| Tuesday, November 01, 2005 |
| What is Diwali |
Diwali
Diwālī or Dīpāvali (also transliterated Deepavali; Sanskrit: row of lights) is the Hindu Festival of Lights.
Diwali is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals of India. It is celebrated for 5 consecutive days in Hindu month of Ashwayuja which usually correspond to the months of October or November. Hindus, Jains and Sikhs celebrate Diwali and use the occasion to celebrate life and strengthen relationships.
Typically, celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional diyas , although electric lights have become widespread. Fireworks may also be associated with the festival in some regions.
Significance in Hinduism
The festival marks the victory of good over evil.
On the day of Diwali, traditionally, the old and the young, rich and poor, wear new dresses, share sweets and also burn firecrackers. The North Indian business community starts their financial new year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day.
Hindus find cause to celebrate this festival for different reasons:
In North India, Diwali celebrates the return of the Rama, King of Ayodhya, his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya from a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness. In North India, the festival is held on the final day of the Vikram calendar. The following day marks the beginning of the North Indian new year, and is called Annakut.
In South India, it commemorates the killing of Narakasura, an evil demon, by Lord Krishna. In South India, Diwali does not coincide with the beginning of a new year as South Indians follow a different calendar, the Shalivahana calendar.
In Bhavishyottara and Bramhavaivarta Purana, Diwali is associated with the Daitya king Bali, who is allowed to return to earth once a year.
The Five days of Diwali
Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of North India as:
First day
The first day of the festival is known as Dhan teras or Dhantrayodashi. Dhan means "wealth" and Trayodashi means "13th day". Thus, as the name implies, this day falls on the 13th day of the first half of the lunar month. On this day, it is believed that Lord Dhanvantari emerged from the waters of the ocean holding the knowledge of the spiritual medicines of Ayurveda, to help mankind fight against sickness, disease and death.
On this day people purchase valuables, light lamps using oil-filled clay cups and worship the Goddess of Wealth. They also worship Yama, the Lord of Death, seeking protection against untimely death. Parents and elders accompany children to the market looking for firecrackers and sweets, if they have not bought some already. Those who have brought them home spread the crackers in the sunlight and allow them to dry, so that when the time comes they perform well.
Second day
Diwali has emerged as one of the most famous Hindu festivals. An integral part of Diwali decorations, Rangoli is a colorful pattern drawn on the floor.
The second day of the festival is known as Naraka Chaturdasi. (Narak means of a new era of Light and Knowledge. Chaturdasi implies fourteenth day.)
Lord Sri Krishna, supported by his consort Satyabhama and his huge army, is said to have killed the demon Narkasura, in a legendary battle between the gods and demons, and released the world from the darkness of fear and oppression. In the process, He also set free the 16,000 divine energies of the Mother Goddess, held hitherto in possession forcibly by the evil demon.
On this auspicious day, people usually take a ritual bath before sunrise, using traditional herbs and materials, just as Lord Krishna is believed to have done after He returned victorious from the battlefield. They spend the remaining day restfully in the company of friends and family. It is also believed that on this day, Lord Vishnu was incarnated upon earth as Vamana and set his third step on the head of the demon king Bali to send him down into the nether worlds to free the worlds from his rule and release the goddess Lakshmi from his control.
Third day (actual day of Diwali)
The actual day of Diwali is celebrated on the third day of the festival, when the moon completely wanes and total darkness sets in the night sky. It is in this darkness that Diwali finds its true expression. On this day people worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and express their gratitude for previous favors.
Usually the puja is performed both in the morning and again in the evening when the sun is ready to set or has already set. It is believed that the Goddess would not visit a devotee's house if it is not kept clean and properly lighted, so everyone strives to keep their houses clean, the doors and windows open and all the lights and lamps glowing brightly.
During the worship, devotes make offerings to Lord Vinayaka and Mother Goddess also, in addition to the principal deity, with traditional chants, rituals, purified water, new clothes, fruit and flowers, sweets, light, sandal paste, incense, rice, turmeric and vermillion. Money and valuables are placed before the principal deity during the invocation.
At the end of the worship, prasadam is offered to the family members and visitors. In wealthy households, the assistance of a temple priest is sought to conduct the worship according to the scriptural injunctions. After worshipping the goddess in one's own house, people start making rounds to the nearby temples, and the houses of friends and relations to see how the celebration has been going on and distribute sweets and gifts. Elsewhere, the goddess is worshipped ceremonially in temples, public places, business houses and offices.
As the evening comes, houses and streets are decorated with innumerable lights, lamps and candles. People keep the doors and windows open and all the lights on, expecting the goddess to come inside and take a survey of the things that have been done for her sake. Outside, people gather in the streets and front yards to burn firecrackers, or watch others burning them or keep an eye on the oil lamps. Some habitual card players use the occasion as an opportunity to play cards and gamble their money.
On this day Lord Krishna is believed to have completed His incarnation upon earth and left this world, leaving the pandavas and his kinsmen in utter confusion. According to Jain tradition, Lord Mahavira, the last of the Thirthakaras attained Nirvana on this day. It is also said that on this day, young Nachiketa of the Kathopanishad received divine and secret knowledge of immortality from Lord Yama, the Lord of Death.
Fourth day
The fourth day is variously known as Padwa, Varshapratipada and Kartika Shudda Padyami. At the behest of Lord Krishna the people of Braj worshipped the hillock Govardhan on this day to save themselves from an impending storm unleashed by the fury of Indra, the Lord of Heaven.
Even now, in northern India, in the region of Braj, people continue the tradition of worshipping Govardhan on this auspicious day. This is sometimes interpreted as an act of invocation to appease the forces of Nature to prevent the occurrence of floods and cyclonic storms, a tradition that is probably rooted in the Vedic times.
In the temples of Mathura and Nathdwara, priests give a special bath to the principal deities on this occasion and decorate them with glittering robes and eye-catching jewellery. They offer many food preparations to Krishna and later distribute it (the prasadam) among the devotees.
In some traditional households, women give aarti to their husbands and receive gifts and blessings in return. Business people open new account books for the new financial year and offer prayers for luck and prosperity.
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Fifth day
On the fifth and final day of the festival, which is known as Bhayiduj, Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika, brothers and sisters meet to express their love and affection for each other. Sisters put a ceremonial mark, usually with vermillion, on their brothers' foreheads and wish them long lives. According to a legend, the tradition began when Yamuna, the sister of Lord Yama, honored her brother with a tilak on his forehead and wished him long life.
In South India, naraka chaturdashii is the main day of celebration, with a lot of firecrackers at dawn, while in North India the main celebration is on Amavasya evening with Lakshmi Puja followed by lighting of oil lamps in and around the house and bursting of crackers.
(Disclaimer- This post has been copied from wikipedia.... this is not a professional website and i do not make money out of this website... so in case i have to pay for it please do tell me i will remove this post if needed) |
posted by Rakesh @ Tuesday, November 01, 2005   |
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