Diwali Festival

October 18, 2003

DEEPAWALI festival : 24th October 2003

Deepawali or Diwali,a major Hindu festival, is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness.It signifies the triumph of the good over the evil. It dispels darkness and brings light into the lives of the people.The word 'Deepawali' literally means rows of diyas (clay lamps). A family festival, it is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asvin (October-November).

Deepawali at Samratchana, at Ramrajya Colony in the presence of his Holiness Sri Siddhayogi Shivashankar Baba is celebrated every year with a lot of happiness & revelry. with special yagams at the Poorana Brahmam temple & bursting of crackers.numerous cultural programmes.

Colourful Rangolis, Green Mango Leaf Thoranams, Bursting of crackers. The whole place is lit with thousands of lights decorated in beautiful patterns. & the place is a beautiful paradise.

Deepawali It is one festival, which cuts across barriers of religion and age. It is not Hindus alone, but also Muslims, Christians and followers of other faiths join in the fireworks display on this day.Homes are decorated, sweets are distributed by everyone and thousands of lamps lit to create a world of fantasy. Diwali is a time for fun and revelry. Diwali is also a time for pooja and tradition. Diwali Pooja: Diwali is the festival of Laxmi, the Goddess of prosperity and wealth. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi visit everyone during Diwali and brings peace and prosperity to all.

On the night of diwali "Lakshmi-Pujan" is performed in the evenings. A traditional Puja is performed after sunset in all the homes. Five pieces of ghee diyas (lamps) are lit in front of the deities, Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess and devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung.

After the Puja people light diyas (lamps) in their homes to usher in light, and clear the darkness from the world. In villages cattle's 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 has it that : On this day Mother Lakshmi emerged from the ocean of milk called the Ksheer Sagar. She brought with Her wealth and prosperity for mankind.

On that day, Lakshmi Pooja was performed to honour Her and as such, every year on Diwali day, Hindus perform Her prayer and worship.The making and distribution of various sweets and foods are the order of the day.This practice is alive and well to this very day.

Many people believe that Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and good fortune, visit the homes of devotees on this day. Worship of Lakshmi is performed in the evening. That is why, you light rows of lamps in the evenings to welcome Goddess Lakshmi Home.

****************Legend has it about the story of Rama.This festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile. Twinkling oil lamps or diyas light up every home and firework displays are common all across the country. The Goddess Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu), who is the symbol of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped on this day.

This festive occasion also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshipped in most Hindu homes on this day.

Another view is that Deepawali is meant to celebrate the destruction of the arrogant tyrant Bali at the hands of Vishnu when the latter appeared in his Vamana (dwarf) avatar. The occasion of Deepawali sees the spring-cleaning and whitewashing of houses; decorative designs or rangolis are painted on floors and walls. New clothes are bought and family members and relatives gather together to offer prayers, distribute sweets and to light up their homes. In West Bengal, the Deepawali festival is celebrated as Kali Puja and Kali, Shiva's consort, is worshipped on this day.

Children and youth eagerly look forward to Deepavali. In fact, they begin to burst crackers well ahead of the festival. The festivities continue for three days.Lakshmi Pooja. While the festival is synonymous with fireworks, exchange of sweets, wearing new clothes and purchase of gold ornaments add to the glitter.

Each house entrances are made colourful with lovely traditional motifs of "Kolam" ( Rangoli) designs to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

The Preparations of diwali begins well in advance.

People start decorating their homes, preparing sweets, light up their homes with colorful lights , buy new clothes & Jewelry This new moon night or Amavasya is thus turned into a bright and colorful night.

The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valourand fame. Fireworks are broughtout and the children join in the fun and frolic with all the bang -bang. It is nice to distribute crackers so that there is universal enjoyment. Hundreds of fire crackers can be seen glowing and then bursting as though it was a battle of glows and sparks in the skies. Markets are gaily decorated and lit up everybody adorned with new and bright clothes, especially ladies decorated with the best of ornaments, captures the social mood at its happiest. It is a very jolly time for visiting, exchanging gifts, decorating homes, feasting, and of course attiring in new clothes. On Diwali day, everywhere in India, at dusk when darkness unfolds itself, you can see a spectacular illumination of tiny flickering lamps adorning in rows - at homes, buildings and streets.

And all this illumination and fireworks, joy and festivity, is to signify the victory of divine forces over those of wickedness. HOPE YOU ALSO HAVE A GREAT DIWALI !!HAPPY DEEPAWALI TO ALL OF YOU!!

Hema

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