The festival diwali, different people celebrate diwali with different mythological

and historical reasons. The history of Diwali is replete with legends and these
legends are moored to the stories of Hindu religious scriptures, mostly the Puranas.
Though the central theme of all legends point out to the classic truth of the victory
of the good over the evils, the mode of their presentation and the characters differ.

THE FIVE DAYS OF DIWALI:

In India the celebration of DIWALI is associated with many important legends and
each event has its own importance. Usually Diwali is a five day celebration and
each day has its own rituals and myths. The five days of Diwali are;

1. Dhanteras

2. Choti Diwali

3. Diwali

4. Padwa

5. Bhaiya-Dooj

DHANTERAS OR DHANTRYAODASHI:

This is the first day of diwali celebration and this day has some significance.
According to the legend King HIMA, the king had a sixteen year old son. And
according to his son’s horoscope doomed to die on fourth day of his marriage
by snakebite. On the fourth day of his marriage, his wife lighted innumerable
lamps all over the place and she also laid all kinds of ornaments on the entrance
of her husband’s boudoir. And started reciting stories and songs through night.
As per to his horoscope, the god of death arrived in the form of serpent but the
lamps all over the place dazzled his eyes and was unable to enter the prince’s
chamber. So he sat upon the ornaments whole night listening to the stories and
melodious songs and he went quietly in morning. Thus king’s daughter in law
saved his son and since then this day is also called as "Yamadeepdaan".

CHOTI DIWALI:

The second day of diwali is also celebrated with same fervor and enthusiasm as
celebrated in first day. The CHOTI DIWALI is related to the KING BALI. The
Bali’s mighty power turned as a threat to gods so Lord Vishnu visited him as a
small boy, in order to curb his powers. And he pleaded the king to grant him
some land which he could cover with his three steps. Known for his
philanthropy King Bali proudly granted him his wish. So the lord Vishnu
covered the entire heaven with his first step and with his second step he covered
the entire earth and the lord Vishnu asked king Bali, where to keep my third
step and the king Bali offered his head for the Vishnu’s third step and lord
Vishnu pushed him down to underworld but though generosity lord Vishnu
allowed him once a year to light millions of lamps to dispel darkness and
ignorance and to spread the radiance of love and wisdom.

DIWALI:

The Third day of the festival of Diwali is the most important day of Lakshmi-
Puja, which is entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. This
day is also called as CHOPADA- PUJA. This is the day where lord Vishnu
discarded his body. And also one more interesting story related to this day, that
the small boy called Nichiketa, he assumed himself that the god of death was
black as dark as Amavasya. But when he met the god of death, Yama in person
he was puzzled seeing Yama’s calm countenance and his dignified stature. And
Yama explained to Nichiketa that by only passing through the darkness of
death, man sees the light of wisdom and then only his soul escapes from the
bondage of his mortal body and mingles with supreme power. And Nichiketa
realized the importance of life and significance of death and he whole heartedly
and enthusiastically participated in diwali celebrations as all his doubt were set
at rest.

PADWA:

The fourth day of diwali is called Padwa or VARSHAPRTIPADA. This day has
some significant relationship between Lord Krishna and Lord Indira. As per to
Vishnu puran, the people of Gokul offered prayers to Lord Indira after every
monsoon season and at once the lord Vishnu stopped these people from offering
prayers to Lord Indira. Lord Indira who in turn in anger sent deluge to
submerge Gokul. And Krishna saved Gokul by holding Govardhan Mountain
like an umbrella over the people. Govardhan- puja is also performed in the
Northern side of India.
BHAIYA-DOOJ:

The fifth day and final day of diwali celebration is marked as symbol love
between brother and sisters. On this day it believed that, the god of death visited
his sister Yami and she put the auspicious tilak on his forehead. They ate, talked
and enjoyed and also they shared some gifts as a symbol of love. And the god
of death, Yama announced that anyone who receives tilak from his sister would
be blessed. Since from it has become pivot reason to celebrate diwali on the
fifth day. And they called it as BHAIYA-DOOJ.

