Diwali -- An Introduction

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Diwali -- An Introduction

Diwali is the most beautiful and the grandest festival of jubilation

that heralds the advent of Kartik the holiest month. It is observed

by the majority of people in India from the highest to the lowest.

The term Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali meaning

cluster of lamps. Deep meaning lamp, `Vali' meaning `line or row' of

lamps. Its other name is Deep-Malika or Deep-Mala, the string of

lamps.

This Diwali which leads us into Truth and Light is celebrated on a

nation-wide scale on Amavasya - the 15th day of the dark fortnight

of the Hindu month of Ashwin (Aasho) (October / November) every

year. It Diwali comes exactly 20 days after Dussehra. It symbolises

that age-old culture of our country which teaches us to vanquish

ignorance that subdues humanity and to drive away darkness that

engulfs the light of knowledge. Diwali, the festival of lights even

to-day in this modern world projects the rich and glorious past of

our country and teaches us to uphold the true values of life.

 

Every home - lowly or mightly - the hut of the poor or the mansion

of the rich - is alit with the orange glow of twinkling diyas-small

earthen lamps - to welcome Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and

prosperity. Multi-coloured Rangoli designs, floral decorations and

fireworks lend picturesness and grandeur to this festival which

heralds joy, mirth and happiness in the ensuring year.

 

This festival is celebrated on a grand scale in almost all the

regions of India and is looked upon mainly as the beginning of New

Year. As such the blessings of Lakshmi, the celestial consort of

Lord Vishnu are invoked with prayers.

 

Even countries like Gkyena, Thailand, Trinidad, Siam and Malaya

celebrate this festival but in their own ways.

In year 2002, dates of Diwali festivals are as follows:

 

 

November 2: Vagh Baras -- Cows are worshipped on this day. This year

on this day is also "Dhan Teras" -- Wealth is worshipped and one

asks God for the wisdom to use one's wealth for noble and virtuons

actions only.

November 3: Kali Chaudash (also known as Narakachaturdashi ) -- On

this day Lord Krishna vanquished Narkaasur. Prayers are offered to

Hanumanji to remove inauspiciousness and fear of evil spirits and

beings

November 4: Diwali/Lakshmi Pujan -- The goddess of wealth, Laxmiji,

worshiped today to receive bleassing for future prosperity. Lord

Mahavir attained Nirvana on this day

November 5: Hindu New Year -- It hails the New Year for those who

follow the Vikram or Samvat era.

November 6: Bhau Beej -- Sisters invite brothers and honour them.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1 of Diwali -- Dhan Teras

This Diwali festival, it is surmised dates back to that period when

perhaps history was not written, and in its progress through

centuries it lighted path of thousands to attain the ultimate good

and complete ecstasy. Diwali or more aptly Deepavali is very

enthusiastically celebrated for five continuous days and each day

has its significance with a number of myths, legends and beliefs.

Diwali festival is believed to date back as far back as Satya Yuga

and is held in honour of Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and

Prosperity. To be precise, Diwali begins on the 13th day of the

second dark half of Aswin month and continues till the second day of

Kartik light half, i.e. last three days of Aswin and the first two

days of Kartik.

 

The First day is called DHANTERAS or DHANTRAYODASHI which falls on

the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The word "Dhan" means

wealth. The houses and business premises are cleaned, washed,

renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colourful with lovely

traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of

wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small

footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over

the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights.

 

Believing this day to be auspicious women purchase some gold or

silver or at least one or two new utensils. The"Lakshmi-Puja" is

performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to

drive away the shadows of evil spirits. A pair of Laximiji and

Ganeshji's idol are required for the puja. It is believed that

Goddess Laxmi visit everyone during Diwlai. "Bhajans"-devotional

songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung.

 

In villages cattles are adorned and worshipped by farmers as they

form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered

special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of

Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on

this day.

Legend:

A very interesting story about this day is of the sixteen year old

son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was doomed to die by a

snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that particular

fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to

sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins

in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's boudoir and lighted

innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling

stories and singing songs.

