Guidance Booklet 1
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Light your lamp
for a brighter tomorrow
Burst those firecrackers to drive away failure & sorrow
Make rangolis for a colourful, vibrant life Hope that your year will be
fun filled and bright
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CONTENTS What is Diwali 5 Days of Diwali Significance of Diwali How to celebrate Diwali DIY Lantern Design DIY Rangoli Design Celebration
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Diwali derives from the word Deepavali meaning row of lights
The festival celebrates the triumph of good over
evil
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5 days of Diwali Day 1
Day 3
Day 2
Dhanteras
Diwali
Day accorded for wealth and prosperity. To welcome Lakshmi god of wealth into the home.
Festival of light celebrating the homecoming of Ram and Sita from their 14 year exile.
Kaalichaudus Prayers are carried out to ward off evil and to celebrate Lord Krishna killing the demon Narakasure.
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Day 5
Day 4
Bhaiduj Sisters Day to uphold the bond between siblings.
Govardhan Puja Krishna defeating Indra and saving his kinsmen and cattle from from flooding by lifting up the Goverdhana hills.
Not everyone celebrates all the days but instead have a big party on one day with lots of food. 7
Diwali is celebrated around the world...
...it is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Maurtius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji. 8
Significant to various Religions
Hindus celebrate one of the Diwali legends, which tells of the return of Ram and Sita to Ram’s kingdom, after fourteen years of exile. The lighting of the candles signify the welcoming of Ram and Sita’s homecoming.
For Sikhs, Diwali is particularly important because it celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, and 52 other princes with him, in 1619.
Diwali in Jainism marks the anniversary of Nirvana (final release) of Mahavira’s soul, the 24th and last Jain Tirthankara. The festival marks the end of the year and the passing commemoration of the Tirthankkara Mahvaria.
Sikhs celebrated the return of Guru Hargobind by lighting the Golden Temple and this tradition continues today.
The lighting of the candles signifies the light leaving the body and to mark the occasion for Lord Mahavaria’s enlightenment.
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How can you celebrate Diwali?
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Share sweets, food and presents with your friends and family
laughter
Success
LOVE
Guidance
HO WEALTH PROSPERITY blessed P E HAPPY DIWALI JOYOUS HEALTH
NEW YEAR Happiness
Wish everyone happiness and success in the New Year 11
Lighting small candles around your home signifies purity, goodness, good luck and the non-existence of darkness and evil.
In India the new year is celebrated on the new moon day when there is darkness everywhere. Therefore candles and lanterns are lit to illuminate the surroundings and remove the darkness.
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Make your own tea light lanterns
STEP 1: Wrap the card around your clear candle holder and ensure it goes around the whole circumference. Cut the card to the appropriate size, the height is up to you. STEP 2: Lay the card on a cardboard or foamboard surface and draw out your desired pattern in pencil. STEP 3: Take a pin and create small holes along the lines of your pattern ensuring they are not too far apart from eachother. STEP 4: Once you have completed your pattern, rub out any remaining pencil marks. Then wrap the card around the candle and tape or glue it together. Light your candle and place them around the house.
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Rangoli is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘rangavalli’, which means colour. It is displayed at the entrance of the home to welcome Lakshmi the goddess of wealth and ask for her blessings. The colours are made from coloured chalk and the designs are commonly round and symmetrical in shape. There are no specific designs but they are similar to mandala shapes and style.
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Create your own rangoli design Option 1
Instead of using powders one easy way of creating rangoli is to use the pre-made patterns that are now commonly used in homes. Some have been provided in the celebration box.
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Option 2 This is the more traditional form of rangoli. Using the powders and beads you can design your own rangoli patterns.
STEP 1: Draw out your design on a
piece of paper or card. Remember to place the card where you would like your rangoli to stay as you will not be able to move it after, (preferably not near doors or windows). Depending on your skill level, creating big, basic geometrical shapes is a good place to start.
STEP 2: You can use any material
to fill in your shapes, some have been provided for you in the box. Follow the lines with the coloured powder and use the beads to create texture in your design. 16
STEP 3: You can use your finger to guide the powder into place
or a straight sharp edge such as a ruler. If necessary, apply a glue in your shape to allow the powder or beads to be stuck down.
Starting from the centre and working your way out of your design is important to ensure you do not ruin the rangoli. BE PATIENT DO NOT RUSH!
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Finally, enjoy celebrating Diwali by lighting fireworks and sparklers at night. 18
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Yaagni Patel 1400934
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