Diwali
Diwali also called the "festival of lights", is an ancient Hindu festival
celebrated in autumn every year. The festival spiritually signifies the
victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil,
and hope over despair. The festival preparations and rituals typically
extend over a five day period, but the main festival night of Diwali
coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month
Kartik. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October
and mid-November.
Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate and decorate their homes. On
Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up
diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in
family puja typically to Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
After puja (prayers), fireworks follow, then a family feast including mithai
(sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends.
Diwali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.
Diwali is an important festival for Hindus. The name of festive days as well
as the rituals of Diwali vary significantly among Hindus, based on the
region of India. In many parts of India, the festivities start with
Dhanteras, followed by Naraka Chaturdasi on second day, Diwali on the third
day, Diwali Padva dedicated to wife-husband relationship on the fourth day,
and festivities end with Bhau-beej dedicated to sister-brother bond on the
fifth day. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra.
On the same night that Hindus celebrate Diwali, Jains celebrate a festival
of lights to mark the attainment of moksha by Mahavira, Sikhs similarly
celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas and Arya Samajists celebrate Shardiya
Nav-Shasyeshti.
Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar,
Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and
Fiji.
Etymology and History
Diwali (Divali) is derived from the Sanskrit fusion word meaning light,
lantern, lamp and meaning ‘row or series of lights’. It is also called
festival of lights, because part of its celebration include millions of
lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and
other buildings in communities and countries where it is celebrated.
Diwali dates back to ancient times in India, as a festival after the summer
harvest, in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik. The festival is mentioned in
Padma Purana, Skanda Purana and other ancient Sanskrit scriptures of Hindus;
the diyas (lamps) are mentioned in Skanda Purana to symbolically represent
parts of sun, the cosmic giver of light and energy to all life, who
seasonally transitions in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik.
Significance
Diwali is one of the happiest of holidays, with significant preparations.
People clean their homes and decorate them for the festivities. Diwali is
one of the biggest shopping seasons in India; people buy new clothes for
themselves and their families, gifts, appliances, kitchen utensils, small to
big ticket items such as cars and gold jewelry.
People also buy gifts for family members and friends which typically
includes sweets, dry fruits and seasonal specialities depending on regional
harvest and customs. It is also the period when little kids hear ancient
stories, legends, myths and battle between good and evil, light and darkness
from their parents and elders. Girls and women go shopping, and create
rangoli and other creative patterns on floors, near doors and walkways.
Youth and grown ups graduate to helping with lighting and preparing for
patakhe (fireworks).
There is significant variation in regional practices and rituals. Depending
on the region, prayers are offered before one or more deities, with most
common being Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and prosperity. On Diwali
night, fireworks light up the neighborhood skies.
Later, family members and invited friends celebrate the night over food and
sweets.
Spiritual Significance
Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs to mark historical events,
stories or myths, but they all spiritually mark the victory of light over
darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.
In the Yoga, Vedanta, and Samkhya schools of Hindu philosophy, a central
belief is that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is
pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. The celebration of Diwali as
the "victory of good over evil", refers to the light of higher knowledge
dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks one's true nature, not as
the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent
reality. With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the
oneness of all things, and knowledge overcomes ignorance. Diwali is the
celebration of this Inner Light over spiritual darkness, knowledge over
ignorance, right over wrong, good over evil.
Religious Significance in Hinduism
The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India,
depending on the school of Hindu philosophy, regional myths, legends and
beliefs.
Many see Diwali honouring the return of the hero Rama, his wife Sita and his
brother Lakshmana from exile, as told in the ancient Hindu epic called the
Ramayana. To some, Diwali marks the return of Pandavas after 12 years of
Vanvas and one year of agyatavas in the other ancient Hindu epic called the
Mahabharata. Many other Hindus believe Diwali is linked to the celebration
of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of deity Vishnu.
The five day festival of Diwali begins on the day Lakshmi was born from the
churning of cosmic ocean of milk during the tug of war between the forces of
good and forces of evil; the night of Diwali is the day Lakshmi chose Vishnu
as her husband and then married him. Some Hindus offer pujas to additional
or alternate deities such as Kali, Ganesha, Saraswati, and Kubera. Other
Hindus believe that Diwali is the day Vishnu came back to Lakshmi and their
abode in the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of
her good mood, and therefore are blessed with mental, physical and material
well-being during the year ahead.
In India's eastern region, such as West Bengal, Lakshmi is not worshipped,
only deity Kali is worshipped and the festival is called Kali Puja. In
India's Braj and north central regions, deity Krishna is recognized. People
mark Mount Govardhan, and celebrate legends about Krishna. In other regions,
the feast of Annakoot is celebrated, with 56 or 108 different cuisines
prepared, offered to Krishna, then shared and celebrated by the local
community.
In West, South and certain Northern parts of India, the festival of Diwali
marks the start of a new Hindu year. Along with Goddess Lakshmi, offerings
are made to Ganesha who symbolizes ethical beginnings and fearless remover
of obstacles; Saraswati who symbolizes music, literature and learning; and
Kubera who symbolizes book keeping, treasury and wealth management.
