Do You Celebrate any Festival with Fire Works ?
By AKRao24
@AKRao24 (27424)
India
October 28, 2010 12:44am CST
India is a country of festivals. Elderly people say that each day of the year has been attached with one or other Hindu Gods to celebrate some or other functions or festivals on daily basis. It is very obvious to have so many festivals in India because Hindus believe that there are 33 Crores of Gods (10 millions equals one crore!) in existence and they want to worship all the Gods. Basically the three Gods are Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, But then Brahma for some reasons explained in the literature never worshipped and remaining two are worshipped along with the near and dear ones. Vishnu is believed to have many forms of Gods in each life (reincarnation) and each one of the incarnated form is worshipped by Indians.
Indian festivals have a different theme for different festival with an history associated with it. Thus Holi is a festival of colours where it is celebrated with colours, Sankrant is a festival of kites (Plus worship of other deities), Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival of Lord Ganesha , who has a head of an Elephant, Dusserra is celebrated for various reasons and during this period 'Durga' a Goddess believe to be the 'Shakti' which means power is worshipped. if we go on counting the festivals (all these festivals are celebrated public ally) we will end up with a big book.
Now, Come Winter means it is to welcome Diwali, a festival celebrated with lamps and Fireworks. It is believed that on this day a Demon by name Narakasur was killed by lord Krishna's wife in a battle, who was torturing the people at that time. To celebrate the happiness this festival is celebrated. It is said that this is the time when Lord Rama returned back from his Camping from the forest along with his wife Seeta, whom the wicked Ravana kidnaps to meet his end.They say that on this day Ayodhya, capital of Lord Rama's Kingdom was decorated with lamps and fire works
to welcome him, after this has become customary for the Indians to celebrate this festival annually with lamps and fire works.
Diwali means 'A row of lamps" during the night of Diwali every home decorates their houses with small oil lamps or lights arranged in a row and use fire works to celebrate the function in a grand way which lasts for three days. Though now a days because of noise pollution and environment protection awareness the fire works have gone ow considerably.Previously during our childhood there used to be a lot of fireworks seen on these days.
I think every festival is having some scientific reason behind it. During Diwali they use fireworks com praising some chemicals and after the festivals we miss to see all those small insect and mosquitoes which other wise used to be a big menace till the Diwali. Farmers take a breath of relief as these pests are totally wiped out by the smoke generated during the festival and common citizens are also happy to get rid of mosquitoes and other harmful insects.
Now I wouldliketo know is there any festival resembling Diwali in any part of the World where the festival is celebrated with Fire works? I know one festival ) called 'Chanukah' (pronounciated as Hanuka) a festival celebrated by Jewish people with fire works ( We had a horse by name Chanukah, that's why I came to now about this festival). Please Respond! Thanks !
4 people like this
12 responses
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
28 Oct 10
I enjoy celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks. I don't really celebrate any other occasions with fireworks.1 person likes this
@dorisday1971 (5657)
• Philippines
28 Oct 10
We do have fireworks only during New Year's Eve.
That's the only time of the year when I buy fireworks and have fireworks display.
It is fun to see different lights in the air on New Year's Eve.
1 person likes this
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
28 Oct 10
I can't think of a special occasion here that requires fireworks except new year. Well, you can actually celebrate anything with fireworks if you want to. It can be a grand opening of a store or what not.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
28 Oct 10
Thanks for responding, Yes one can have works any time to celebrate the happiness but then you need to have permission from the Local Authorities to celebrate such things at randomly to avoid nice and environmental pollution! Thus in some countries they have strict Laws for holding fire works! Thanks !
1 person likes this
@srjac0902 (1170)
• Italy
28 Oct 10
The tradition of celebrating the festival of light is present in all nations and in all religions. Some may do it on the New Year's day, some for Christmas and as it is said above at the various occasions of festivals like Deepavali Dasserra etc. In Hindu custom the celebration of light is spectacular. I remember my younger day when the temples used to decorate the Ratham with 100000 lamps and take the procession by pulling the Ratham along the village streets. All these are the means and reminders for us to think something beyond, to think of something that is noble.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
28 Oct 10
Well said Srjac , you are right. Most of the people must be celebrating their festivals with fire works under different names. Ultimately every one wants to enjoy the life and because of geographical and cultural difference various people belonging to various places celebrate at different time as per the convenience of theirs.
I agree with you regarding the Ratham decorated with several thousands of oil lamps takes you to a different world and definitely reminds you of some thing special and noble! Thanks for responding!
1 person likes this
@santosmarichris (1849)
• Philippines
28 Oct 10
Hi! Wow, that's a cool celebration. Here, we have fireworks on New Years Eve. It's a way of welcoming the coming year. It's so much fun, colorful and noisy, lol. 
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
28 Oct 10
Yes Dear Santosmarichris I can understand that you people must be having a nice time during the New Years Eve with a lot of Fire Works. What a colourful, noisy, jubilant Welcome that you must be having during that time, I can imagine! That must be really fun filled and enjoyable night for all of you people staying these. Wish you Happy New Year in advance and fun filled fire works this year also to Welcome the New Year! Thanks for responding!
