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Diwali-Festival
of light and Prosperity |
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Diwali
is a five day Hindu festival which occurs
on the fifteenth day of Kartika. Diwali
means "rows of lighted lamps"
and the celebration is often referred to
as the Festival of Lights. Diwali is the
Hindu festival welcoming Ram and Sita out
of the forest and celebrating the Hindu
New Year. Deepvali is the Sanskrit word
meaning rows of lights. Some people light
decorated candles, some decorated clay diva
lamps, and other decorative lights and put
them in their windows for the festival.
Deepvali is now shortened to the better
known diwali. During this time, homes are
thoroughly cleaned and windows are opened
to welcome Laksmi, goddess of wealth. Candles
and lamps are lit as a greeting to Laksmi.
Gifts are exchanged and festive meals are
prepared during Diwali. |
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festival begins with Dhanteras, a day set aside
to worship Laksmi. In the Indian culture, wealth
is not viewed as a corruptive power. Instead, a
wealthy person is considered to have been rewarded
for good deeds of a past life, i.e karma.
On the second day of the festival, Kali, the goddess
of Strength, is worshipped.
On the 3rd day ( the last day of the year in the
lunar calendar), lamps are lighted and shine brightly
in homes. The lamp symbolizes knowledge.
The fourth day of Diwali falls on the first day
of the lunar New Year. At this time, old business
accounts are settled and new books are opened.
The books are worshipped in a special ceremony
by Indian priests and participants are encouraged
to remove anger, hate, and jealousy from their
lives.
On the last day (Balipratipada) of the festival,
Bali, an ancient Indian king, is recalled and
remembered. Bali destroyed the centuries old philosophies
of the society. However, in addition to this,
he is remembered for being a generous and kind
person. Hence, the significance of this day is
to see the good in others, including enemies.
The Jain communities of India celebrate Diwali
as a New Year's Day. Lord Mahavira, the founder
of Jainism, attained his Nirvana on the day of
Diwali.
Sikhs celebrate Diwali to express joy at the return
of the sixth Guru to Amritsar in 1620; Emperor
Jahangir had imprisoned him along with 52 Hindu
kings. The Guru was granted freedom but refused
to leave until the kings were also released.
Diwali is by far the most enthusiastically enjoyed
festival in India. People of different nationalities,
races, religions and backgrounds come together
to share their joys generating a feeling of universal
brotherhood and inter-religious harmony.
Religious
Meaning
Worship of the Goddess of Wealth (Laxmi),
observance of the New Year and performance
of Aarti (a ritual that combines worship
and adoration) are a part of the festival
On the second day of Deepavaali (Kali Choudas)
a ritual that is strongly suggestive of
the origin of Deepavaali as an harvest festival
is performed. On this day delicacies are
prepared from pounded semi-cooked rice (called
Poha or Pova). This rice is taken from the
fresh harvest available at that time. This
custom is prevalent both in rural and urban
areas especially in Western India. In rural
areas, Diwali signifies only this aspect.
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First
day-Dhantheras (10 November 2004)
In colloquial parlance, Dhanatrayodashi is called Dhanteras
and its twinkling lights set the mood of India's greatest
and most popular festival -- Diwali, the festival of
lights. Dhanteras is essentially Diwali eve. The day
is usually spent by most families in finishing their
shopping for the festival. By the time the satiated
shoppers come home, it is time to light the first lamps
of Diwali and to hang up paper lanterns with festoons
which send out messages of love and goodwill to all.
Dhanteras, being a festival of wealth, also means inaugurations
and new purchases of expensive possessions. Many Indians
set up their businesses, launch new projects, hold housewarming,
set wedding dates, buy cars or jewellery on this auspicious
day.
Dhanteras evening is most exciting. While the lamps
flicker in the darkness and the radiance of the flames
removes the darkness of sorrow and past misdeeds, Lakshmi,
the goddess of luster, beauty and wealth visits every
home. Outside the threshold of every home, a rangoli,
alpana or floor pattern is drawn with coloured powders
or a nice paste and the stylised, tiny footprints of
Lakshmi are drawn in vermilion to symbolise her arrival.
Doorways are hung with torans of mango leaves and
marigolds. Rangolis are drawn with different
coloured powders to welcome guests. The traditional
motifs are often linked with auspicious symbols of good
luck. Oil diyas are arranged in and around the
house. Because of these flickering lamps, the festival
has acquired its name : Dipawali or Diwali
meaning `a rows of lamps'. On this day, people
buy something for the house or some jewellery for the
women of the house. It is auspicious to be buy something
metallic, especially silver.
