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Diwali, (दिवाली or दीपावली)
Goddess Laxmi (महा लक्ष्मी) puja on Diwali
Diwali, (दिवाली or दीपावली), known as the "Festival of Lights,"
is a major Indian festival and a special occasion to worship Lord Vishnu विष्णु),
Lord Ganesha (श्री गणेश) and Goddess Laxmi (महा लक्ष्मी). Jains,
celebrate it as
Lord Mahavira Nirvana day.
Hindus, Jains and Sikhs alike regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social
relationships. Swami Vivekananda had said- 'The light of Deepawali is also the light of freedom from control,
freedom from tyranny and freedom from all that artificially divides humanity.'
Diwali is among the most widely celebrated festivals in India and spans all of
the Dharmic religious traditions. Rows of diyas, or earthen lamps, line the homes of celebrants as prayers are offered to Godddess Laxmi. In
business Diwali is marked as a New Year on Hindu calendars. lamps symbolize the quest for knowledge and goodness that mimics the inner
Divine and eradicates the darkness of ignorance and false values.
Lead me from darkness to light.
Lead me from death to immortality.
(from the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad -- I.iii.28)
Diwali is celebrated for five consecutive days at the end of Hindu month of Kartika
(purminata) or Ashwayuja (amanta). This year is Diwali celebration starts from October 24, 2011. The five days of
Diwali are:
Dhanteras (on Monday, October 24, 2011)
Choti Diwali (on Tuesday, October 25, 2011)
Lakshmi Puja on Diwali (on Wednesday, October 26, 2011)
Padwa & Govardhan Puja (on Thursday, October 27, 2011), and
Bhai Duj (on Friday, October 28, 2011) |
तमसों मां ज्योतिर्गमय
This year 2011 the five days
of Diwali are:
Dhanteras (October 24, 2011),
Choti Diwali (Oct. 25, 2011),
Lakshmi Puja (Oct. 26, 2011),
Govardhan Puja (Oct. 27, 2011)
Bhai Duj (October 28, 2011).
Diwali is the Festival of Lights |
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Dhanteras
Dhanteras
also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi is the first day of five-days-long Diwali Festival.
"DHAN" stands for wealth. On Dhanteras Goddess Laxmi is worshiped to provide
prosperity and well being. According to a legend this day is known as the day of
"Yamadeepdaan" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death.
On Dhanteras Hindus consider it auspicious to purchase gold or silver articles
or at least one or two new utensils. It is believed that new “Dhan” or some form of precious metal is a sign of good luck. "Laxmi-Puja" is performed in the
evenings when tiny Diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits.
Dhan Teras or Dhanvantari Trayodashi is
observed as a day of Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who emerged from the cosmic ocean when it was churned by gods and
demons. Dhanvantari is worshipped, especially by the medical community. He is considered the founder of Indian systems of medicine, especially of
Ayurveda. He is also called Sudha-pani because he appeared from the ocean carrying nectar in his hands.
Narak Chaturdashi (Chotti Diwali)
The day after Dhan Teras and/or Diwali eve is Narak
Chaturdashi. This year it is on Thursday, 25th October 2011.
It is dedicated to Yama, the god of Naraka or hell . It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness
.Those who bathe early in the morning on this day, after an oil massage, are believed to earn religious merit with religious points earned getting nullified if the bath happens after sunrise. People in South and West India celebrate Narak Chaturdashi as the day when Lord Krishna killed the demon
Narakasur. Gujarati observe this day as Kali Chaudas and Rajasthani as Roop Chaudas.
Diwali or Deepavali (Badi Diwali)
Diwali a festival of lights
is being celebrated this year on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. It is celebrated not only in India but throughout the world. The festival marks the victory of good over evil. The Sanskrit word Deepavali
means an array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness.
Diwali is observed religiously by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.
