Diwali 2023 Illuminations: Stories, Savouries, and Sarees
Sparkling Significance
It’s that time of the year again! The 'Festival of Lights' as it’s fondly called, Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word 'Deepavali' which means a ‘row of lights’. This season, the magic of love and brotherhood hovers over India like a divine blessing while people come together in one absolute festive spirit. Ram’s return from Vanvas, Krishna vanquishing Narakasur, Mahaveera attaining Nirvana, and Guru Hargovinds’ freedom from imprisonment may be different reasons to celebrate Diwali. Still, the undertone of the triumph of good over evil lays a strong foundation for people to establish themselves in a righteous, dharmic way of living. Deepavali is a current of luminescence which removes the darkness of ignorance
Light Up The Celebrations!
The spirit of celebration runs riot during the Diwali season and the ambience is one of twinkling lights, alluring colours, and breathtaking beauty. It is pure indulgence for all the five senses – diyas and rangolis for the visual, the sound of mantra-chanting for the auditory, the aroma of sweets and incense for olfactory, the taste of sweets and savouries for gustatory, and the silken or cottony feel of new Sarees and Veshtis for tactile – gaiety at its absolute best!
Diwali is celebrated for a whole 5 days in North India with great pomp and splendour. The first day is celebrated as Dhanteras, an auspicious day for new beginnings. The second day is Choti Diwali (which is the main Diwali in the south). Next comes Lakshmi Pooja, the day of the emergence of Goddess Lakshmi during Samundra Manthan. The fourth and fifth days mark the Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj. Different reasons to celebrate, but they are unified in the mode of celebration and that is the uniqueness of the Indian spirit.
Sarees to Flaunt This Diwali
Shringar or dressing up is the best part of the celebrations for womenfolk. Angelic-looking women, clad in silken finery, carrying beautifully decorated trays laden with sumptuous sweets, present a pretty picture during Diwali season. It is the season of indulging oneself with an untrammelled shopping experience, what with an enchanting cornucopia of sarees to select from – bewitching Banarasi brocades, beautiful Bandhinis, charming Chanderis, opulent Organzas, kaleidoscopic Kanchipurams, pleasant Pochampallis, and tantalising Tussars. For the Lakshmi Puja festivities, women wear a traditional outfit and for the Diwali party, they go all out and cast a charm with their sarees and shringar.
Gastronomical Highlights
Sweet shops are abuzz with streaming crowds, the aroma of sweets made with pure ghee wafting through the atmosphere filling every nook and corner of space. There is a hectic activity with dozens of sweets being crammed into tastefully decorated boxes, sealed, ribboned, and put out for sale. There are home preparations too, with folks at home unleashing their expert culinary skills to make gooey Gulab Jamuns, luscious Luchis, juicy Jalebis, rich and creamy Rasmalais, munchy Mohanthals, ambrosia-like Athirasams, lovely Laddus, killer Kaju Katlis, and many other delectable deserts. To balance this saccharine overload, there are also crispy savouries like Ribbon Pakoda, Murukku, Thenkuzhal, Omappodi, mixture, Matri, and others.
Fireworks at Tulsi Madras!
The diyas that we light for Diwali expel the darkness on the darkest night of the year. The sweets we eat bring a happy grin to our faces and the sparklers, Anars (flowerpots), Chakris (ground spinners), and other crackers create an air of high-spiritedness in our homes. Add the factor of luxury to this by visiting Tulsi Madras to check out our stupendous sparkling new collections which will certainly sweep you off your feet.
