Results: Diwali -- The Other Festival Of Lights
Published on 10/28/2016
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1.
1.
Diwali (De-Wah-Lee) is the Hindu festival of lights, held in the period October to November. It is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and marks the beginning of the fiscal year in India. This year the festival begins Sunday, October 30. Do you celebrate Diwali?
Yes
6%
104 votes
No
90%
1684 votes
Celebrate certain aspects with friends/family that celebrate
5%
85 votes
2.
2.
Diwali is called the "Festival of Lights" and is celebrated to honor Rama-chandra, the seventh avatar (incarnation of the god Vishnu). It is believed that on this day Rama returned to his people after 14 years of exile during which he fought and won a battle against the demons and the demon king, Ravana. People lit their houses to celebrate his victory over evil (light over darkness). The goddess of happiness and good fortune, Lakshmi, also figures into the celebration. It is believed that she roams the Earth on this day and enters the house that is pure, clean, and bright. Diwali celebrations may vary in different communities but its significance and spiritual meaning is generally "the awareness of the inner light". (Source: Timeanddate.com) Do you enjoy learning about holidays that other cultures or religions celebrate?
Yes, I love knowing about how other cultures/religions celebate
19%
352 votes
Yes, I find it interesting to learn these things
29%
544 votes
Not sure -- maybe some
22%
405 votes
No, I don't
31%
572 votes
3.
3.
Diwali is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world. Here are a few of the ways the holiday is celebrated. How many of these did you know about?
To celebrate, houses are decorated with candles and colourful lights
10%
178 votes
The festival is marked by large firework displays
9%
161 votes
Families and friends share sweets and gifts and there is also a strong belief in giving food and goods to those in need
8%
159 votes
It is traditional for homes to be cleaned and new clothes to be worn at the time of the festival
6%
116 votes
Houses are decorated with colourful rangoli artworks - patterns created on the floor using coloured rice or powder.
5%
88 votes
All of these
3%
56 votes
None of these
77%
1451 votes
4.
4.
Traditional foods are of course a big part of the celebrations. It is customary for the foods to be prepared in the house, and not brought ready made. How many of these traditional foods shared at Diwali have you ever tried?
Mithai -- combination of a snack, a dessert and a sweet, and it is eaten throughout the Diwali festival.
4%
77 votes
Dahi-Bhalle -- fried lentil balls served with yougurt and some chutneys
5%
90 votes
Karanji -- fried pastries with a sweet stuffing like fruit or poppy seeds
3%
52 votes
Samosas -- fried or baked dish with a savoury filling, such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils, macaroni, noodles or minced meat
14%
267 votes
Jalebi -- -- fried wheat flour (twisted into swirls or pretzel shapes) and dipped in sugar syrup
4%
74 votes
Mathiyaa -- one type of papad which is sweet, crunchy and spicy
3%
47 votes
Ghathiya -- deep fried (soft) Indian snacks made from chickpea flour
2%
41 votes
Aloo Tikki -- snack made out of boiled potatoes, onions and various spices
3%
62 votes
I've had all of them
1%
27 votes
None of them
76%
1427 votes
5.
5.
Hindu culture and especially this holiday, is a culture of love, respect, honoring others and humbling one's own ego so that the inner nature, which is naturally pure and modest, will shine forth, Here are just a few of the many beautiful aspects of Hindu culture. How many did you now?
Hindus greet each other with saying Namaste which is a respectful greeting
15%
289 votes
Hindus do not wear footwear inside their homes, temples or other holy places
18%
331 votes
They do not eat non vegetarian foods on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays or on holy or festival days
5%
99 votes
It is common for the women and girls to pierce their noses
16%
292 votes
Hindus worship many deities--it is believed there are 33 core deities
12%
222 votes
Most traditional Hindu homes will have a altar which has miniature replicas of the deities, and they worship there every day
10%
181 votes
The sari is the traditional dress for women and girls--they come in many gorgeous and vibrant colors and fabrics
23%
435 votes
Married Hindu women place a Sindoor between their eyebrows as a symbol of being married, as well as toe rings and bangles -- they are not to have their arms bare
13%
239 votes
None of these
62%
1158 votes
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