Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Houses are decorated with earthen lamps to welcome the goddess of prosperity. In many cultures, lighting lamps signifies dispelling darkness and making offerings. Chinese lanterns symbolize brightness and wishes for the new year. Fanous lanterns in Egypt originated during Ramadan to celebrate and greet. Paris earned its nickname "The City of Light" for being the first European city to light its streets with gas lamps in the 18th century. Across cultures, light during celebrations and festivals symbolizes joy and new beginnings.

1. INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE
STUDIES
GREESHMA KARKERA
ROLL NO- 51
SYBMM
TOPIC : LIGHT

2. Light in Hindu Culture.

3. Diwali, The Festival of Lights
• Diwali is considered to be the one of
the biggest and brightest of all the
Indian Festivals.
• The festival spiritually signifies the
victory of light over darkness.
• The house is decorated with countless
earthen lamps which is typically
believed to welcome The Goddess of
prosperity and Wealth- Lakshmi.

4. Diyas(Earthen Lamps)
• In Hindu culture, lighting a lamp denotes dispelling away darkness.
• Deepavali meaning ‘row of lamps (Deepon ki avali), is celebrated to mark the
victory of good over evil.
• It’s not just a customary practice but signifies the submission of one’s soul to
the supreme power.
• The oil in the diya represents the dirt (greed, jealousy, hatred, anger etc)
that humans tend to nurture while the cotton wick is symbolic of
the aatman (self).

5. Fire
• Ancient Jews had an ever-burning fire on the altar in their synagogues.
• Christians make use of candles in their churches and the Zoroastrians worship fire as
their one true god.
• Fire is not only a Sacred Symbol but has also been the Savior of Mankind since
Prehistoric Times.
• It has kept the Prehistoric people warm in the coldest of nights and has driven away
wild beasts from entering their caves; fire cooks food, burns away trash and
uncleanness.
• Sheds light in the darkness and brings people together around during ceremonies and
bonfires.

7. Significance of light in different
cultures.
• Celebrating Chinese New Year (Imlek)
without Chinese lanterns is like being in
a house with no light.
• Red is considered to be an auspicious
color. Color of celebration and
happiness.
• The Chinese Lantern is truly the heart
of the celebration and it symbolizes the
wish for a bright future.
• The lantern itself is not only a symbol
of brightness, but also of love.

9. Khoom Fay
• Flying Lanterns, traditionally called Khoom Fay, were launched
alongside fireworks during festivals.
• It was a way for them to send their dreams to the heavens.
• This invention is credited to Zhuge Liang, a brilliant strategist from the
Three Kingdoms era in China.
• Many people would offer a Flying Lantern to a monk in order to
receive wisdom, as the flame of the Lantern would guide them to
knowledge and the right path.
•

11. JAPAN

12. FANOUS
• Fanous meaning lamp or light, is widely associated with Fanous and is now
commonly known as the Ramadan lantern.
• The word Fanous" in Egyptian dialect is a term of Greek origin transliterated
to "candle“ and it means 'light' or 'lantern‘.
• The traditional Fanous is show below.

13. • The traditional use of Fanous as decorations is believed to have originated
during the reign of Fatimid Caliphate where tradition holds that the Caliph Al-
Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by the Egyptian people holding lanterns to
celebrate his arrival at Cairo during the holy month of Ramadan.
• Thus it was a symbol of Celebration and Greeting.
• Fanous is now widely used all over the world – especially in Asian regions –
not just for specific religious purposes, but for decorative purposes too.
• It is one of the famous symbolic representation of Ramzan or Ramadan.

14. Modern Version of the
Ramadan Fanous

15. Paris, The city of Light
• Paris is called the “City of Light” as it was the birthplace of the Age of
Enlightenment.
• It was famous as a center of education and ideas throughout Europe.
• The French Enlightenment era kindled a great confidence in modern
man and in his achievements in technology and understanding of the
natural world.
• In 1828, Paris began lighting the Champs-Elysées with gas lamps.

16. • It was the first city in
Europe to do so, and so
earned the nickname “La
Ville de la Lumière” or The
City of Light.

17. CONCLUSION
• During festivals, anniversaries and birthdays, Lights (Candle lights, lanterns,
lamps etc) are lit and this symbolizes joy, happiness, new beginnings and
celebrations.
• In contrast Candle lights are lit at death anniversaries to pay respect to the
deceased and sometimes in memory of an important personnel.
• The significance of light in almost every culture symbolizes good over evil or
ignorance over knowledge.
• Lastly, Light is Love, Light is Warmth, Light is Knowledge & Light is The Life-
force within us.

18. THANK YOU