Introduction to Diwali Festival
Diwali or Deepawali is a festival of lights and is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus in India. Diwali festival is a symbol of victory of light over darkness, and good over evil. The festival celebrated usually lasts five days of the month during the Hindu regional month Kartika.This year Diwali is celebrated all over India on 22-26 October, Saturday, 2022. And the Diwali festival is celebrated on 24 october. This festival is known as Diwali, Deepavali, Dipavali, Kalipuja etc.
On the occasion or festival of Deepavali, people prepare their home and courtyard by cleaning, renovating, and decorating workplaces with diyas, candles and rangolis on home surfaces. During Diwali, people, children and all family members wear their new clothes, decorate the interior and exterior part of their homes and offices with diyas, colourful lights and rangoli. People worship Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where sweets and gifts are shared. Diwali is not only a major cultural event for the Hindu but also for Sikh and Jain.
What do the 5 days of Diwali represent?
Diwali is not a one-day festival. It is a festival held for five days.The five-day long festival in India is mentioned in early Sanskrit purana & vedic (text). Diwali or Deepavali is celebrated twenty days after the Durga Puja (Dussehra, Dasara,Dashara, Vijaya Dashami) festival. It is celebrated starting from Kartik Krishna Triyodashi and till Kartik Shukla dwitiya in india.
Dhanteras on the first day of Diwali festival, Naraka Chaturdashi is celebrated on the second day of Diwali. On the third day Deepavali and Lakshmi Puja, The third day is celebrated on the new moon in holy Kartik month. In most parts of India, people of many regions celebrate this day as the last day of the year.
On the fourth day Pratipada, Annakut (Annakut means ‘mountain of food’, which is a giveaway that day for feasting), Giri Govardhan Puja (on this day, Lord Shri Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to give shelter and protect from rains and storm to local villagers & animals) &Chitra Gupta Puja celebrated. On the fifth day Yama Dwitiya, Bhathru Dwithiya, Bhaidooj and Chitrakut Pooja are celebrated.
Why is Diwali important in Indian tradition & culture?
According to Hindus tradition and culture, the demon Narakasura was killed by Lord Shri Krishna on the second day of the Diwali festival. In the Southern part, Indian people celebrated this day as the main day of Deepavali.
In Treta Yuga following the truth of his father, on this day Lord Sri Ram returned to Ayodhya after completing fourteen years of exile. On that day, the people of Ayodhya welcomed Lord Ram, Laxman and Goddess Sita with joy by lighting earthen lamps (diyas) all around the home courtyard.
Vishnu in the avatar of Baman sent Bali Raj to Patal (the under ground of earth) of on the third leg. For one day Bali Raj comes to mortals from hell. On that day the people rejoiced that Deepavali festival is celebrated and welcomed Bali Raj. It is also called the Balipadyami festival. People believe that on this day Shri ,Shakti and Lakshmi visit everyone’s house and give light to remove darkness from the house.
People welcome Goddess Lakshmi with burning diyas and candles. On this day, Kubera, (the god of wealth), and Yama Raj (the god of death), are worshipped. In Dwapar Yug the Rajasuya Yagya began on this day by Dharma King Yudhishthira. Maharaja Vikramaditya’s royal consecration took place on this day. People light the lamp on this day to respect King Vikramaditya.
In North India, Diwali is celebrated in grand ceremonies. In Maharashtra, this festival is celebrated for five days. But in Odisha, only one day is observed for Deepavali. Odia Bhagavatkar Jagannath Das said – Tantrikas hypnotise owls and khanjan birds on the day of deepavali and do unseemly things like black magic. People believe that this day is very powerful for the trantrikas.
On that day, some sadhus perform Yagya and worship Kali and pray for the grace of Goddess Kali. As the lamp is offered to Yam Raj (the god of death), for fear of untimely death is removed. On the holy day, many businessmen and shop owners worship new accounts (khata puja) in their business or shop and Good wishes are offered for customers. The idol of Goddess Kali is worshipped at many Puja Mandap. cakes and sweets are distributed to families and relatives.
Diwali in Eastern state Odisha
Diwali is celebrated on the new moon day of the holy month of Kartik. Deepavali is also celebrated as the first day of the new year in the odia calendar in odisha. In Odisha, Deepavali is celebrated the same as other states but in a small ritual, performed at night of Deepavali called “Bada Badua Daka ”. This day is also called “Paya Amavasya ” & “Paya Shraddha Amavasya ” in odisha. This tradition is connected with the Jagannath culture, because Lord Jagannath is the Supreme God of Odisha.
According to the odisha deepavali tradition, the day of Diwali is marked by invoking “ancestors’ and forefathers’ with burning Kaunria kathi (the stem of the jute plant) and said – “Ancestors & Forefathers, Come in the dark and go in the light”; families and relatives worship them in order to receive their blessings. People enjoy this by lighting lamps, burning wood, and burning candles and crackers.
The Hindus of Eastern India and Bangladesh generally celebrate Diwali by worshipping the goddess Kali. Deepavali is in the village area of Odisha called Pimpak or Pipei new moon day (Pipei Amabasya). It is the victory of evil over evil, the victory of demons over animal forces. That is why it is said that in the city of Amrit, the walls of death are built and propagated in various ways. Kali Puja is one of the most important festivals of Odisha after the Dussehra. Nowadays, idols of Kali are built and worshiped in many rural areas and temple.
What lessons can we learn from festivals?Conclusion
The true meaning of the festival of lights is that we should do good deeds without thinking bad things and doing bad things. Always bring happiness to everyone. Projecting inner light & Don’t let the lights go out. On that day many lamps are lit from one lamp, So Diwali teaches us that love spreads from one heart to many hearts.