in a celebratory mood with homes, streets and shops alit to welcome the event.
Governor, CM wish people happy Diwali
The governor- and the chief minister of Nagaland have wished the Hindu community in Nagaland happy Diwali celebration. The governor- and the chief minister’s establishment issued separate messages to mark the occasion.
“Diwali or Deepavali is known as the festival of lights and one of the most significant and famous festival in India. It is a sacred Hindu festival which symbolizes the triumph of good over evil,” Governor PB Acharya stated in his message. “As we celebrate the festival of lights, let us also look into our own self and do away with all the evil practices that is all around us and in our own life and let goodness prevail in all spears of life.”
He has appealed to the people to “do away injustice and corruption" plaguing the society. Let Diwali bring peace, unity and harmony amongst the different communities of the state, he said and “let us make our state Nagaland peaceful and prosperous.”
Likewise, the chief minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang, has wished “all communities in Nagaland and across the country” celebrating the festival of lights. “As Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil people celebrating the festival should know the essence that truth and goodness would always triumph,” a message from the chief minister’s establishment stated on Saturday.
“Lighting of lamps, fireworks and sharing, which are some significant attributes of Deepavali, indicates that we should remember to keep ourselves happy over good things in the world. We should all take pride in celebrating the colorful Festival of lights.” The chief minister hoped that the festival would “bring joy, peace and blessings to one and all during this festive season.”
The Muslim Council of Dimapur also greets the people on the occasion. A note from the group said that festival of lights celebrates the victory of “lights over darkness,” and good over evil. “The MCD wish that may this festival brings oneness among all of us with a spirit of enthusiasm for universal brotherhood,” the note added.
