To hear music again, click Back and click link again
Deepavali - Festival of Lights
Dear Friends,
I wish you, your family and friends, my best wishes for Diwali and New Year.
On October 17, Indians, and Hindus all over the world will celebrate Diwali or Deepavali Holiday. It is equivalent to Christmas in the western countries. India is a multicultural country, and recognizes most major religious holidays. Population of Hindu's is approx. 85%, so obviously this is the most visible holiday; therefore socially, (and commercially!) it is celebrated by just about everyone (like Christmas in the US.)
While there are many religious stories relating this holiday, we will not discuss that today. 'Divo' or 'Deep' means lamp. So in social terms, Diwali or Deepabali means 'Festival of Lights' Diwali always comes on 'No-moon' night, around this year.
What better day to celebrate a festival of lights other than by decorating the darkness of the No-Moon night with hundreds tiny lamps lit up by a cotton wicks merged in oil in tiny earthen bowls (like what you see in the above artwork)! Of course, now a days electric string lights are all over houses and buildings, but few oil-lamps are always lit for the traditional or religious reasons.
Surprisingly, most major world religions celebrate their biggest holidays between October and December. In India there is a special reason to celebrate holidays during this time of year. Most Indian regions have 4 months of extremely hot summer(Mid March-Mid June), and four month of hot and humid monsoon (Mid June - September). During monsoon, farmers migrate to farms, and work very hard. So when crops are ready, or almost ready around this time of the year, they have food on the table (kitchen-floor!), and a little money in their piggy banks. Weather is perfect…. moderate to slightly rosy-chilly. The full-moon before Denali is clearers and intoxicating. During moon-lit 15 days before Diwali, people stay up all night and dance Dandiaraas or Garba (Stick-dance or Clap-dance.) The dark- moon days before Deepavali are mostly dedicated to religious ceremonies. Children enjoy cracking various kinds of firecrackers most of the month, but especially on Diwali, and on the New Year’s Day (day after Diwali). This tradition has added benefit. There are too many mosquitoes during monsoon. The smoke from firecrackers helps reduce them.
The holydays end with Bhai-Dooj (Brother's Day, rather Brother-Sister's Day) (the day after The New Years day). There are two brother-sister days celebrated during a year. On this day brother visits sister's house with lot of goodies and gifts.
The music you are listening is Shehnai music. Of course, I am playing Shehnai on my synthesizer. In next post I will talk about Shehnai instrument, Shehnai music, and My experiments with Synch-Shehnai.
The poetry readers, music listeners, great writers and scholars, editors of literary publications, and book publishers have given me tremendous support and lot of love for over 40 years. I am grateful.
I hope, I continue to provide you with good music compositions, poetry, rhythms, lyrics, and performances for a long time to come, and continue receiving your love and support.
Have a very happy Diwali.
Oasis Thacker