Why do we celebrate Diwali.

[Guest guest]

What is the significance of Diwali:

 

Does anyone have links to a short, concise and bonafide explanation for it please so i can send it out to my freinds and family on the run to this auspicious festival /images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

Hare Krishna,

Jai Shree Rama

 

 

sunplanet

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

It's the day Ravana was defeated and Lord Ramachandra returned to Ayodhya after 14 years in the forest.

[Guest guest]

Is it the day Ravana was defeated ?

[Guest guest]

Indian Festivals: Diwali

This is perhaps the most well-known of the Indian festivals: it is celebrated throughout India, as well as in Indian communities throughout the diaspora. It usually takes place eighteen days after Dusshera. It is colloquially known as the "festival of lights", for the common practice is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them around the home, in courtyards, verandahs, and gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls. In urban areas, especially, candles are substituted for diyas; and among the nouveau riche, neon lights are made to substitute for candles. The celebration of the festival is invariably accompanied by the exchange of sweets and the explosion of fireworks. As with other Indian festivals, Diwali signifies many different things to people across the country. In north India, Diwali celebrates Rama's homecoming, that is his return to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana and his coronation as king; in Gujarat, the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; and in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali. Everywhere, it signifies the renewal of life, and accordingly it is common to wear new clothes on the day of the festival; similarly, it heralds the approach of winter and the beginning of the sowing season.

 

http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Festivals/Diwali.html

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/hinduism/diwali.shtml

[Guest guest]

Deepavali : The Festival of Light

 

http://www.indiabook.com/greetings/cards/celebrations/diwalii1.jpg

 

India is a land of festivals where you will see at least one major

festival each month. Deepavali which literally means rows of lamps is

one of the four main festivals of India. Throughout the world all

Hindus celebrate Deepavali or Diwali with great pomp and enthusiasm.

 

In India festivals are not just days for festivities. The tradition

has been so moulded by the sages of yore that these festivals

contribute to the physical, material and spiritual upliftment of

mankind. Festivals are marked by certain observances, like fasting,

oil massages before bath, doing particular pujas and abstinence, etc.

In the Indian tradition all your needs, be it at a totally gross

level is channelised through the Divine.

 

So if you want to have material prosperity you worship Lakshmi Devi -

the Goddess of Prosperity; if you want knowledge you worship

Saraswati Devi - the Goddess of Learning and so on. Though the Hindus

basically believe in one Supreme Divine Entity, to meet the differing

needs and mindsets of different people the different aspects of the

Supreme are worshipped as different Gods and Goddesses.

 

The celebration of Diwali lasts six days, beginning on the 12th day

of the month of Kartik (as per the North Indian lunar calendar). The

day before Diwali, in order to evoke the grace of God, women fast. It

is not that God wants you to go hungry or takes pleasure in your

suffering - the principle is that you gain only by giving up. That

evening, devotees worship Gomata (the cow) and her calf and feed them

special food. Women pray for the welfare of the entire family. This

holy day is called Vasubaras.

 

The first official day of Diwali falls on the 13th of Kartik. People

set about cleaning houses and shops, and decorating doorsteps and

courtyards with rangoli or multi-coloured designs. They purchase gold

ornaments, new vessels, clothes, and other such items. Devotees arise

early in the morning before sunrise and take oil baths. If possible,

they wear new clothes. In the evening, people worship coins

representing wealth. Houses and courtyards glow from the lights, and

families decorate with lanterns. This day of celebration is called

Dhantrayodashi or Dhanteras.

 

The second day is called Naraka Chaturdashi. People take an oil bath

in the early morning and then in the night they light lamps and burn

firecrackers. People visit their relatives and friends, exchanging

love and sweets.

 

On the third day, people worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth.

People decorate their houses with lit lamps and lanterns to welcome

Lakshmi to their home and hearts. On this day businessmen close old

accounts and open new accounts. The earth is lit up by lamps and the

skies are coloured by the multi-hued of fireworks.

 

In North India, the Govardhan Puja occurs on the fourth day of

Diwali. Devotees in the North build hillocks made of cow dung,

symbolizing Govardhan, and decorate and worship them. North Indians

observe this day as Annakoot, or the mountain of food.

 

The fifth day of the festival called Bhaiyya Dooj celebrates unique

and fun customs. Every man dines in his sister's house, and, in

return, presents her with gifts. North India calls it Yama Dwitiya.

Thousands of brothers and sisters join hands and have a sacred bath

in the river Yamuna.

