As the world celebrates Diwali, there are a few more festivities we celebrate post and pre-DEEPAWALI.
From grand events to small village fairs, Diwali marks the most important date on the calendar of Hindus worldwide. The clay lamps, beautiful decorations, bonfires, floors with rangoli, sharing of sweets, colourful fireworks, mega discounts on a shopping spree, Diwali gifts, togetherness by family gatherings, religious fervour, and magnificent festivity marks the pricelessness of this festival.
Origin: The festival gets its name from the row (avali in Hindi) of clay lamps (deep in Hindi) lit in every household to symbolize the inner enlightenment that protects us from spiritual darkness. Mythological, people pray to Goddess Lakshmi, who signifies wealth, fortune and prosperity.
AS THE WORLD CELEBRATES IT, REGARDLESS OF FAITH
It is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Indians, and non-Indians. It is the festival giving positive Endeavour to all and bringing them close to the divine. It is based on religious, harvest, mythological and societal fervours.
FIVE DAYS OF GRAND FESTIVITY :
Day 1: Dhanteras
The families consider it auspicious; they clean their homes and buy gold or kitchen utensils.
Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi, also called Chhoti Diwali
Using colours, people decorate their homes with clay lamps and design patterns on the floors, called rangoli.
Day 3: Lakshmi Puja, also called Main Diwali
The families gather together and offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi. The prayers are followed by a magnificent feast and fireworks.
Day 4 : Bali Pratipada or Govardhan Puja
It is considered to be the new year for the Hindus. People visit each other and share sweets and festive gifts. The business people mark this day as a new financial year.
Day 5: Yama Dwitiya or Bhaiduj
Brothers visit their married sisters to culminate the bond.
MYTHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE :
There is more than one reason for the festive fervour behind celebrating Diwali. Many stories have been picked up from the religious scriptures of Hinduism.
1. LORD RAM RETURNED FROM EXILE :
Lord Ram from Ayodhya was exiled by his father, who ruled Ayodhya. In the quest, his wife, Sita, was abducted by a demonic ruler Ravana from Lanka. To defeat Ravana and conquer his wife back, Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Lakshmi. After the victory, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya. He was welcomed by lighting the whole city with clay lamps to mark the win of good over evil.
2. GODDESS MAHALAKSHMI WAS BORN :
Goddess Lakshmi had incarnated from the depth of a bottomless ocean. She was subsequently married to Lord Vishnu on the same day, and to mark these occasions, lamps were lit in a row to illuminate the grand event.
3. LORD VISHNU RESCUED LAKSHMI FROM THE PRISON OF KING BALI:
According to the Bhagavad Purana, the most sacred Hindu literature, Lord Vishnu tricked King Mahabali into giving his kingship and wealth. Diwali marks the overcoming of Lord Vishnu over violent Mahabali.
4. NARAKASURA WAS DEFEATED BY LORD KRISHNA’S WIFE, SATHYABHAMA :
Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Krishna and killed Narakasura on the day preceding Diwali. He rescued 16,000 women whom the demon Narakasura had imprisoned in his palace. This deliverance is celebrated with much grandeur as Diwali.
5. THE PANDAVAS RETURNED AFTER 12 YEARS OF BANISHMENT :
According to the most powerful Hindu epic, Mahabharata, the Pandavas returned to Hastinapur after 12 years of banishment after their defeat in the game of dice. Their return was celebrated by lighting clay lamps as a tradition.
6. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION TO CORONATION OF KING VIKRAMADITYA :
Following the victory over the Sakas in 56 BC, legendary Indian ruler Vikramaditya was coroneted on Diwali. Vikram Aditya was one of the greatest rulers in the world and had an empire from Thailand to Saudi Arabia.
7. DAYANANDA SARASWATI ATTAINED NIRVANA :
Swami Dayananda Saraswathi attained nirvana and became Maharshi Dayananda, the great sage, on Diwali. He was one of the greatest reformers of Hinduism and founded a society of nobles.
8. THE KHARIF CROP HARVEST FESTIVAL :
India is an agro-economic society and has immense significance to a rich harvest. Diwali gives new meaning to the celebrations when rice cultivation gives the most fruitful results for all the farmers.
9. NEW YEAR FOR HINDUS ALL OVER THE GLOBE :
Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world. On Diwali, all Hindu business people commence a new financial year and close the account books of the last year by clearing all the debts.
10. A REMARKABLE DAY FOR THE SIKHS :
The third Sikh Guru, Amar Das, institutionalized Diwali as the occasion when the Sikhs could gather to receive his blessings. Additionally, the sixth Sikh guru, Hargobind Ji, was released from the imprisonment of Mughal emperor Jahangir on Diwali in 1619. The foundation stone of the Golden Temple was laid in 1577 on Diwali.
However, despite the tales and stories being from different yugs, their message is the same, good always over evil. Keep the fire of your inner goodness ignited.