 

When Yam, the god of Death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent

his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he

could not enter the Prince's chamber. So he climbed on top of the

heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening

to the melodious songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus

the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since

then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day

of "YAMADEEPDAAN" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in

reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death.

 

 

 

 

Day 2 of Diwali -- Choti Diwali

The second day is called "NARKA-CHATURDASHI" or "CHOTI DIWAL" which

falls on the fourteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The story goes

that the demon king Narakasur ruler of Pragjyotishpur ( a province

to the South of Nepal) after defeating Lord Indra had snatched away

the magnificent earrings of Aditi, the Mother Goddess and imprisoned

sixteen thousand daughters of the gods and saints in his harem.

On the day previous to Narakachaturdashi, Lord Krishna killed the

demon and liberated the imprisoned damsels and also recovered those

precious earrings of Aditi. As a symbol of that victory Lord Krishna

smeared his forehead with the demon king's blood. Krishna returned

home in the very early morning of the Narakachaturdashi day. The

womenfolk massaged scented oil to his body and gave him a good bath

to wash away the filth from his body. Since then the custom of

taking bath before sunrise on this day has become a traditional

practice specially in Maharashtra.

 

On the day of the Naraka Chaturdashi, the ancient custom, it seems,

was to collect dung heaps and manure and remove it far from the

house. This heap was worshipped, topped by a burning lamp and

offering of a coin. This was done prior to the predawn bath taken

after anointhing the bodies with oil. Two baths were taken. After

the first bath, a lamp made of rice-flour and an over piece of the

same thing called `mutke' were waved round each male by some girl or

a married woman. Then the male crushed the `chirat', the fruit of

the cucurbitous plant, and extinguished the lamp symbolising the

killing of Narakasura, the giant of wickedness. Even now most of the

early customs prevail, though in a modified form. Today, on the eve

of Diwali, the houses are cleared of unwanted terms, the whole house

dusted and washed, or even whitewashed to give it a new look.

 

According to some authorities, the early customs of removing the

manure, destruction of filth etc appertain In South India that

victory of the divine over the mundane is celebrated in a very

peculiar way. People wake up before sunrise prepare blood by mixing

Kumkum in oil and after breaking a bitter fruit that represents the

head of the demon King that was smashed by Krishna, apply that

mixture on their foreheads. Then they have an oil bath using

sandalwood paste.

In Maharashtra also, traditional early baths with oil and "Uptan"

(paste) of gram flour and fragrant powders are a `must'. All through

the ritual of baths, deafening sounds of crackers and fireworks are

there in order that the children enjoy bathing. Afterwards steamed

vermiceli with milk and sugar or puffed rice with curd is served.

 

Legend:

Another legend is about King Bali of the nether world mighty power

had become a threat to the gods. In order to curb his powers Lord

Vishnu in the guise of a Batu Waman- a small boy- visited him and

begged him to give him only that much land which he could cover with

his three steps. Known for his philanthropy King Bali proudly

granted him his wish. That very moment that small boy transformed

himself into the all-powerful Lord Vishnu. With his first step Lord

Vishnu covered the entire heaven and with the second step the earth

and asked Bali where to keep his third step. Bali offered his head.

Putting his foot on his head Vishnu pushed him down to the

underworld. At the same time for his generosity Lord Vishnu gave him

the lamp of knowledge and allowed him to return to earth once a year

to light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and ignorance and

spread the radiance of love and wisdom.

 

This Narakachaturdashi day therefore is dedicated to lights and

prayers heralding a future full of joy and laughter.

 

 

 

 

Day 3 of Diwali -- Lakshmi Pujan

The day following Naraka Chaturdashi is Amavasya, the 30th dark

night and last day of Aswin which also marks the end of the Vikram

or Samvat era. It is commonly known by the name of Pedhipujan, and

to some, is sacred to Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning. But,

majority follow the day to be sacred to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess

of Wealth.