1 person likes this
@abhikala1 (2)
• India
28 Oct 10
here in india as you said we use fireworks in diwali. as it is the main festival in which we use fireworks. but there are also more festival in which we use fireworks such as kali puja in calcutt, we also use fireworks in durga puja for lighting fire to ravana as in our relegious books sais at 10th day of durja puja lord ram killed the ravana. also in some places like bihar and uttarpradesh there is one festival called as chhath puja which is dedicated to lord Sun. fireworks is also used in that festival in huge way. The chhath puja is performed in order to thank Sun for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. The Sun, considered the god of energy and of the life force, is worshiped during the chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In hindu mythology, Sun worship is believed to help cure a verity of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure thelongevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
28 Oct 10
Thanks Abhikala for adding additional information about the use of fire works in various other festivals other than Diwali. Yes we have different states and different cultures in India which is peculiar to each state, so we have difference in the celebrations. This the speciality of our country, there is an unity in Diversity!
Your information regarding the Chhath puja is worth appreciating and you deserves a compliment for a good piece of work!
Thanks for responding and Wish you Happy Diwali in advance!
1 person likes this
@lisasmith (22)
• Canada
29 Oct 10
we also do fireworks where am from, especially when they have the countdown into the new year. it's so nice to see the sky light up with such beautiful colors.
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
29 Oct 10
Yes dear Lisa Smith, I agree with you that its really nice to see the sky light up with beautiful colors because of the fire works on the eve of New Year. It adds to the mood of jubilee and celebration to the count down into the New Year! The fire works in the sky not only makes the people who are using them but they send the Happy New Year Wishes and Message to the people ho are staying much Way from the site but still they can witness the fire works in the sky. What a beautiful idea of conveying the Wishes on the Occasion of New Year to one and all! Thanks for participating!
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
4 Jul 11
Here in our country almost every big occasion is attached with fireworks display or fireworks use. From fiesta celebrations to celebrating New year. I think, it has become part of our tradition to play some fireworks. Some folks say that its a way of driving out evil as well as bad luck.
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
5 Jul 11
Dear jpso! Yes,now a days in many countries apart from specific festivals where fireworks are used, people are using the fire works to celebrate any occasion which brings happiness to them! Like in India in the recent past we had lot of fire works almost all over the country during the night when India won the Cricket World Cup. Every city, town and village was seen celebrating the joy with the fire works! Thanks for the information that in Philippines people use fireworks to drive out the bad luck from their lives! Thanks for responding!
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
28 Oct 10
In our home, we usually welcome a new year with fireworks. It is pretty much noisy and it feels like you're in the middle of a war becuase of all the noise and the fireworks. Other occasions are also marked with fireworks, but it would depend on the local government whether it would have a fireworks display or not. For example, we have a flower festival in our locality, and at the end of the festival, the local government would sponsor a fireworks display. A big mall also usually ends the festival with fireworks. But, it is not as resplendant as that on new year.
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
28 Oct 10
Thanks dear Gloryscam for responding. I am happy to know that you people Welcome c New Year with fire Works.Yes sounds quite interesting. Yes you all must be having the feel as if you are in battle field. I can imagine the amount of sound you must be getting. Usually at time you start these celebrations and till what time you continue. Do you celebrate this through out the night? Please respond! Thanks !
1 person likes this
@sjhaeki (795)
• Philippines
28 Oct 10
i know we celebrate Christmas and New Years with a bang! some companies or people also use fireworks on their openings or anniversaries or other major parties.
we don't use fireworks personally, because it's dangerous though i like watching the bright lights and colors.
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
28 Oct 10
Thanks dear Sjhaeki, happy to know that you people use fire works during Christmas and New Years day. Using fire works on openings of some firms and other private occasion is a different thing as here a particular group is involved in the affair. In festivals almost whole of the society is involved!
I agree fire works can be dangerous at times if not used personally, but then it is the way people in India celebrate this festival Diwali in India! Thanks for responding!
@starlight_starbright (810)
• Philippines
28 Oct 10
Hello there!
Well, we normally have fireworks during New Year. That is the most significant time wherein we uses fireworks to welcome the new year. On the other hand, as I have observed in my city, most people use fireworks in almost all events. Last March during my father's 60th birthday, we had fireworks as the highlight of his party. During my neighbor's wedding, they also used fireworks when they went out of the church. And yesterday, after the Local Election for local government in different cities and hometowns, the elected officers had a fireworks display during the celebration of their victory. Fireworks play a very important role in most of the celebrations her in the Philippines. ^_^
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
29 Oct 10
Yes, celebrating the arrival of New Year wit the fire work, seems to be a common thing in most parts of the World. I think it is a grand invitation to the New Year and what else can be better way than this to enter into a New year.
I am really happy to know that you have celebrated your Father's 60th Birth Day with fire works. This simple gesture of yours must have made his day and he must have been a proud father of you people involved in the Celebration. Indeed it was a good idea.
To have fore works like you mentioned during the wedding, or after winning the elections, here in India also we have these, but then they are-done at a small scale. but in some countries we need to have special permission to to have fire works other than the officially declared to hold the fire works! this may be to check the noise and environmental pollution! Thanks for responding dear Star Light Star Bright!
@Cherish14 (2693)
• Philippines
11 Mar 11
hi there.
we usually just use fireworks during new years but since it is also banned because of so many accidents, we rarely use it. but for some festivals in big places, they still do, and maybe for some people who are very wealthy, like in the neighborhood like 2 weekends ago, they had fireworks during a birthday celebration.
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
11 Mar 11
Hi Dear Cherish! I think it is always a nice thing and experience to have fire works during new year celebrations! But then accidents because of this can ruin the happiness! Though it is not a happy thing to know that these things have been banned, but then banning as a precautionary measures should be really appreciated! I am happy to know that some people are using fire works during special events to celebrate! I hope they must b getting permission from the concerned authorities before doing so!
Thanks for responding!
Thanks for responding!