HINDU MYTHOLOGY:

The story of Rama and Sita:-

When the king of Ayodhya Dasharatha, exiled Lord Rama along with his wife
and his younger brother; Lakshman, on his wife’s insistence. Lord Rama
returned from forest after 14 years to his kingdom Ayodhya, in which he put an
end to the demon Ravan who is a pundit but still he was dominated by evil
thoughts. And people gave a warm welcomed Lord Rama, Sita and his younger
brother Lakshman. And the victory of good over evil is celebrated as DIWALI
festival every year in India.

And to some people this day (DIWALI) is marked in relation with the death
of NARAKASURA’S death who feared the world. Lord Vishnu came in
Narasimha Avatar and killed Narakasura. In this story, this Narakasura used to
kidnap all young beautiful women and force them to stay with him and at this
time Lord Krishna took Narasimha Avatar to kill him. Narakasura hoped that
his death might bring joy in others. Thus sometimes good can happen from an
evil works too. Hence this day people celebrated the death of Narakasura death
by bursting of crackers.

However it has very long and old, infact older than the history of India, it its
own drawbacks like bursting of crackers may cause environmental pollution
and also bursting of crackers also causes injuries too.
THE ILL EFFECTS OF BURSTING CRACKERS:

Seems schools and the school children have taken very serious about their
environment in recent days. Very often Government explains to common man
about the ill-effects of bursting of crackers both healths wise in terms of noise, air
pollutions, it affects the children. And also it is illegal employing children in these
hazardous industries. Leading campaign by schools who taken this issue in a big
way creating awareness in children about the ill-effects of bursting of crackers.
And even students participated in a rally flagged by the chief minister Sheila Dixit
organized by Lancer’s convent. Not only does bursting crackers pollutes the
environment, since it is made by using child labour, I find it bad to the cause of
children, who should be free to play and study at school and not work in
dangerous industries. Accidents can happen and children would be the casualties,
be it in the cracker factory or at home. Pollution in any form be it air pollution or
noise pollution harms not only the environment but also the health of people
especially children, who suffer from asthma, deafness, etc. Bursting crackers
makes the matter worse for the already suffering public. Pets such as dogs and
cats also suffer on account of firecrackers as animals have a more sensitive sense
of hearing than humans. It is important for each one of us to act as responsible
citizens and discourage the use of firecrackers.

Firecrackers can cause hearing loss, high blood pressure, sleeping disturbances
and sudden exposure to loud noise can cause temporary or permanent deafness or
even result in heart attack. Nausea and mental impairment are also some of the
side effects of firecrackers.

But this kind of pollution can be stopped forever by adopting a simple method;

WE CAN HAVE A CRACKERS SHOW FOR 2 HOURS IN A COMMON PLACE

WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE AND ENJOY THE CRACKERS, INSTEAD OF EACH
DOING AT THEIR HOME IN A SMALL WAY AND MAKING THE WHOLE CITY
DUSTY WITH PAPER AND POLLUTING THE ENVIRON MENT BUT WITH
THIS SIMPLE ACTION I THINK WE CAN CURB THE POLLUTION FOR SOME
EXTENT.

IN A COMMON PLACE:-

(1)THE SOUND WILL BE ONLY FOR A PARTICULAR TIME

(2) THE PAPER DUST WILL BE ONLY IN ONE PLACE
(3) THE COST OF DIVALI CELEBRATIONS CAN BE REDUCED
(4) NO NEIGHBOURS ENVY
(5) ONLY A LITTLE OF AIR AND SOUND POLLUTION
(6) CAN BE HAD IN A PLACE FAR FROM HOSPITALS
(7) SAFE MEASURES CAN BE ENSURED IN THAT PLACE
(8) MONITERING OF THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IS EASY
(9) ENJOYMENT CAN BE SHARED BY ALL AT THE SAME PLACE
(10) A GET-TOGETHER IS EASY.

©By Arjunan K S