This day is the most important day of "LAKSHMI-PUJA" which is

entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. This day is

also known by the name of "CHOPADA-PUJA". On this very day sun

enters his second course and passes Libra which is represented by

the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to

have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing.

Despite the fact that this day falls on an amavasya day it is

regarded as the most auspicious.

 

The day of Lakshmi-Puja falls on the dark night of Amavasya. The

strains of joyous sounds of bells and drums float from the temples

as man is invoking Goddess Lakshmi in a wondrous holy "pouring-in"

of his heart. All of a sudden that impenetrable darkness is pierced

by innumerable rays of light for just a moment and the next moment a

blaze of light descends down to earth from heaven as golden-footed

Deep-Lakshmi alights on earth in all her celestial glory amidst

chantings of Vedic hymns. A living luminance of Universal Motherhood

envelopes the entire world in that blessed moment of fulfillment of

a long-awaited dream of the mortal.

 

Traders close their old accounts and, new accounts being opened by

the business community stopping all transactions for the day. Puja

is performed on the new "Books of Accounts" , which will be then be

used for maintaining accounts of the new year.

Rituals:

A sublime light of knowledge dawns upon humanity and devotion of man

finally conquers ignorance. This self enlightenment is expressed

through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the palaces of the

wealthy as well as the lowly abodes of the poor. It is believed that

on this day Lakshmi walks through the green fields and loiters

through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings on man for plenty

and prosperity. When the sun sets in the evening and ceremonial

worship is finished all the home-made sweets are offered to the

goddess as "NAIVEDYA" and distributed as "PRASAD".

 

People drop in with sweets and crackers and presents. They visit the

elders. Everyone wear new clothes before the puja. Childrean along

with elders light firework at night and burn firecrackers. Most of

houses make "rangoli" (colourful motif) at the entrance of the

house. The floor is washed and then the housewife and small girls

draw rangoli. It represents an auspicious welcome for Lakshmiji who

visits people during Diwali to grant wealth. People light divas in

their homes every evening and especially in the centre of rangoli.

 

This is a day of celebration, feast and joy. Yound and elders enjoy

alike.

 

 

 

 

Day 3 of Diwali -- Legends

There are many legends celebrating this day. Different religion have

different stories to tell.

One of the most curious customs which characterises this festival of

Diwali is the indulgence of gambling, specially on a large scale in

North India. It is believed that goddess Parvati played dice with

her husband, Lord Shiv on this day and she decreed that whosoever

gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuring year.

This tradition of playing cards- flush and rummy with stakes on this

particular day continues even to-day.

 

On this auspicious day Lord Shri Krishna around whom revolved the

entire story of our great epic Mahabharat and the philosopher, who

preached Karmayog through his Geeta to Arjun on the battlefield of

Kurukshetra, discarded his body.

 

Jains celebrate Diwali as on this Bhagwan, Mahavir, the 24th Jain

Thitankar also attained "Nirvan" (salvation). In northern India,

Diwali is dedicated to the worship of Lord Rama, who had been exiled

from his empire, India, for 14 years. Diwali marks his victorious

return to his kingdom after his victorious battle with Ravana. Swami

Ramtirth, the beloved "Ram Badshah" of millions of Indians was not

only born on this day and took "Sanyas" but also took "Samadhi" on

this day.

 

Swami Dayanand Saraswati, founder of Arya-Samaj with his superb

yogic powers greed his soul from his body and mingled with divinity

on this auspicious day of Diwali.

We kindle innumerable lights on this day to immortalise the sacred

memories of those great men who lived to brighten the lives of

millions of their fellow beings.

 

One very interesting story about this Diwali day is from

Kathopanishad of a small boy called Nichiketa who believed that Yam,

the god of Death was as black as the dark night of amavasya. But

when he met Yam in person he was puzzled seeing Yam's calm

countenance and dignified stature. Yam explained to Nichiketa on

this Diwali day of amavasya that by only passing through the

darkness of death, man sees the light of highest wisdom and then

only his soul can escape from the bondage of his mortal frame to

mingle with the Supreme Power without whose will not an at ton moves

in the world. And then Nichiketa realised the importance of worldly

life and significance of death. Nichiketa's all doubts were set at

rest and he whole-heartedly participated in Diwali celebrations.

