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- Written by Anchal B Chaudhary
Diwali
Diwali, unarguably, is the most important and most beautiful festival of India. Popularly known as the ‘Festival of lights’, Diwali lights up literally whole of India and brings together not just families and friends but people from all castes and creeds.
The rituals, customs, traditions and the associated legends vary from region to region across the country, however, the underlying spirit of devotion, love and zeal remain the same throughout!
An official/gazetted holiday in India, Diwali falls on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik which falls between mid-October and mid-November as per Gregorian calendar.
Diwali for Hindus is synonymous with Lakshmi Puja, the worship of Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Goddess Lakshmi is said to visit the houses that are pure, clean & brightly illuminated and bless the residents with wealth and prosperity. Devotees start preparing for her advent weeks before Diwali by cleaning their houses meticulously.
As Diwali nears, more and more houses are seen decorated with beautiful lights and lamps. Fairs are held in many towns & cities and feel of festivity can be sensed strongly in the air!
Womenfolk draw ‘Rangolis’ in the courtyards and kids have fun with firecrackers. Families and friends visit each other and exchange sweets, gifts and greetings.
On Diwali night, the dark night of ‘Amavasya’ (no-moon night) in the lunar month of Kartik, people make an extra effort to reach their homes in time for Lakshmi Puja and then stick around.
In order to welcome Lakshmi and prevent her from returning from the doorstep, people keep the doors ajar and avoid locking their homes. At night people come out in the open and light crackers with their families, friends and neighbours.
As the hours pass by, the sound of crackers might go low but not does the spirit of festivities for the next day is another festival, Goverdhan Puja, with another beautiful mythological tale associated with it!
Diwali, actually, is a five day long festival where each day is associated with a distinctive legend and different customs and rituals are followed.
The festival begins with ‘Dhanteras’ as the first day, followed by ‘Naraka Chaturdashi’ which is popularly known as ‘Chhoti Diwali’. Then, comes the magnificent festival of Diwali followed by Goverdhan Puja on the consecutive day and Bhaiya Duj on the fifth day marking the end of the festivities.
In the year of 2017,
On 17th October 2017 is Dhanteras / Dhantheran / Dhantrayodashi / Dhanwantri Triodasi / Yamadeepan
On 18th October 2017 is Chhoti Diwali / Kali Chaudas / Naraka Chaturdashi
On 19th October 2017 is Diwali / Badi Diwali / Deepavali / Lakshmi Puja
On 20st October 2017 is Pratipat / Padwa puja / Gudi Padwa / Goverdhan Puja / Anna-Koot
On 21st October 2017 is Yama Dwitiya / Bhai Duj / Bhaiya Duj / Bhhaya Duj / Bhai Beej
Legends
India is a diverse country with rich and varied culture and heritage. This fact, is very prominently reflected in the way the whole country celebrates the festival at the same time with people from different regions and religions celebrating it in their distinct ways, performing different rituals, following different traditions but with same fervour and reverence.
The beauty of the festival lies in the way each region/religion associates it with a distinctive legend and holds it in high regard, same as others.
Lord Rama’s Return To Ayodhya
As per Hindu mythology, Lord Rama, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana had returned to his kingdom, Ayodhya, after 14 long years of exile on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik. People of Ayodhya decorated the whole town with earthen lamps to welcome them. Since then, this day is celebrated with great zeal and ardour by one and all!
Return Of Guru Hargobind Singh Ji From Gwalior
Sikhs celebrate Diwali with same passion as Hindus to commemorate the return of their sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Singh Ji from Gwalior fort, where he was imprisoned with numerous non-Muslim Kings by Mughal emperor Jehangir.
Attainment of Nirvana by Lord Mahavira
Jains celebrate Diwali with equal warmth and fervour as it is believed that it was on this day that Lord Mahavira had attained Nirvana.