Hindus celebrate Diwali to mark the time when Lord
Ram (श्री राम) achieved victory over Ravana. Some also view it as the day
Lord Krishna defeated the demon
Narakasura or in honor of the day Bali went to rule the nether-world, obeying
the order of Vishnu. In Jainism it marks the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, which occurred on Oct. 15, 527 B.C. It is also a significant festival for the Sikh
faith. In India, Diwali is now considered a national festival, and the
festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith.
Laxmi -Puja
In the night of Diwali or Kartik Amavasya, Laxmi-Puja
is performed. Goddess Laxmi (महा लक्ष्मी)
, the goddess of wealth, comes to earth on this day. People tidy up their homes, offices,
and shops, and decorate them lavishly to welcome her, lighting lamps at night to illuminate her way into the premises. Diwali
is the "festival of lights", but according to Hindu philosophy Deepavali is the celebration of Inner Light, which outshines
all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the
individual to one's true nature the Atman. With the realization of the Atman,
comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things and brings Inner Joy or Peace. According to Hindu
philosophy, Lakshmi Puja day "Lakshmi- panchayatan" that is
Lord Vishnu विष्णु), Sri Indra, Sri Kuber, Sri Gajendra and Sri Lakshmi
enters the Universe. After Laxmi- poojan the house is illuminated by oil lamps and crackers are burst.
Kali Puja
In the night of Diwali or Kartik Amavasya Kali Puja is performed in
West Bengal
Legends to celebrate Diwali
There there are several legends related to celebrate Diwali
According to the ‘Ramayana’, it was the new moon day of Kartik when
Lord Ram (श्री राम) , Ma Sita and Lakshman returned to Ayodhya
after vanquishing Ravana and conquering Lanka. The citizens of Ayodhya decorated
and illuminated the entire city with the earthen lamps.
According to second legend, the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi incarnated on
the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month during the churning of the ocean (samudra-manthan), hence the association of Diwali with Lakshmi.
According to another legend, one of the greatest Hindu King Vikramaditya was coroneted on the Diwali day,
and the New Year according to the Vikram era, which was initiated in 56 BC, begins.
According to the Skanda Purana, the goddess Shakti observed 21 days of austerity starting from ashtami of shukla paksha
to get half of the body of Lord Shiva (शिव) . This vrata (austerity) is known as kedhara vrata.
Deepavali is the completion day of this austerity. This is the day Lord Shiva accepted Shakti into the left half of the form and appeared as Ardhanarishvara. |
Dhanvantari, the physician of the
gods. emerged from the cosmic ocean during (Samudra -Manthan)
In the night of Diwali
Laxmi-Puja is performed
Deepavali means an array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness.
Goddess Kali |
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Diwali in Jain Dharma
Lord Mahavira , the 24th Jain Tirthankaras, attained Nirvana or Moksha on this
day at Pavapuri on Oct. 15, 527 BCE, on Chaturdashi of Kartika. According Harivamsha- Purana, written by Acharya Jinasena and composed in the Shaka Samvat era in the year
705," The gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of
"Dipalika" to worship the Jinendra (Lord Mahavira) on the occasion of his nirvana."
The Jains celebrate Diwali during the month of Kartik for three days. Vira Nirvana Samvat, the Jain year starts with Pratipada following Diwali. Vira Nirvana Samvat
2538 starts with Diwali 2011. The Jain business people traditionally started their accounting year from Diwali.
Diwali for the Sikhs
From the time of Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539), the founder of Sikhism, popular seasonal or folk festivals like the harvest
festival, Baisakhi or vaisaki Festival, or ancient
mythological festivals like Holi
Festival (होली) and Diwali began to take on a new significance. For Sikhs, Diwali is particularly important because it celebrates the release
from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, and 52 other princes with him, from the Gwalior Fort in 1619 by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
Sikhs celebrated the return of Guru Hargobind Ji by lighting the Golden Temple
and this tradition continues today. Also the great sacrifice and devotion of martyr Bhai Mani Singh Ji assassination at Lahore in
1937 by Mughal governor of Punjab, Zakarya Khan for celebrating Diwali at Golden Temple
is remembered on the Bandi Chhorh Diwas (Diwali) celebration. However, in the Sikh struggle for
freedom from the oppressive Mughal regime, the festival of Diwali did become the
second most important day after the Baisakhi, when Khalsa was formally established by the Tenth Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
Buddhists celeberate Diwali
The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists of Nepal, particularly the Newar Buddhists.
