Diwali / Deepavali 2018 Nail Design
Happy Deepavali ! Happy Diwali ! Diwali Mubarak! My nail art design and Arabic calligraphy design. “Deepa” means light in Sanskrit (language of scriptures). Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights. Celebrating good over evil. Letting the light in to illuminate the path of goodness. Diwali is the name in Hindi (local language) Diwali is a shared religious holiday for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. Yet the most social of all Hindu holidays, everyone is out eating sweets, buying new clothes, and cleaning their homes! All of India celebrates together regardless of religion. Millions of people around the world celebrate Diwali – it’s an official holiday in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Myanmar, Trinidad and Tobago. In places like, Australia, England, United States there are fireworks and street festivals attended by tens of thousands of people.
Hindu religious traditions for the South and North vary. In Southern India, its believed Lord Krishna vanquished the evil demon Narakasura (good over evil) In the North Lord Rama vanquisher evil demon Ravana. Both good over evil. Shopkeepers and business people conduct Lakshmi Puja, to welcome the Goddess of wealth / prosperity into their homes. In general throughout India is a celebration of good over evil, fireworks, love, joy, happiness and light. It’s the New Year!
My nail design is inspired by light, sparklers, and diyas. A diya is a traditional lamp lit for Deepavali. Middle/thumb finger have 3D crystals with sparklers shooting upward. The pointer/ring have red rhinestones creating a “diya” shape with a chain. The whole process 3.5 hours.
I am including my Arabic Calligraphy design. A Muslim friend started wishing "Diwali Mubarak" I was like that's dope, because "Mubarak" means blessed in Arabic. Through research, I found that many Gujarati (state in Northwest India) also use the same greeting because of the large Muslim population there :) Many Sufis use the same greeting as well, after all India is home to every religion on earth with everyone sharing in Deepavali/Diwali festivities. I used "Diwali" not "Deepavali" because there is no "pa" or "va" sound in Arabic (those letters borrowed from Persian/Urdu)Based on "kuttu valaku" the traditional oil peacock lamp of South Indian people (I'm Tamil) drawn mixing various Arabic scripts, read "Diwali" from base up, "Mubarak" in the bird's face and body with added ornamental elements.Wish you loads of light, love, and peace ! Happy Deepavali!!