Description and Rituals
Diwali is a five day festival in many regions of India, with Diwali night
centering on the new moon - the darkest night - at the end of the Hindu
lunar month of Ashvin and the start of the month of Kartika. In the Common
Era calendar, Diwali typically falls towards the end of October, or first
half of November each year. The darkest night of autumn lit with diyas,
candles and lanterns, makes the festival of lights particularly memorable.
Diwali is also a festival of sounds and sights with fireworks and rangoli
designs; the festival is a major celebration of flavors with feasts and
numerous mithai (sweets, desserts), as well as a festival of emotions where
Diwali ritually brings family and friends together every year.
Like major festivals of the world, rituals and preparations for the Indian
festival Diwali begin days or weeks in advance. The festival formally begins
two days before the night of Diwali, and ends two days after.
Dhanteras
Dhanteras kicks off the five day festival. Starting days before and through
Dhanteras, houses and business premises are cleaned, renovated and
decorated. Women and children decorate entrances with Rangoli - creative
colorful floor designs both inside and in the walkways of their homes or
offices. Boys and men get busy with external lighting arrangements and
completing all renovation work in progress. For some, the day celebrates the
churning of cosmic ocean of milk between the forces of good and forces of
evil; this day marks the birthday of Lakshmi - the Goddess of Wealth and
Prosperity, and the birthday of Dhanvantari - the Goddess of Health and
Healing. On the night of Dhanteras, diyas (lamps) are ritually kept burning
all through the nights in honor of Lakshmi and Dhanvantari.
Dhanteras is also a major shopping day, particularly for gold or silver
articles. Merchants, traders and retailers stock up, put articles on sale,
and prepare for this day. Lakshmi Puja (sometimes spelled Laxmi puja) is
performed in the evening. Some people decorate their shops, work place or
items symbolizing their source of sustenance and prosperity.
Naraka Chaturdasi
Narak Chaturdasi is the second day of festivities, and is also called Choti
Diwali. Typically, house decoration and colorful floor patterns called
rangoli are made on or before Narak Chaturdasi. Special bathing rituals such
a fragrant oil bath are held in some regions, followed by minor pujas. Women
decorate their hands with henna designs. Families are also busy preparing
homemade sweets for main Diwali.
Diwali
Rangoli or Kolam decorations for Diwali, are prepared from colored flour
(shown), or with flower petals. They are floor decorations near entrances
and corridors to welcome goddess Lakshmi and guests.
The third day is the main festive day. People wear new clothes or their best
outfits as the evening approaches. Then diyas are lit, pujas are offered to
Lakshmi, and to one or more additional deities depending on the region of
India; typically Ganesha, Saraswati, and Kubera. Lakshmi symbolises wealth
and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.
Lakshmi is believed to roam the earth on Diwali night. On the evening of
Diwali, people open their doors and windows to welcome Lakshmi, and place
diya lights on their windowsills and balcony ledges to invite her in. On
this day, the mothers who work hard all year, are recognized by the family
and she is seen to embody a part of Lakshmi, the good fortune and prosperity
of the household. Small earthenware lamps filled with oil are lighted and
placed in rows by some Hindus along the parapets of temples and houses. Some
set diyas adrift on rivers and streams. Important relationships and
friendships are also recognized during the day, by visiting relatives and
friends, exchanging gifts and sweets.
After the puja, people go outside and celebrate by lighting up patakhe
(fireworks). The children enjoy sparklers and variety of small fireworks,
while adults enjoy playing with ground chakra, Vishnu chakra, flowerpots (anaar),
sutli bomb, rockets and bigger fireworks. The fireworks signify celebration
of Diwali as well a way to chase away evil spirits. After fireworks, people
head back to a family feast, conversations and mithai (sweets, desserts).
Diwali also marks the beginning of new year, in some parts of India, where
the Hindu Vikrama calendar is popular. Merchants and shopkeepers close out
their old year, and start a new fiscal year with blessings from Lakshmi and
other deities.
Padwa
The day after Diwali, is celebrated as Padwa. This day ritually celebrates
the love and mutual devotion between the wife and husband. The husbands give
thoughtful gifts, or elaborate ones to respective spouses. In many regions,
newly married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals.
Sometimes brothers go and pick up their sisters from their in-laws home for
this important day. The day is also a special day for the married couple, in
a manner similar to anniversaries elsewhere in the world.
Bhai Duj, Bhaiya Dooj
The last day of festival is called Bhai dooj (Brother’s second). It
celebrates the sister-brother loving relationship, in a spirit similar to
Raksha Bandhan but with different rituals. The day ritually emphasizes the
love and lifelong bond between sibblings. It is a day when women and girls
get together, perform a puja with prayers for the well being of their
brothers, then return to a ritual of food-sharing, gift-giving and
conversations. In historic times, this was a day in autumn when brothers
would travel to meet their sisters, or bring over their sister’s family to
their village homes to celebrate their sister-brother bond with the bounty
of seasonal harvests.
Sources: Wikipedia
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