Diwali in south India
Hindus in South India light small lamps all around the house
with elaborate kolams /rangolis outside their homes. They perform a special puja with offerings to Lord Sri Krishna or Lord Sri Vishnu, as he liberated the world from the demon Narakasura on this day. It is believed that taking a bath before
sunrise is equivalent to a bath in the holy Ganges.
Diwali Greetings
President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted the people on the occasion of Diwali..
US president Barak Obama has wished an 'uplifting and hopeful' Diwali to the Indian-American community in Washington.
"During Diwali, millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains around the world will join together setting out 'diyas' and enjoying fireworks in celebration of the Festival of Lights," he said.
Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja is celebrated on Pratipada, or the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik, the day following Diwali. Govardhan Puja
is also called Annakut. On this day, Krishna lifted the Govardhan mountain in Vrindavan with his little finger and held it so for seven days to protect the cows and people of the town from the deluge sent down by an enraged
Indra, the god of heaven and rain. For Annakut a mountain of food is decorated
symbolizing Govardhan mountain lifted by Lord Krishna. In Maharashtra it is celebrated as Padva or Bali Pratipada.
Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj celebrates the affection between a brother and his sister. It is observed on the second day of Diwali, the day after Govardhan Puja.
It is also called Bhayiduj or Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika and
in Gujarati: Bhai Bij, Bengali: Bhai Phota. Bhaiduj brings together married sisters and brothers, and is a significant
festive day for them. This festival is ancient, and pre-dates 'Raksha
Bandhan another brother-sister festival being celebrated today.
Celebrate a pollution-free Diwali
Celebrate this year a pollution free Diwali. The sound and smoke emitted from the crackers not only pollute the atmosphere and
pose a threat to the lives of asthmatics and heart patients but are also stressful for animals as they do not understand the deafening
noise and fireworks. Again the fireworks industry is encouraged which employs millions of children in their factories,
exposing them to harmful chemicals used in its manufacturing under deplorable
conditions. Celebrate Diwali without crackers and save environment from Polluation says
Anna Hazare. Anna Hazare has taken up the cudgels against noise
pollution, ahead of Diwali. "We do not want any noise pollution
during Diwali; firecrackers ruin the festival." |
Dipawali-Tihar in Nepal
Nepal Sambat and Mahapuja have been celebrating in the time of
Dipawali- 'Tihar' in Nepal. In this festival. Nepali worship Goddess Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth. During the festival all
the houses in the city and villages are decorated with lit oil lamps.
This festival is celebrated in five days. The first day of
Tihar is known as "'Kag Tihar", (crow's day). Crow the messenger of
death is honored on the first day of Tihar. The second day is called
"Kukur Tihar", (dogs' day). A dog plays many roles in our
society. The third day is the day of "'Laxmi Puja",
to worship the goddess of wealth. .
On this day, early in the morning the cow is worshipped.
Tika is put on her head and a garland around her neck then she feasts with delicious food. A cow
also symbolizes wealth and she is the most holy animal for Hindus.
A cow also symbolizes wealth and she is the most holy animal for Hindus. Cow
is holy and venerable animal for Hindus and Buddhists. Hindu and Buddhist scriptures view cow in form of a mother in all over the world
especially- Nepal and India. Cow has been declared Nepal's national animal in Nepal for it has the
supreme qualities of animals.'
The fourth most of the people perform
"Govardhan Puja". In the last day, the sister worships their brothers for their prosperous
long life. On Bhai Tika the sisters praying for their brother's long life.
