Diwali in Madhya Pradesh
Diwali is an important festival of the people of Madhya Pradesh.Diwali is celebrated for five days.Many days before Diwali, people start decorating their homes, making sweets and other delicious items. People light up their homes and shops with fancy and bright lights.They buy new clothes and jwellery etc.
The First Day of Diwali is known as ‘ Dhanteras’. This festival came two days before Diwali. On this day people used to buy new utensils and other gold and silver items. At night women of the houses made diva of kneaded flour and lit diva in front of the door of the house and worship Goddess Laxmi to give them good health, wealth and prosperity.
The Second Day of Diwali is known as ‘Choti Diwali’ or ‘Roop Chaturdashi’.Choti Diwali is celebrated on a smaller scale. The houses are enlighted with fancy lights and bulbs. Children burn crackers on this day also. On this day people take rital bathe and do meditation to gain beauty and magnetism. That’s why this festival is also known as ‘Roop Chaturdeshi’.
The Third Day of Diwali is known as ‘Laxmi Pujan or ‘Chpda Pujan’. In morning the women of the houses cleaned and decorated their houses and pooja room. At night Lord Ganesha , Goddess Laxmi and other Gods and Goddesses are worshipped. The women of the houses do ‘ aarti’ to their husbands and pray for his long life. Diwali is also a start of new business year. So at Diwali night all businessmen closed their old accounts and present it to goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha during ‘chopda Pujan ‘.
The Fourth Day of Diwali is known as 'Goverdhan Puja' or 'Annakoot' .On this day people worship lord Krishna and Mount govardhan whick is near to Mathura . They worshipped Lord Krishna who gave protection to the cowherd clam of vrindavan from the anger of Lord Indra. They preared Annakoot ie. A dish which is being cooked from mixed vegetables and bazaar and curry.
The Fifth Day of Diwali is known as ' Bhai Dooj' or ' Bhatri Ditya' . This festival is dedicated to the purest bond shared between brothers and sisters. On this day sisters put tikka to their brothers and prayed to Lord Yamraja for her brother's long life and prosperity and in return brothers promised their sisters to always help them in need of time'Rojagara' is a festival which is celebrated in some regions of Madhya Pradesh. The people of Madhya Pradesh worshipped Goddess Laxmi for Good health , wealth and prosperity. Diwali is a festival of joy and happiness. On the day of Diwali many folk dances are also performed in this region. The Baiga and Gond Trubes of Madya Pradesh performed their traditional dances on this festival.