 

 

 

 

Day 4 of Diwali - New Year of Vikram or Samvat era

Day 4 of Diwali is "Nutan Varsh' literally means 'dawn of the New

Year' - the Hindu New Year's day, of the Vikram era is Kartik Sud .

The first day of the Kartik has been ascribed with many legends. The

fourth day is also called "PADWA" or "VARSHAPRATIPADA" which marks

the coronation of King Vikramaditya and Vikaram-Samvat was started

from this Padwa day. It hails the New Year for those who follow the

Vikram or Samvat era. This day King Vikramaditya was believed to

have been coronated. For slightly speaking about Saturn, King Vikram

was avenged by Him for which Vikram loses his kingdom and had to

undergo seven and a half years' tortutous life of suffering

including false charges. In the end, after the set period of Saturn,

and owing to Saturn's mercy King regains his lost kingdom and

happiness.

 

According to some it is also the day on which King Bali was made to

abdicate and sent to the nether world by Lord Vishnu, Thus, it is

termed as Balipratipada. Bali was a demon but was known so much for

his generosity the he even seemed to excel the Gods in merit. His

generosity became a cause of danger to Gods lest he became powerful

with his merit. Hence, Vishnu takes the incarnation of Vaman i.e. a

dwarf and goes to Bali. For alms, Vishnu in the garb of Vaman, asks

for a simple boon, that is to grant as much ground as he could

measure with his dwarfish three steps. The generous Bali, ignorant

of the true identity, agrees. The dwarf grows into a gigantic size

and the first step he covers the world, the next measure the upper

world. When asked where to keep the third step, Bali bows and offers

his head. Then Vaman pushes him to the nether world but makes him

the King to rule over the dead.

 

Govardhan-Puja is also performed in the North on this day. As per

Vishnu-Puran the people of Gokul used to celebrate a festival in

honour of Lord Indira and worshipped him after the end of every

monsoon season but one particular year the young Krishna stopped

them

 

from offering prayers to Lord Indra who in terrific anger sent a

deluge to submerge Gokul. But Krishna saved his Gokul by lifting up

the Govardhan mountain and holding it over the people as an

umbrella. Govardhan is a small hillock in Braj, near Mathura and on

this day of Diwali people of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and

Bihar build cowdung, hillocks, decorate them with flowers and then

worship them.

Some commemorate the day as the coronation of King Rama who it seems

was crowned after his exile. Illuminations on third occasion and

King Rama's reign symbolise the ushering in of spiritual light and

knowledge and removal of darkness or ignorance.

 

This day is also observed as Annakoot meaning mountain of food. In

temples specially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the deities are given

milkbath, dressed in shining attires with ornaments of dazzling

diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones. After the

prayers and traditional worship innumerable varieties of delicious

sweets are ceremoniously raised in the form of a mountain before the

deities as "Bhog" and then the devotees approach the Mountain of

Food and take Prasad from it.

 

Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in every Hindu household and her

blessings sought for success and happiness. This day is looked upon

as the most auspicious day to start any new venture. In many Hindu

homes it is a custom for the wife to put the red tilak on the

forehead of her husband, garland him and do his "Aarathi" with a

prayer for his long life. In appreciation of all the tender care

that the wife showers on him, the husband gives her a costly gift.

This Gudi Padwa is symbolic of love and devotion between the wife

and husband. On this day newly-married daughters with their husbands

are invited for special meals and given presents. In olden days

brothers went to fetch their sisters from their in-laws home for

this important day.

 

 

 

 

Day 5 of Diwali - Bhau-Bij

The second day of Kartik and the fifth and final day of Diwali

Festival is known as Bhau-Bij in the Marathi-speaking

communities, "Bhayya-Duj" in the Hindi-speaking belt and in Nepal by

the name of "Bhai-Tika".

