Samiksha Dubey
Diwali, or Deepavali, is one of India’s biggest and happiest festivals. People all over the world celebrate it with joy. It is called the Festival of Lights because everything looks bright and beautiful!
On Diwali, families and friends come together to celebrate new beginnings and happiness. People light diyas and candles that make their homes shine. They make rangolis with bright colors and decorate their houses with lights. Everything looks full of hope and love!
There is also some science in Diwali, lets explore it.
The Story Behind Diwali’s Lights
Diwali is a very old festival in India, and the story behind it comes from the Ramayan. When Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshaman had to leave Ayodhya for 14 years and during that time Lord Ram defeated Demon Ravana and won. After this, they came back to their home after 14 years.
The people of Ayodhya welcomed them by lighting diyas. The light signifies good over evil and also light over darkness. This tradition is still celebrated by people today.
Diwali is also linked with Goddess Lakshmi, she is a diety of wealth and prosperity.
People light diyas, offer sweets to each other and also decorate their homes.
Diwali is all about hope and faith.
The Diya: A Tiny Lamp with Big Meaning
Diya is the heart of Diwali, a small lamp made of clay. It is filled with oil or ghee, and a cotton wick placed inside it.
Diya has a special meaning, it shows that even small can vanish all the darkness. It stands for hope and wisdom. Clay diyas are also eco friendly, unlike plastics, they do not waste energy or create pollution. So, every time we light a diya on Diwali, we are not only making our homes bright and beautiful but also celebrating goodness, hope, and care for our world.
Candles: A Modern Glow
Candles are also very popular during Diwali. They make home look beautiful. Candles are a little different from diyas as it has wax instead of oil. When it lights, the wax starts melting and, goes up the wick, and starts burning. This produces light and heat.
Candles comes in many colors, shapes, and even in smells, which makes them fun to use for Diwali decorations, but also candles are not goof or the environment as some candles produces harmful gases which makes the air dirty. For cleaner choice, we can use soy candles as it takes time to burn and it is also cleaner to use.
Lighting candles is not just pretty it is also an another way to enjoy Diwali.
Decorative Lights: From Diyas to LEDs
Earlier people used to light only diyas during Diwali which makes homes looks warm and happy.
As today, people use many ways to light up their homes by using fairy lights, lanterns, and sparkling decorations.
Now, people use electric lights more because they shine too much and make homes look magical, but it can also waste electricity. A better choice is to use LED lights, which uses less electricity and last a long time. Also, Solar lights collect sunlight during the day and shine at night without any electricity.
Rangoli: Art with a Purpose
Rangoli is a very fun Diwali tradition where people make colorful patterns at their doorsteps.
Earlier, rangolis were made with natural things like turmeric, rice flour and flower petals, it is not only looks pretty but also bright good energy to the home.
There is also some science behind rangoli, the designs are often balance and symmetrical, and the bright colors make people feel happy and welcome. Today, people use flowers, grains, pulses, or eco-friendly colors to make rangolis even more creative.
Making rangoli is also a way for families to have fun together and add a special, personal touch to Diwali.
Fireworks: Chemistry in the Sky
For so many people, fireworks are the most exciting part of Diwali. They light up the night sky with vibrant and sparkling shades. The color come from science! Fireworks have special substances that make different colors such as red from strontium, green from barium, blue from copper, and yellow from sodium as when they burn , these chemicals create the beautiful colors we see.
But fireworks can also be harmful. They make smoke, noise, and harmful gases that can be bad for our health and scare animals. That is why some people use green crackers, which are safer, or try other fun ideas like laser shows, sky lanterns, or music and light displays. These ways let everyone enjoy Diwali without hurting the environment
Lakshmi Pooja: Where Science Meets Spirituality
Lakshmi Pooja is an important part of Diwali. People clean and decorate their homes to welcome Goddess Lakshmi because a clean house is believed to bring her blessings.
There is also some science behind it! Cleaning the house removes dust, germs and pests which keeps surroundings healthy. During the pooja, people light diyas, use flowers which make home smells nice.
This shows that Diwali traditions are not only about faith and prayers, but also about keeping homes clean, fresh, and healthy.
Diwali and the Environment: Striking a Balance
Diwali is all about happiness and fun, but also we should not hurt the planet. Too many fireworks makes air dirty and loud. Using a lot of electric lights wastes energy. Plastic decorations can create land pollution.
No, we do not have to stop celebrating Diwali. We can celebrate it smartly, as we can use clay lights, LED lights, natural decorations and also eco-friendly candles, and yes, using fewer firecrackers.
Diwali in the Modern World
Diwali has grown from a small festival of lights into a big and colorful celebration. Malls are decorated with sparkling lights and decoration, people buy gifts. But even today, Diwali reminds everyone of what really matters: family, gratitude and happiness.
Even these small choices can help a lot. That way, we can enjoy Diwali and take care of the Earth at the same time.
Also, Diwali is more than lights and fireworks. It is about good over bad, light chasing away the darkness and the decorations are interesting, but the real magic is in the joy we share, the love we give, and the care we show for our planet.
By celebrating Diwali responsibly, using eco-friendly lights and decorations while following traditions, we still can protect our planet and have fun. The light of Diwali teaches us an important lesson which is to use light or electricity wisely, it can brighten not just our homes but our lives and the whole world.
