Diwali/ Deepawali

 

Diwali / Deepavali : The Festival of Lights
दिवाली / दीपावली : दीपों का त्यौहार

Diwali or Deepavali, the festival of "rows of lights" (Deep = Lamp, Vali =Array), is one of the most important of all Hindu festivals. It is also a significant festival for the Sikh and Jain faiths. Of all the festivals celebrated in India, Diwali is by far the most glamorous and important. Enthusiastically enjoyed by people of every religion.

Diwali is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin (October / November).Diwali is a New Year festival in the Vikrama calendar, where it falls on the night of the new moon in the month of Kartika.

It is a festival of lights celebrating the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. On this day homes are decorated, sweets are distributed by everyone and thousands of lamps lit to create a world of fantasy. The festival symbolizes unity in diversity as every state celebrates it in its own special way.

The Third Day : Diwali or Deepavali

The Third Day of this festival of Diwali is the most important day of Lakshmi Puja which is entirely devoted to the propotiation of Goddess Lakshmi.On this dark new moon night, the entrances to all homes are lit up and decorated with rangoli patterns to welcome Lakshmi, the radiant consort of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth and lustre.

Diwali is the last day of financial year in traditional Hindu business and businessmen perform Chopda Pujan on this day on the new books of accounts. Diwali is the festival when the new business year begins it is said that Diwali is the "Time to shop or start new ventures".

Facts About Diwali / Deepavali

• Sanskrit word Deepavali means an row of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness.
• Diwali is considered the national festival of India.
• Diwali signifies the renewal of life. Homes are thoroughly cleaned on Diwali.
• In north India, Diwali celebrates Rama's return from fourteen years of exile to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana. It is celebrated with the pooja of goddess Laxmi.
• In South India, Diwali commemorates the victory of the divine over the mundane.
• For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of Moksha by the Lord Mahavira.
• In Nepal Diwali commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakaasura.
• In Bengal, it is celebrated with the pooja of goddess Kali.
  Sikh celebrates Diwali as the day when their sixth Guru, Guru Har Govind ji came back from the captivity of the fort of Gwalior city. It is beleived that the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid on Diwali in 1577.
• Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali. It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra.
• Diwali is not only festival of lights, but also marks the beginning of the Hindu new year.