Shubh Deepavali – Happy Diwali 2013
Do you celebrate Diwali? or maybe you know someone that does? Learn more about Diwali/Deepavali 101 here.
Deepavali (better known as Diwali to many) is India’s most widely celebrated festivals and an especially important festival for Hindus around the world. Deepavali is celebrated with high enthusiasm in India as well as any nation with a high diaspora of Hindus and Sikhs such as Canada, United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Fiji, Mauritius, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand and Germany. Unlike many other festivals that only are followed by a specific single religious community, Deepavali is a festival celebrated by various eastern religions, including mainly Hindus and Sikhs, as well as Buddhists and Jains. The meaning of Deepavali can be interpreted to ‘row of lighted lamps/diyas’ and the celebration has significant symbolism of ‘Good vs. Evil’ or ‘Light over Dark’, therefore deriving to the name ‘Festival of Lights’ in popular culture. Aside from prayers and pujas, Diwali is when families and friends visit each other, light candles and diyas, make colourful rangoli, perform fireworks, give and eat indian sweets, dance and share traditional stories. Another reason making Diwali even a more special time is that it is the end of the harvest season in most parts of India, which is rural.
Deepavali is celebrated for multiple days, 5 days to be exact, and where the 3rd days is celebrated as the main Deepavali occassion or ‘Festival of lights’. Different colourful varieties of fireworks and lights are associated with this festival. On this positive & auspicious day, people light up diyas (candles) all around their homes and stores. They perform Lakshmi Puja late day and seek divine blessings of Lakshmi, also referred to as the Goddess of Wealth. The festival of Diwali is never complete without exchange of gifts and mitai (indian sweets). People present Deepavali gifts and sweets to all their family members and loved ones. In modern times, elders give younger kids or family gifts or money.
Below we try to explain how Deepavali is important and connected to various religions:
Deepavali Celebrated in Hinduism
The exact day of the festival is decided by the position of the moon. According to the Hindu calendar, Amavasya or ‘no moon day’ is considered as the perfect day to celebrate Diwali. This dark night comes after every fortnight and in the month of Kartik, it marks this festival of lights and diyas. As per the English calendar, the festival generally comes in the month of November and December. For all Hindu people, the festival holds an imperative meaning since the festival is reckoned with Lord Rama’s victory as the King of Ayodhya after his return to the kingdom from 14 years of exile along with his wife Sita and brother Laxman after killing the demon, King Ravana. The festival is celebrated by lighting diyas and candles to drive away the darkness of Amavasya.
The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the third 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 Bali, and banished him to Patala. It is on the fourth day of Deepawali, Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went to patala and took the reins of his new kingdom in there. The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.
The name “Diwali” is a contraction of “Deepavali”, which translates into “row of lamps”. Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas or dipas) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.
Deepavali Celebrated in Sikhism
For Sikhs, Diwali is particularly important which they celebrate after the celebration of Bandi Chhorh Divas (the Day of Freedom), celebrating the release from prison of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, and 52 other princes with him, in 1619. The Sikh tradition holds that the Emperor Jahangir had imprisoned Guru Hargobind Ji and 52 princes. Sikhs celebrated the return of their Guru by lighting the Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) and this tradition continues today.
Deepavali Celebrated in Jainism
For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC. Mahavira is responsible for establishing the Dharma followed by Jains even today. According to tradition, the chief disciple of Mahavira, Ganadhara Gautam Swami also attained complete knowledge (Kevalgyana) on this day, thus making Diwali one of the most important Jain festivals.
Deepavali in Buddhism
While not a large occasion in some Buddhists including Newar Buddhists celebrate Diwali through the chanting of mantras and remembering Emperor Ashoka who converted to Buddhism on this day, and therefore Buddhists also know the festival as Ashok Vijayadashami.
The team at The Chakra wishes everyone a prosperous and blessed Deepavali with family and friends! Shubh Deepavali!