An Overview on Diwali
Even though it may mean different things to Hindus in
different
religions, Diwali is as important to Hindus as Christmas is to
Christians. Diwali is also a meaningful celebration to the Sikh
community.The word Diwali is adapted from teh Sanskrit word
"Deepawali," which means a row or cluster of lights. Diwali itself is
known as the Festival of Lights. It is an annual observance held during
the autumn month the Hindus called Karthika. Common to the celebrations
held throughout the Hindu world is the presence of a display of lights.
In India, Diwali is a time to worship the goddess of wealth, who is
known as Lakshmi. Houses are prepared for her arrival by being
completely cleaned and white-washed. On the night of the festival, the
houses are illuminated by many lights, whether candles, oil lamps or
electric bulbs. It is not uncommon for a house to display rows of oil
lamps on its roof, on its outer walls and in its yard or garden. It is
believed that Lakshmi will not give her blessing to a home that is not
illuminated for her welcome.
As in festivals of other cultures, fireworks are lit to celebrate this
special night. But as well as delighting the spectators, the fireworks
are believed to chase away eveil spirits. Almost every house
participates in the fireworks display, and the noisy and colorful
celebration illuminates whole streets and villages well into the night.
In
some villages there is also big communal bonfire of firewood, brush,
and even oil- soaked rages, which send the fire leaping hight in the
sky. As the fire rises it is accompanied by drum beats, and the
spectators around the fire share in the joyous occasion.
Diwali also holds special significance for people in the business community. On this day businesses close their account books for the previous year. A new account book is placed before a picture of Lakshmi to receive her blessing, in the hopes that the goddess of wealth will multiply profits in the coming year.
Some Hindu communities elsewhere celebrate Diwali somewhat differently. In Malaya, for instance, the day begins as four in the morning with a ritual bath, and a lamp is lit for worship of Lakshmi. Later in the day, people dress in new clothes and visit their friends and neighbors. Exchanging gifts is also customary. Great feasts are prepared and eaten, and the day ends with a display of rows of oil lamps.
In Diwali we can see how customs may change and be adapted by different people and be adapted by different people to serve different purposes. Yet for all these people Diwali remains an impressive and important occasion.
Who shall set off the first chain of crackers that go boom,
bang and vroom? and who is the owner of the 10-minute 'banger' that
steals the thunder from your little chain of needle-sized crackers?
Does the boy next door have more crackers than me?
Competition is stiff, and even the little girl in silk frocks and their
finery are watching out for the best sparklers and flowerpots, the
rockets and Vishnuchakras, which light-up the night sky like a thousand
stars. Grown-ups are the soul of generosity. Festive bonhomie abounds.
Diwali Legend
Another legend associated with celebrations of Diwali
in India and more famous in Maharashtra and Mysore is of the
legendary king Bali who was immensely popular for his generosity.
However the success of king Bali became an issue of fear for the gods
who prayed to Lord Vishnu for destroying king Bali. Lord Vishnu took
the incarnation of a dwarf Brahmin and asked king Bali for as much land
as he would be able to cover with his three steps. Looking at the
stature of the Brahmin the king Bali readily agreed. At this Lord
Vishnu took the form of a large giant and covered the whole of earth
and heaven with his two foot steps. On asking for the place of keeping
his third step, king Bali happily pla
ced his head under the footstep of the Lord
who pushed him into the underworld. But being pleased with his
generosity Lord Vishnu granted him a boon of being able to visit his
kingdom once a year. According to a common belief it is during the
celebrations of Diwali only when king Bali comes on earth to visit his
kingdom.
India, the vibrant land of mythological tales, of Gods and Goddesses and a thousand beliefs, has evolved over centuries as a mystic land of festivals. Every occasion you can dream of is celebrated with gaiety, pomp and fevour. These colourful and happy festivals bind the people of the nation across various states and religions in a unique way and provide a spectacle that cannot be be experienced anywhere else in the world
Diwali in 2008
|
October
2008 |
||||||
|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|||
|
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
|
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
|
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
|
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
|
There is an underlying similarity in many of the festivals as are the
stark differences
in the styles and forms of celebrations observed by
different religions. What is unfailingly common and the joyous reason
to celebrate is the various gastronomic and aesthetic delights that
mark all such celebrations.