As the legend goes Yamraj, the God of Death visited his sister Yami

on this particular day. She put the auspicious tilak on his

forehead, garlanded him and led him with special dishes and both of

them together ate the sweets, talked and enjoyed themselves to their

heart's content, while parting Yamraj gave her a special gift as a

token of his love and in return Yami also gave him a lovely gift

which she had made with her own hands. That day Yamraj announced

that anyone who receives tilak from his sister will never be thrown.

That is why this day of Bhayyaduj is also known by the name of "YAMA-

DWITIYA".

 

Since then this day is being observed as a symbol of love between

sisters and brothers. It became also imperative for the brother to

go to his sister's house to celebrate Bhayyaduj. The sisters apply

tilak and wave aarti to their brothers and the brothers offer

present in return. It is one of the most sentimental and touching

occasion of all.

 

In today's world when pressing everyday problems are teaming as

under all the tender words of personal relationships, the

celebrating of

 

this day has its own importance in continuing to maintain the love

between brothers and sisters for it is the day of food-sharing, gift-

giving and reaching out to the inner most depths of the hearts.

Diwali on the whole has always been the festival with more social

than religious connotations. It is a personal, people-oriented

festival when enmities are forgotten, families and friends meet,

enjoy and establish a word of closeness.

 

As a festival of light and beauty it encourages artistic expressions

through home-decorations stage-plays, elocution competitions singing

and dancing programmes, making gift items and making delectable

sweets thereby discovering new talents of younger people. As a

result innumerable communities with varying cultures and customs

mingle together to make Diwali celebrations a very happy occasion

for all.

 

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore has so aptly put forth the true

significance of Diwali in these beautiful lines :-

 

The night is black

Kindle the lamp of LOVE

With thy life and devotion."

 

 

 

 

Celebration of Kali Puja

Source: Free Press Journal

In Bengal, Diwali is celebrated as Kali Puja and the Goddess Kali is

worshipped. Kali Puja is only a one-night festival, which falls on

the darkest night of Amavasya. The word "Kali" comes from the well-

known word Kala, time. She is the power of time - all-destroying and

all-devouring and symbolizes strength and energy. The image of Kali

has been created by man as a fearful Goddess standing on the chest

of Lord Shiva, her spouse. She is almost deep blue or black in her

complexion. She wears a garland of fifty human heads of skulls with

a skirt of human hands. She has four hands and her hair is

completely disheveled. In her upper hands, she holds a severed head

and sword or chopper. But the two lower hands are in the Abhaya and

Varada Mudras. After her victory over the demons, she danced in such

an ecstasy that she was uncontrollable.

Kali developed her thirst for blood after killing the demon

Raktavera. Lord Brahma had granted a boon to Raktavera that every

drop of blood which fell from his body would be able to produce

thousands more like him. The only way Kali could kill him was to

hold him high, pierce him with a spear and drink all his blood as it

gushed out. Kali is often portrayed with her tongue hanging out and

her mouth dripping blood. This is said to signify the force that

gives impetus to all activities.

 

Lord Shiva, in order to stop her "intoxication" lay like a corpse

among the corpses in wait for her. When Kali stepped upon Lord

Shiva, she suddenly realised her mistake and put out her tongue in

shame! Though Kali is the supreme energy responsible for the

dissolution, she is also the all-merciful mother. Through her Abhaya

and Varada Mudras, she is reassuring her devotees of her protection

and granting them boons.

During Diwali, amongst illuminations and the lighting of

firecrackers, Goddess Kali is worshipped by one and all with great

religiosity.Crackers are burst to get rid of evil spirits.

 

Kali assumed different names in different regions. In Andhra Pradesh

and Karnataka she is Chamundeshwari, in Kanchi she is known by

Kamakshi. In Madurai Kali is Meenakshi and further down South, she

is Mukh Ambika. In the eastern region she came to be known as

Mahakali.