Diwali at the world’s top universities
They are thousands of miles away from home on Diwali but Indian students
are going — firecrackers blazing — to recreate the festive atmosphere
at the world’s top academic institutes — Oxford, Cambridge and the
London School of Economics (LSE).
Diwali is going to be hot and happening at the Oxford Diwali Ball (slated for
November 5 , 2011). Diwali Dhamaka at the London School of Economics will offer a buffet,
“extraordinary” student song and dance performances and a DJ playing
Bollywood numbers.
University of Pennsylvania’s Indian Association,
Rangoli, too is gearing up for a bigger bash this time. Diwali Night at the University of Wisconsin Madison is also quite a big
affair now. |
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Diwali
in various countries
Diwali is celebrated in various parts of the world, in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Suriname, Canada, Guyana, Mauritius, Fiji, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa,
Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Africa, and the United States.
In Nepal, Diwali is known as "Tihar" and celebrated during the October/November period. In Trinidad and
Tobago, communities all over the islands get together and celebrate the festival. In Malaysia, Diwali is known as "Hari
Deepavali," and is celebrated during the seventh month of the Hindu solar calendar.
In Singapore, the festival is called "Deepavali", and is a gazetted public holiday.
In Sri Lanka, this festival is also called "Deepavali" and
is celebrated by the Tamil community. In Britain, Hindus and Sikhs celebrate Diwali with great enthusiasm and in most ways very
similarly to as in India.
Diwali Mauritius is celebrated with great enthusiasm at
Mauritius as this country have great Indian crowd. The Diwali celebrations at Mauritius is as good as in India.
Diwali in USA
Recognising the religious and historical significance of
Diwali, the US Senate this year (2011) on Diwali has passed a resolution greeting Hindus, Sikhs and Jains in
the US and across the globe on the festival. Noting that Diwali is a festival of great significance to Indian-Americans and South Asian
Americans, the Senate in its resolution lauded the universal message of
compassion it offers to the world. The resolution introduced in the Senate by Senators Robert
Menendez, John Cornyn and Mark Warner , said Diwali is a festival of lights, during which celebrants light oil lamps, and pray
for health, knowledge, peace, wealth, and prosperity.
US
President Barack Obama lit a ceremonial Diwali lamp at the White House
and wished everyone a "Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak" to
become the first US president to personally join an event celebrating the Indian festival of lights. "This coming Saturday, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some
Buddhists, here in America and around the world, will celebrate this holiday by lighting diyas, or lamps, which symbolise the victory of
light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance," said Obama a ceremony in the East Room. Obama then lit the traditional lamp
with a candle as a Hindu priest with a three-forked tilak on his forehead chanted "Asatoma Sadgamaya" (Lead us from
the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to liberation) from the Upanishads.
US President Obama came in Mumbai on November 6, 2010.
The US President's first visit was Taj Hotel , one of the targets of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, to remember the victims of the terror strike.
On November 7, 2010 Barack Obama celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights, with
Mumbai children at a local school. He also meet with university students at the Town Hall. He
stressed on democracy and Indo-US ties.
Laxmi puja with computers
Generally traders and shopkeepers praying their account books on Diwali, but this is the first time puja being done to computers and laptops.
This year however, a group of businessmen prayed to their computers instead. Since Diwali is associated with the goddess of wealth
Laxmi, the business community considers it as an auspicious time to start a new accounting year.
In view of rapid computerization, most traders in India have changed their
accounting system from traditional Bahi-Khata to computer system.Therefore on the occasion of Diwali, the trading community is also worshipping their computers,
with goddess Laxmi, a trader said.
Arati Maha Laxmi |
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Barack Obama lit a ceremonial Diwali lamp at the White House
and wished everyone a "Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak" last year.
In the year 2010 Barack Obama came to India on Diwali
day and celeberated Diwali in Mumbai with children.
US President Barack Obama visits India |
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