MOON FESTIVAL DESCRIBED BY THE LEARNERS

MOON FESTIVAL is also known as MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL or LANTERN FESTIVAL. The festival falls on the 15^th day of the eighth lunar month. It is an occasion for family members to get together over moon cakes, fruits and fine tea and appreciate the moon. Moon cakes and lanterns are put up for sale as early as a month before the festival. People buy these cakes not only for personal consumption, but also as offerings to ancestors and gifts to senior relatives. Children are happy because they have moon cakes to eat and also have lanterns to play with. Adults take part in lantern making competitions and exhibitions. Puzzles are hung on lanterns for people to solve.

Festival Myths

This festival is linked with the ancient fable of Chang O, the wife of the Divine Archer. The story is told that she was a beautiful woman and how she took a magical pill from her husband and started to float all the way to the moon. It is said she remains there to this day and on the full moon of the eight Luna months, her beauty casts a silvery glow upon the earth.

Moon cakes are also associated with the overthrowing of the Mongol invaders in the 14^th century. The story is the Chinese rebels wanted to overthrow the Mongolian rule, so they plotted to revolt against the government on the fifteen of the eight-month. The messages were passed around hidden in the moon cakes amongst the people who subsequently rose up. They eventually succeeded in overthrowing the Mongolian tyrant.

HINDU FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Deepawali or Diwali, is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and lifting of spiritual darkness. The festival of lights is one of the oldest Hindu festivals occurring in the month of October/November, which marks the beginning of the New Year and return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile. Twinkling oil lamps or divas are used to decorate houses and firework displays are common all across the country. Goddess Lakshmi, who is the symbol of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped on this day. Friends and neighbours exchange special sweets. People buy new clothes, in certain communities it is absolutely essential to wear new clothes on this day. Diwali in India is equivalent to Christmas in the West. Therefore it is also the time when people get the festival bonus to their salaries.

Preparations for the festival begin many days prior to Diwali. It is time for a thorough cleaning of the house, for the belief is that Goddess Lakshmi will enter only clean and nicely decorated houses. The festival extends over about a week, even though the most important day is the new moon day. The day before Diwali is celebrated Choti Diwali or ‘small Diwali’ is also celebrated. It is Diwali on a smaller scale, with few lights lit and few crackers burst. The morning after Choti Diwali, the women of the house make beautiful, coloured ‘Rangoli’ in the doorway and courtyard. Tiny foot prints made out of rice paste are a special feature of the rangoli made for Diwali. They signify the footprints of Lakshmi, as she enters the house.

The second day after Diwali is celebrated as Bhai Duja when sisters apply tilak to their brothers and pray for their long and happy life. Brother gives their sisters presents and sisters make fantastic meal for them.

As Discussed by Students in 'CREATE', CAMBUSLANG

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The word tilak, in the last paragraph.

What is tilak?

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