Deepavali Greetings.

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Dear Friends: Deepavali Greetings. A brief article on Deepavali is attached. Best wishes, MG Prasad

 

 

DEEPAVALI

 

M.G. Prasad, No.1, Osborne Terrace, Maplewood, New Jersey 07040

 

A Hindu festival is a celebration that integrates spiritual,

philosophical, religious and cultural aspects of human life. The spiritual

aspect is based on the basic human instincts of joy and happiness. The

philosophical aspect is based on the basic principle of the victory of good

over evil in the constant struggle between them. The victory of good is to be

celebrated. This is to remind ourselves and also our future generations that in

the fight between good and evil, the good shall win. The religious aspect deals

with the particular rituals of that festival. The mythological stories that are

related to the particular manifestation of the God (Supreme Being) provide the

religious strength for the festival. The cultural aspect deals with the

customs, activities, food, dress, social interaction with family and friends

etc.

 

DEEPAVALI is a major Hindu festival that comes in early part of

November. Deepavali means “Row of Lamps”. The festival is celebrated on New

moon day that is a day of darkness. Several stories are associated with this

festival. The major story is that of Lord Krishna killing the demon Narakasura.

Also, “Naraka” means “Hell”. The demon Narakasura had kept several good kings,

citizens including thousands of women in dark prison. It was the helpless cry

of these innocent people as prisoners that brought the Supreme Being in the

manifestation of Lord Krishna to kill the demon Narakasura and free the

prisoners. At the time of death demon Narakasura repented for the wicked deeds

and asked for grace. Lord Krishna with mercy declared that let people celebrate

the end of tyranny by lighting lamps to dispel the darkness. The day of

DEEPAVALI begins with special bath with oil, wearing new dress, ritual of

worship, special foods and in the night lighting the lamps and firing crackers

to celebrate through the sounds of joy. The family and friends meet on this day

to wish greetings and celebrate together.

 

Also, on Deepavali day the merchants observe the beginning of new

yearly accounting. This signifies the review of the accounting both in their

business and also in life. The revision of accounting signifies the “forget and

forgive “ principle and restarting our joyful relationship with family and

friends. Goddess Lakshmi represents the wealth both materialistic and

spiritual. On Deepavali, worship of Goddess Lakshmi is also carried out for Her

blessings on restarting our worldly and spiritual accounting.

 

Also, the return of Lord SriRama to Ayodhya after killing the demon

Ravana is celebrated on this day. The victorious return of Lord SriRama

signifies the spiritual fulfillment of the journey (of seeking Goal of life)

after destroying the evil forces and strengthening the divine forces.

 

Thus we see that Deepavali encompasses all domains of human life namely physical

emotional, analytical and spiritual. The celebration includes both the

individual and societal levels. Thus the purpose of Hindu festivals is to

provide enlightenment, education and joy at the most basic levels of human

experience.