ivali In Trinidad

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The festival of Divali has existed from time immemorial, ever since man became aware of truth and untruth, darkness and light, death and immortality. Divali (or alternatively Deepawali, Deepavali or Diwali) is the Festival Of Light. Hindus celebrate it all over the world. In Trinidad and Tobago, particularly for our Hindu nationals, it has not lost any of its significance nor is it celebrated with any less fervor.

 

The true meaning of Divali can be expressed as being to bring light where darkness prevails, truth where untruth prevails, to bring life where death prevails, to brighten our surroundings, to illumine our minds.

 

Deepavali in Sanskrit means "row of lighted lamps", is one of the most important Hindu festivals. It falls on the Amavasya of the month of Kartik every year in the Hindu calendar. By the English or Western Calendar this festival generally occurs over a period that covers the last week of October to the first half of the month of November.

 

The Festival signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, justice over injustice and intelligence over ignorance. The goddess worshipped at Divali is Mother Lakshmi or Lakshmi Mata. Lakshmi Mata is the goddess of light, wealth and beauty and is also associated with prosperity, luck, riches, abundance, financial well being, and generosity.

 

In statues and artwork, Lakshmi Mata is portrayed wearing gold and lotus flowers either sitting on a lotus, standing on one, wearing lotus blossoms in her hair and on her gown, or holding a lotus blossom which to many Hindus symbolises fertility, spiritual power, and purity.

 

At Divali it is not surprising to see elaborate preparations being made to welcome the goddess into the homes of devotees. Though it is titled as being a festival, it is one with a difference since at the heart of the festival is a very significant religious observance as Lakshmi Mata is honoured and worshipped in the form of pujas, singing bhajans and with the chanting of mantras.

 

The Origin and /significance Of Divali Whether you say Lakshi or Maha Laksmi there is no difference in the meaning. The word "Maha" is an adjective which is added to the word Laksmi to show its importance and honour. The original word is Laksmi. According to the Puranas, Goddess Laksmi is the better half of Lord Vishnu, who was born from the ocean at the time of its churning. In pictures Laksmi is shown squeezing the feet of Lord Vishnu who is resting on the bed of Sheshnag in "Ksheersagar" (the ocean). But in other pictures Laksmi is always painted standing on a Lotus flower, who is being offered flowers by two elephants on both sides. Although Lakshmi is the wife of Lord Vishnu, at the time of Lakshmi Puja she is worshipped with Lord Ganesh and not Lord Vishnu. Lord Ganesh is known as a bachelor deity.

 

'Deepavali' is known as the festival of Laksmi Pujan. Why? The present age is the age of reasoning, unless anything is not proved by reason nobody is ready to accept anything other than God and the Spirit.'Prakriti' is under the 'Purush' (Supreme God) for this reason she serves the 'Purush' (Lord Vishnu).

 

In fact all the pictures of Hindu Deities are metaphorical expressions which are symbols of various ideals. The picture of every deity is a complete message in itself to human life. Every part of the picture is important and great. There are four main aspects of human life Religious or spiritual, social or cultural, political and economical. In this article the explanation of Maha Laksmi is given, which is based on the common concept and pictures of her, thus covering the above mentioned main aspects of human life. Philosophically Lakshmi is the name of the female part of the Supreme Lord which can be called 'Prakriti (matter). Even after the final revolutions of the universe 'Prakriti' remains eternal in the form of 'Shesh' (space).

 

In the spiritual sense Laksmi can be taken as symbol of liberation. The main goal of human life is to achieve salvation. To be free from the circle of birth and death is salvation. The soul that has achieved salvation is only authorised to be close to God (Lord Vishnu). Thus the liberated soul can be considered as Lakshmi. He, whose mind wisdom and heart is pure, clean and blotless like the lotus flower, who is born in worldly mud but id detached from worldly desires and attachments is only authorised to achieve salvation. For this reason the duty of a human being is to worship and desire salvation. For this reason the duty of a human being is to worship and desire salvation (Lakshmi). Lakshmi is also called 'Mokshada' (giver of salvation) in the Puranas.

 

In the social aspect, Lakshmi is the symbol of woman. In Hindi the housewife is called 'Grihalakshmi'. Lakshmi is the goddess of happiness and prosperity. There can't be happiness and prosperity in the life of a family until the 'Grihalaksmi' (housewife) is not a 'Grihalakshmi ' in a true sense.

