Student name: Wang Weiwei (王维维)
Group number: 25
Group topic: The Diwali Festival
Analysis of Diwali Festival: special significances & negative effects
(School of Tourism, Sun Yat-sen University, Wang Weiwei)
Abstract: “Diwali”, the festival of lights, illuminates the darkness of the New Year’s moon, and strengthens our close friendships and knowledge, with a self-realization. Diwali id celebrated on a nation-wide scale on Amavasya, the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin, which is October/November every year. It symbolizes that age-old culture of India which teaches to vanquish ignorance that subdues humanity and to drive away darkness that engulfs the lights of knowledge. Diwali, the festival of lights even today in this modern world projects the rich and glorious past of India. The essay begins with an overall introduction of the festival’s history, legend, feature and the significance of it. A comparison among the Diwali Festival, Chinese Spring Festival, Christmas Festival and Japanese New Year will be present. At the end, I will give my own opinion and analysis about special significances, negative effects mainly on environmental and economic aspects of the Diwali Festival.
Key words: Diwali Festival; religion; significance; impact
1. Introduction of Diwali Festival
Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the abundance of autumn harvest is dedicated to various gods and goddesses. The festival also marks an important date in the Indian calendar, as the North Indian kingdom of Avadha has celebrated this as the last day of Lord Rama’s long exile of 14 years. As the citizens of Ayodhya eagerly awaited their beloved prince’s return, they lit thousands of lamps to guide his flying vimana (a kind of temple in India) to their city. The darkest night of the year gave way to a glorious morning as Rama returned with his wife and brothers to his ancestral kingdom of Avadha.
Diwali also celebrates the