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Second Day-
Kali Chaudas
On second day there is a traditional practice
especially in Maharashtra of taking bath before
sunrise with oil and "Uptan" (paste)
of gram flour and fragrant powder. In northern
India, especially in places like the Punjab, Diwali
is dedicated to the worship of Lord Rama. While
in Bengal, Kali/Durga, the goddess of strength,
is worshipped? This reverence is called "Kali
Chaudas or Kal Chaturdasi". It is believed
that on this day kali killed the wicked Raktavija.
Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, the symbol
of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshipped
in most Hindu homes on this day. Diwali is one
of the few Hindu festivals which is celebrated
in every part of the country, even in states like
Kerala, that has Onam as its main festival. To
the Jain's, Deepavali has an added significance
to the great event of Mahaveera attaining the
Eternal Bliss of Nirvaana. The passing into Eternity
on the same Amavasya of Swami Dayananda Saraswati,
that leonine sanyasin who was one of the first
to light the torch of Hindu Renaissance during
the last century, and of Swami Ramatirtha who
carried the fragrance of the spiritual message
of Hindu Dharma to the western world, have brought
the national-cum-spiritual tradition of Deepaavali
right up to modern times. |
Third
Day--Diwali
Laxmi Pujan, The day of Amavasya or the new moon which
usually falls on the 14th day of the month of Kartik
as per Indian lunar calendar sees the hub of the week
long festive period. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped as
it is believed that on this day Goddess Lakshmi would
be in her benevolant mood and would fulfill all the
wishes of her devotees. One version says that it was
on this day Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagara
when the Gods and demons were churning the ocean world
for raising of Amrita, the mythical elixir of life.
On this day there is a traditional practice specially
in Maharashtra of taking bath before sunrise with oil
and "Uptan" (paste) of gram flour and fragrant
powders.
There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly
pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as
Naivedya In villages cattle's are adorned and worshipped
by farmers as they form the main source of their income.
In south cows are offered special veneration as they
are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi
and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this
day.
In South India that victory of the divine over the mundane
is celebrated in a very peculiar way. People wake up
before sunrise prepare blood by mixing Kumkum in oil
and after breaking a bitter fruit that represents the
head of the demon King that was smashed by Krishna,
apply that mixture on their foreheads. Then they have
an oil bath using sandalwood paste.)
Fourth day- Govardhan-Puja
Govardhan-Puja is also performed in the North on the
fourth day. This day is also observed as Annakoot meaning
mountain of food. In temples especially in Mathura and
Nathadwara, the deities are given milk bath, dressed
in shining attires with ornaments of dazzling diamonds,
pearls, rubies and other precious stones. After the
prayers and traditional worship innumerable varieties
of delicious sweets are offered to the deities as "Bhog"
and then the devotees' approach and take Prasad. Goddess
Lakshmi is worshipped in every Hindu household. In many
Hindu homes it is a custom for the wife to put the red
tilak on the forehead of her husband, garland him and
do his "Aarathi" with a prayer for his long
life. In appreciation of all the tender care that the
wife showers on him, the husband gives her a costly
gift. This Gudi Padwa is symbolic of love and devotion
between the wife and husband. On this day newly married
daughters with their husbands are invited for special
meals and given presents. Diwali celebration is a very
happy occasion for all.
Fifth Day- Bhayya-Duj
The festival of Diwali is not complete without yet another
festival, known by the name of "Bhayya-Duj"
in the Hindi-speaking belt, "Bhav--Bij" in
the Marathi-speaking communities, "Bhai Phota"
to the Bengalees and in Nepal by the name of "Bhai-Tika".
It is observed on the second day following Diwali or
the new moon. As the legend goes Yamraj, the God of
Death visited his sister Yami on this particular day.
She put the auspicious tilak on his forehead, garlanded
him and led him with special dishes and both of them
together ate the sweets, talked and enjoyed themselves
to their heart's content, while parting Yamraj gave
her a special gift as a token of his love and in return
Yami also gave him a lovely gift which she had made
with her own hands. That day Yamraj announced that anyone
who receives tilak from his sister will never be thrown.
That is why this day of Bhayyaduj is also known by the
name of "Yama-Dwitiya" Since then this day
is being observed as a symbol of love between sisters
and brothers. It became also imperative for the brother
to go to his sister's house to celebrate Bhayya-duj. |
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