Deepawali or Diwali is certainly the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It's the festival of lights (
deep = light and
avali
= a row i.e., a row of lights) that's marked by four days of
celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance,
and dazzles all with its joy. Each of the four days in the festival of
Diwali is separated by a different tradition, but what remains true and
constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.
The Origin of Diwali
Historically, the origin of
Diwali
can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest
festival
. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of
Diwali or 'Deepawali.' Some believe it to be the celebration of the
marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is
dedicated to the worship of
Mother Kali
, the dark goddess of strength.
Lord Ganesha
, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day. In
Jainism
, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of
nirvana
. Diwali also commemorates the return of
Lord Rama
along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and
vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return
of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated
the kingdom with earthen
diyas
(oil lamps) and burst crackers.
These Four Days
Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell. The first day of the festival
Naraka Chaturdasi
marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by
Lord Krishna
and his wife Satyabhama.
Amavasya
, the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of
Lakshmi
, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees.
Amavasya
also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation
vanquished the tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed
to return to earth once a year, to light millions of lamps to dispel the
darkness and ignorance, and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It
is on the third day of Deepawali —
Kartika Shudda Padyami
that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the
boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as
Yama Dvitiya
(also called
Bhai Dooj
) and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.
The Significance of Lights & Firecrackers
All the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to
tell. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with
firecrackers is an expression of obeisance to the heavens for the
attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. According
to one belief, the sound of fire-crackers are an indication of the joy
of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful
state. Still another possible reason has a more scientific basis: the
fumes produced by the crackers kill a lot of insects and mosquitoes,
found in plenty after the rains.
The Tradition of Gambling
The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It
is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her
husband
Lord Shiva
, and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would
prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali is associated with wealth
and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of '
Dhanteras
' ('dhan' = wealth; 'teras' = 13th) is celebrated two days before the festival of lights.
From Darkness Unto Light...
In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance
of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the
lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth
finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light — the light that
empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us
closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of
India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the
sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is
celebrated around the globe
. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it's a
celebration of South-Asian identities. If you are away from the sights
and sounds of Diwali, light a
diya
, sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light and illuminate the soul.
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