 

------------------------------

 

The legends

 

Dhanteras

 

The scriptures mention the divinity called Dhanvantari emerging from

the churning of the ocean with a kalash (pot) filled with Amrit

(ambrosia). Due to the fact that Dhanvantari, who revealed the

science of Ayurveda to the world, first manifested on this day, all

over India, doctors following the Ayurvedic system of medicine

organise joyful celebrations of the annual Dhanvantari festival.

 

Naraka ChaturdashChaturdashii

 

There is legend about a king of Prag-Jyotishpur, named Narakasura A

powerful king who misused power to harass his subjects. Sri Krishna

destroyed this oppressive asura king on this day. Unjustly imprisoned

people celebrated their freedom with friends and family. The citizens

celebrated deliverance from Narkasura`s reign by lighting lamps.

 

Sri Rama

 

Deepavali falls on a no-moon day - in fact the darkest day of the

year. The illuminations and fireworks, joy and festivities, are to

signify the victory of divine forces over the powers of darkness. On

Deepavali day, triumphant Sri Rama is said to have returned to

Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the asura king of Lanka.

 

Goddess Lakshmi Devi

 

The Puranas say that it was on this day that Goddess Lakshmi, who

emerged from the churning of the ocean of milk, married Lord Vishnu,

the repository of all divine qualities.

 

Govardhana Puja

 

In order to shelter the gopis and gopas and their cows from the

torrential rains sent by Indra, Krishna lifted a hill near Mathura

called Govardhan with his finger and sheltered all the people for a

period of seven days under it. By then Indra Krishna's greatness and

asked him for forgiveness.

 

Bhaiyya Dooj

 

The river Yamuna and Yama the God of Death were brother and sister.

As they grow up they go their different ways. On this day Yama,

supposedly visited his sister Yamuna, who in her joy at seeing her

brother after such a long interlude set up a feast for him. Pleased,

Yama granted her a boon. He declared that every man that receives a

tilak or vermilion mark on the forehead from his sister and presents

her with lovely gifts on this day would attain higher worlds.

 

The message of Deepavali

 

The traditional name of India is Bharata and Indians are Bharatias -

or those who revel in light. During the night of Deepavali the myriad

little clay lamps (diyas) seem to silently send forth Deepavali

message: "Come let us remove darkness from the face of the earth."

 

The dharma of the fire is the same wherever it is: in a poor man's

house, in a rich man's house, in America, in Antarctica, or in the

Himalayas. It gives light and heat. The flame of the light is always

turned up. Even if we keep the lamp upside down, the flame will burn

upwards. The message is that our mind should be focused on Atman, the

Self wherever we are. The lamps remind us of our dharma of realizing

our divine nature.

 

"The Self is self luminous being pure Consciousness. The cognition of

all objects arises from the light of pure Consciousness."

- says Bhrihadaranyaka Upanishad

 

One lamp can light several others. You can light another thousand of

lamps . Still the flame and the light of the first lamp will remain

as it is. It loses nothing. By becoming manifold, the light gains

nothing. The lights of Deepavali represent Brahman and the creation.

It conveys the message of the mantra:

 

"Poornamada: Poornamidam Poornaat poornamudachyate

Poornasya Poornamadaya Poornamevasishyate"

 

The rows of lamps teach yet another important lesson and that is of

unity. The light that shines forth from the Sun, the moon, the stars,

the fire is all the same. To see and recognize that one light, the

light of consciousness, which is manifesting and pulsating in and

through all of creation is the goal of life. Thus recognising all of

creation to be an expression of your true Self spread the light of

love and compassion.

 

The lights of Deepavali are displayed at the entrance doors, by the

walls of houses, in the streets and lanes. This means that the inner

spiritual light of the individual must be reflected outside. It

should benefit the society. Passers-by may thereby be prevented from

stumbling on their way to reach their destination.

 

Feeding empty stomachs, lighting blown-out diyas and bringing light

to the those whose lives are in darkness is the true spirit of

Deepavali. This is true prayer.

 

http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/bharat/deepavali.htm

 

[Guest guest]

It was the day Krishna defeated Narakasura.

[Gaea]

jndas is correct, but that does not mean it isn't the same day as Krsna defeating Narakasura.

[Avinash]

Many significant incidents happened on this day though not all in the same year.

 

Diwali is of a few days duration but the main is on new moon (amawasya) day of Karthik month.

 

On this day Sri Rama defeated Ravana and returned to Ayodhya.

 

On the previous day (though not in the same year), Krsna killed Narakasura. This day is celebrated as Narak Chaturdashi.

 

One day after the new moon day is Bali Pratipada. On this day Lord Visnu sent demon king Bali to Sutal loka.

 

 

[Guest Guest]

the question is WHY DO WE CELEBRATE DIWALI NOT WHAT YOU DO ON DIWALI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????