Happy Diwali!
Introduction to Diwali/Deepavali
The first day of Diwali : Dhana Teras or Dhanatrayodashi
The second day of Diwali : Naraka Chaturdhashi or Kali Chaudas or Choti Diwali
The third day of Diwali : Actual Diwali
The fourth day of Diwali : New Year day or Govardhan-Puja or Annakoot
The fifth and final day of Diwali : Bhayya Duj
Introduction to Diwali
Diwali which leads us into Truth and Light is celebrated on Amavasya – Fifteenth lunar day of the dark forth night of the month of Kartik .. (October / November) every year. The ancient story of how Diwali evolved into such a widely celebrated festival is different in various regions and states of India. In the north Diwali is the day when King Rama’s coronation was celebrated in Ayodhya after his epic war with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. By order of the royal families of Ayodhya and Mithila, the kingdom of which Sita was princess, the cities and far-flung boundaries of these kingdoms were lit up with rows of lamps, glittering on dark nights to welcome home the divine king Rama and his queen Sita after 14 years of exile, ending with an across-the-seas war in which the whole of the kingdom of Lanka was destroyed.
Coming to the Celebration part: Diwali is very enthusiastically celebrated for five continuous days. No wonder, Diwali is one of the longest festivals in the Hindu year and each day has its significance with a number of myths, legends and beliefs.
The first day : Dhana Teras
The first day of Diwali is called DHANTERAS or Dhanatrayodashi which falls on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksh (the dark forthnight) of the month of Kartik. Doorways are hung with torans of mango leaves and marigolds. Rangolis are drawn. Oil diyas are arranged in and around the house. Believing this day to be auspicious, women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils. wow what a day and what an excuse for the women to buy their all time favourite ” Jewelery”. Also on this day a Diya dedicated to Lord Yama, is lit in front of the main door. In villages cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their income.
The second day : Kali Chaudas
The SECOND day is called NARKA-CHATURDASHI or Kali Chaudas or CHOTI DIWAL which falls on the fourteenth lunar day (thithi) of the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik and the eve of Diwali… On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear.In South India that victory of the divine over the mundane is celebrated in a very peculiar way. People wake up before sunrise prepare blood by mixing Kumkum in oil and after breaking a bitter fruit that represents the head of the demon King that was smashed by Krishna, apply that mixture on their foreheads. Then they have an oil bath using sandalwood paste.In Maharashtra also, people take traditional early baths with oil and “Uptan” (paste) of gram flour and fragrant powders are a `must’. Afterwards steamed vermiceli with milk and sugar or puffed rice with curd is served.
The third day : Diwali
The THIRD day of the festival of Diwali is the most important day of LAKSHMI-PUJA which is entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. The day of Lakshmi-Puja falls on the dark night of Amavasya. It is believed that on this day Lakshmi walks through the green fields and loiters through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings on man for plenty and prosperity. When the sun sets in the evening and ceremonial worship is finished all the home-made sweets are offered to the goddess as “NAIVEDYA” and distributed as “PRASAD”. Feasts are arranged and gifts are exchanged on this day. The entrances to all homes are lit up and decorated with rangoli patterns to welcome Lakshmi. The day ends with a mega cracker bursting sessions.
With the cracker bursting, I remembered this joke……A Sindhi Man who was know for his show off…burst crackers for almost 2 hours daily for all the five days during Diwali. After Diwali one of his curious neighbor went to him and asked how much Rupees did he spend on those crackers. To this the sindhi man replied” Kuch nahi sai….I burst crackers worth Rs.2000 on the first day….Shocked the neighbor said that means u burst crackers worth Rs.10,000….Sindhi man said r u crazy…i burst the crackers on the first day, recorded the whole thing in a casette and played the same tape for next 4 days..so it was only Rs.2000 that i spent.
One of the most curious customs which characterises this festival of Diwali is the indulgence of gambling, specially on a large scale in North India. It is believed that goddess Parvati played dice with her husband, Lord Shiv on this day and she declared that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuring year.
The fourth day : New Year day or Govardhan-Puja
The day after the Lakshmi Puja, most families celebrate the new year by dressing in new clothes, wearing jewellery and visiting family members and business colleagues to give them sweets, dry fruits and gifts. Among the business communities of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Diwali is the festival when the new business year begins. This day is looked upon as the most auspicious day to start any new venture. In many Hindu homes it is a custom for the wife to put the red tilak on the forehead of her husband, garland him and do his “Aarathi” with a prayer for his long life. In appreciation of all the tender care that the wife showers on him, the husband gives her a costly gift. This Gudi Padwa is symbolic of love and devotion between the wife and husband. On this day newly-married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals and given presents.
Govardhan-Puja is also performed in the North on this day when people build cowdung, hillocks, decorate them with flowers and then worship them.
This day is also observed as Annakoot meaning mountain of food. In temples specially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the deities are given milkbath, dressed in shining attires with ornaments of dazzling diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones. After the prayers and traditional worship innumerable varieties of delicious sweets are ceremoniously raised in the form of a mountain before the deities as “Bhog” and then the devotees approach the Mountain of Food and take Prasad from it.
The fifth and final day : Bhayya Duj
The fifth and final day of Diwali Festival is known by the name of “BHAYYA-DUJ” .As the name indicates..On this day Sister applies Tilak to her brother’s forehead, does his aarthi and prays for his well being.Celebrating of this day has its own importance in continuing to maintain the love between brothers and sisters for it is the day of food-sharing, gift-giving and reaching out to the inner most depths of the hearts.
Finally, Whatever may be the fables and legends behind the celebrations of Diwali, all people exchange sweets, wear new clothes and buy jewelery at this festive time. Its Time to rejoice and enjoy. Diwali, one of the longest festivals in the Hindu year, is a time when everything in India comes to a standstill except family life, feasting and shopping.
Here’s wishing you all Happy feasting, Happy Shopping and Happy and Safe Diwali !