History of Diwali
The celebration of the four-day festival commences on Aswayuja
Bahula Chaturdasi and concludes on Kartika Shudda Vijiya. The first day
of the festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon
Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.
'Puranas' have it that Naraka, son of Bhudevi, acquired immense power
from a blessing given by Lord Brahma after a severe penance. He soon
unleashed a reign of terror in the kingdom of Kamarupa, harassing
celestial beings with his invincible might. Unable to bear the tyranny
of the demon, the celestial beings pleaded with Lord Krishna to save
them from his torture.
But Naraka could not be easily killed as he had a boon that he
would face death only at the hands of his mother Bhudevi. So, Krishna
asks his wife Satyabhama, the reincarnation of Bhudevi, to be his
charioteer in the battle with Naraka.
When Krishna feigns unconsciousness after being hit by an arrow of
Naraka, Satyabhama takes the bow and aims the arrow at Naraka, killing
him instantly. Later Lord Krishna reminds her of the boon she had
sought as Bhudevi. The slaying of Naraka by Sathyabhama could also be
taken to interpret that parents should not hesitate to punish their
children when they stray on to the wrong path. The message of Naraka
Chaturdasi is that the good of the society should always prevail over
one's own personal bonds.
Significance of Diwali
Deepavali is a festival where people from all age groups participate. They give expression to their happiness by lighting earthen 'diyas' (lamps), decorating the houses, bursting firecrackers and inviting near and dear ones to their households for partaking in a sumptuous feast. The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valor and fame.
It is one time in the whole year that children volunteer to leave their beds long before the day begins. In fact, the traditional oil bath at 3 a.m, is the only chore that stands between them and the pre-dawn adventures. They emerge, scrubbed clean to get into their festive attire, and light up little oil lamps, candles and scented sticks(agarbathis), the wherewithal for setting alight crackers and sparklers.
The second day is Amavasya when Lakshmi puja is performed. It
is believed that on this day Goddess Lakshmi would be in her benevolent
mood and fulfill the wishes of her devotees. One version says that it
was on this day that Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagara (Ocean
of Milk) when the Gods and demons were churning the sagara (ocean) for
nectar (Amrit)
The other version is that when Lord Vishnu in the guise of Vamana,
sought three feet of land from the generous demon king Bali, the latter
had to surrender his head as Vamana had conquered the earth and the sky
in two strides. Lord Vishnu banishes Bali into the Pathala Loka
(netherland) by keeping his third stride on Bali's head. Later, pleased
by his generosity, Lord Vishnu grants him a boon and he in turn
requests the Lord to guard his palace at Pathala Loka.
Meanwhile, the Goddess is unable to bear the separation and her grief
affects the functioning of the entire universe. Brahma and Lord Shiva
offer themselves as guards and plead with Bali to relieve Vishnu. So,
on the Amavasya day, Lord Vishnu returns to his abode and Goddess
Lakshmi is delighted. It is believed that those who worship Goddess
Lakshmi on this day would be bestowed with all the riches.
The third day is "Kartika Shudda Padyami." On this day Bali would come
out of Pathala Loka and rule Bhuloka as per the boon given by Lord
Vishnu. Hence, it is also known as "Bali Padyami".
The fourth day is referred to as "Yama Dvitiya." On this day, sisters
invite their brothers to their homes.
However, in the northern part of India it is celebrated as the return
of Ram along with Sita and Lakshman from his 14 years of exile after
killing Ravana. To commemorate his return to Ayodhya, his subjects
illuminated the kingdom and burst crackers. For the Gujaratis, Marwaris
and other business community Diwali marks the worship of Goddess
Lakshmi and also the beginning of the new financial year.
For Bengalis, it is the time to worship Goddess Kali or Durga. The
Goddess Durga continued her "Vilaya Tandava" even after killing demon
Mahishasura.