Hey every one!! Diwali is coming again! It’s time again to take out and polish your lamps, buy crackers and sparklers ,buy new dresses and gorge on sweets and other sumptuous dishes. But do you know all about Diwali – what the occasion stands for, when is it celebrated or why it is known as the ‘festival of lights’?
Diwali or Deepavali is one of the biggest Indian festivals and has got a great religious significance for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.Diwali is now considered to be more of national festival and is being enjoyed by most Indians regardless of their faith. It is commonly celebrated by decorating homes with earthen (clay) lamps,colourful and decorative lights and candles, wearing new dresses, bursting of fire crackers and sparklers and preparation of various kinds of sweets and mouth watering, delicious and sumptuous dishes, praying to Gods and Goddess, observing religious rituals and sending wishes and gifts to one another.
What does Diwali mean?
Diwali/Deepavali is a variation of the Sanskrit word “Deepavali” which means a continuous line of lamps (Deepa means light) and “Avali” means “continuous line (Row)”.Thus the Diwali is the time to celebrate with lights and is also known as festival of lights.
Diwali is celebrated not only in India but also across the globe such as in U.K, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius, Sri Lanka,Japan,Nepal, Malaysia, Inonesia, Trinidad, Singapore and Fiji etc.Though the method of celebration may be little bit different from place to place but the objective is the same. The vigor and passion about the festival is same everywhere.
The history of Diwali is replete with legends and these legends are moored to the stories of Hindu religious scriptures mostly the Puranas.Though the central theme of all legends point out to the classic truth of the victory over the evils, the mode of their presentation and characters differ. Diwali being the festival of lights, lighting the lamp of knowledge within us means to understand and reflect upon the significant purpose of each of the five days of festivities and bring those thoughts into the day to day lives.
Diwali in India
In India the festival of Diwali is celebrated over five days. The celebration in India mainly comprises of displaying of multi-colored Rangoli designs at the entrance way of residents, arranging for special puja ceremonies, decorating houses with colorful and sparkling lights and earthen (clay) lamps (diyas), exchange of sweets and gifts, fireworks and lots of shopping. Every home in the country thus shines with the glow of the dazzling lights and candles that are lit to welcome Goddess Lakshmi on the auspicious occasion.
The first day of Diwali is called “Dhanyavantari Triodasi” or ‘Dhanwantari Triodasi’ also called as ‘Dhan Theras’.The second day of Diwali is called ‘Narak Chaturdasi’.It is the fourteenth lunar day (Thithi) of the dark fortnight of the month of Kartik and eve of Diwali. On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasura and made the world free from fear. The third day of Diwali is the actual Diwali. This is the day, when worship for Mother Lakshmi is performed. On the fourth day of Diwali,’Govardhan Pooja’is performed. The fifth day of Diwali is called ‘Bhratri Dooj’, a day dedicated to sisters.
Hindu Mythology: According to the story of Rama and sits, Lord Rama was a great warrior kind and was exiled by his father Dashratha, king of Ayodhya along with his wife and younger brother Lakshman.After fourteen years of exile, Lord Rama had returned to Kingdom Ayodhya on his wife’s instance, in which he put an end to demon Ravana of Lanka, who was a great pundit, highly learned but still evil dominated his mind. After this victory of Good over Evil Rama returned to Ayodhya.In Ayodhya,the people welcomed them by lighting rows of clay lamps. So it is an honor of Rama’s victory over Ravana of truth victory.
The story of King Bali and Vamana Avtara (the dwarf): The king Bali was a generous ruler but also a very ambitious. Some of the Gods pleaded Vishnu to check Bali’s power.Vishunu came to earth in the form of Vamana (dwarf) dressed as priest.The dwarf approached King Bali and said you are the ruler of the three worlds, the Earth, the world above the sky and the underworld. Would you give me the space that I could cover with three strides. King Bali laughed. Surely a dwarf could not cover much ground, thought the king, who agreed to dwarf’s request. At this point, the dwarf changed into Vishnu and his three strides covered the Earth, skies and the whole universe! King Bali was sent to underworld. As a part of Diwali celebrations some Hindus remember King Bali. There are two more stories related to Diwali-one is about the story of defeat of Narakasura by Lord Krishna and another story of Lord Krishna and Mountain.
“WISHING ALL OUR KANNADIGAWORLD READERS A VERY HAPPY DIWALI AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR”
Shekar Moily