 

A woman with all good characteristics and qualities is also called Lakshmi. All peace and pleasures of the family depends on the 'Grihalakshmi'. For this reason it is the duty of every man to give due respect to women in the form of mother, sister, daughter and wife. In every form women deserve respect. Bhagwan Manu says: 'Yatra naryastu pujanteytatra ramantey devatah.' In other words, where women are worshipped there resides God, where God resides there is heaven, where there is heaven there is blissfulness, peace contentment and prosperity. But the worship of women does not mean to be lost in 'lust' and luxuries and to be there slave. Woman has been given the greatest respect in Indian Culture. The names of 'Sita-Ram', 'Gauri-Shankar', 'Radha-Krishna', 'Lakshmi-Narayan', Uma-Mahesh, and 'Lakshmi-Ganesh' are examples that woman is given greater honour than man.

 

The Pooja

 

A Pooja is worship to the Deities of the Hindu Religion in the form of prayer, offerings and sarcrifices. The day of Divali is important since it signifies the thanks and praise of devotees to the various deities; but most importantly, it is a day of praise to Mother Lakshmi and by extension the Divine Mother of the entire Universe and the earthly (physical) mother. Most devout Hindus perform the Pooja in a fixed, ritualistic pattern, by celebrating in praise and offerings to Lord Ganesh, the Divine Mother, Lord Shiva, the Nine Planets, Kalsa (representing the Universe), and Mother Lakshmi.

 

During a Pooja, offerings are made to the fire (Agni devta), which is viewed as the mouth of the Divine - it is the actual feeding of the God. During a Pooja, sixteen prescribed steps occur (symbolic of the sixteen ceremonies to be completed in the life span of a Hindu) including the welcoming of the Deity, giving the Deity a place to sit, the washing of the feet, decorating the Deity, and the offering of food items, clothing or money to seek blessings. Fresh, sweet-scented flowers along with specific herbs and plants are used, as well as Jhal/Phaag (a combination of milk, ghee, honey and spices). The planting of flags with significant colours associated with the deities is used to symbolise the offerings.

 

In addition, this particular Pooja not only celebrates happiness with light, but with song, chanting, tasting of food, ringing of bells, and the blowing of Conch shells as blessings are bestowed among family members.

 

For the festival of Lights, most Poojas to Mother Lakshmi occur early in the morning, sometimes commencing as early as 3 o'clock with the offering of Jhal and lotus or Rose flowers. At 6 o'clock, the first Deya should be lit. Poojas also occur on the same day at 6 o'clock. Divaliis also a family occasion at which the ceremony of Hawan is performed. Hawan is the offering of Parsad, fruits, sweets and ghee to Mother Lakshmi.

 

It should be noted that all members of the ceremony must face East (facing the sun), which is again symbolic of facing the light while performing any Pooja.

 

The Cuisine

 

During the observation of Divali, as a form of sacrifice, no meat is prepared. However, a variety of tasty dishes are prepared. During the preparation of the food, no tasting occurs before it is offered to Maha (Mother) Lakshmi - the Goddess of Light for her blessings of prosperity. The offering takes the form of a Pooja. After the offerings are placed next to the picture of the Goddess or a murrti (statue), the offerings are mixed together and then placed into the fire. It is a custom for a small portion of the offering to be returned to the same pots in which the food was prepared as a form of further blessing. Only after this has occurred can anyone partake in the variety of vegetarian dishes.

 

Guests of the family are invited after 6 o'clock where all can enjoy the delightful food. Roti, the most popular of the delicacies, is the base from which most other dishes are prepared. Roti is a light sandwich-bread (similar to pita bread) wrapped around a curry-based filling of vegetables. Varieties of roti are prepare, including paratha (silky, flaked type of pita bread), sada (a solid type of pita bread) and dhalpurie (a soft type of pita bread stuffed with ground, split peas).

 

Curried channa, aloo (potatoes & chick peas), dhal (split peas flavoured with spices) pomme cythere, (golden apple), usually accompany the roti, with extra dishes of specially-prepared pumpkin, bhagi (a type of leaf), chataigne and chutney, saheena (patties prepared with soaked and ground split peas, steamed dasheen leaves and spices), baiganee (a pie made with melongene), karhi and katchorie (round balls made with flour and various powders).

 

Acting as a dessert would be khurma (sweet hard sticks), goolab jamoon (a soft version to khurma), barfi and parsad (a sweet grainy flour-based cereal), collectively presented as a bag of Sweets and usually given as a symbol of goodwill. Sweet rice/kheer (rice and milk pudding) is eaten after the meal, and as a tradition, is placed in the same plate as the rest of the meal since it is argued that the curry adds flavour to the sweet rice.

 

Summary

 

Divali, known worldwide as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Hindus in India and around the globe. It is celebrated with fervour and gaiety by young and old, rich and poor, throughout the Indian diaspora, to ward off the darkness and welcome the light into their lives.