Thalai Diwali

This was our first Diwali after the wedding and hence its named Thalai Diwali.

Let me first explain why Diwali is celebrated.

Diwali is one of the most important festivals in India and is considered to be the start of the New Year for many communities in India. It is celebrated on the darkest night of the year. Diwali is called the festival of lights. All over India, homes are decorated with lights and lamps filled with oil. The name "Diwali" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Deepavali" which means row of lights - avali - rows, deepa - lights. These lamps are lit to banish the dark and welcome good luck and fortune into the house. People wear new clothes, visit friends and relatives, burst fire crackers, eat good food and sweets and decorate their houses with flowers and lights. Prayers are held at home to honour Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi for wisdom, good luck, prosperity and good fortune.

Diwali is a festival of joy, prosperity and good luck, and a celebration of the victory of good over evil - which is expressed through different stories in different parts of India.

One of the most well known story behind Diwali is Ramayana, the great Hindu epic. According to Ramayana, Rama, the prince of Ayodhya was ordered by his father, King Dasharatha, to go away from his country and come back after living in the forest for fourteen years. So Rama went on exile with his devoted wife Sita and faithful brother, Lakshmana. When Ravana, the demon king of Lanka abducted Sita and took her away to his island kingdom of Lanka, Rama fought against and killed Ravana. He rescued Sita and returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years. The people of Ayodhya were very happy to hear of their beloved prince's homecoming. To celebrate Rama's return to Ayodhya, they lit up their houses with earthen lamps (diyas), burst crackers and decorated the entire city in the grandest manner. This is believed to have started the tradition of Diwali. Year after year this homecoming of Lord Rama is commemorated on Diwali with lights, fireworks, bursting of crackers and merriment.

Coming to my Thalai Diwali, we went to my mothers place on Thursday evening 4th November. We were welcomed by "Harathi" that my mom took. Harathi is made of kumkum and water. After this we were given sweets and savories to eat. All home made items were yummy and delicious. After this we all went to the terrace to start bursting crackers. It was fun to do this after three years. After this my husbands parents were invited and we all had sumptuous dinner prepared by my mom and grandmom. We got to eat payasam, vadai, onion sambar, tomato rasam, potato curry, mango pickle etc.

The next day we were woken up at 4am and we were supposed to take head bath after oil was rubbed on our heads by elderly people. After this we were given new clothes to wear and we ran to burst more crackers. It was a fun day with parents and again my in-laws were invited for luncha and food was more delicious than ever. This was how we spent our Thalai Diwali. One of the most important days in my life. :)

Here are some of the pictures of sweets and savories that my mom made.

Fireworks and crackers