Diwali-A Festival of Lights
India is known as the’ land of carnivals’. And all carnivals, has its own significance behind its festivity. And Diwali the jubilee of light does not live before. Diwali is a festival that is joyfully and enthusiastically enjoyed throughout India. But the festivity differs in utmost corridor of India according to the traditions and culture of that state but the significance and enthusiasm behind this festivity remains tactfulness.
History of Diwali:
The fests of Diwali indicate the palm of good over wrong. Just before his return to the throne, Lord Rama subdued the 10 headed Ravana who had abducted Sita to his residence Lanka. This symbolises the palm of good over wrong and the subduing of darkness and the emergence of light.
The origin of the Diwali jubilee comes from the history. And the Diwali jubilee is celebrated substantially for five days initiates on Dhanteras and ends on Bhai Dooj. And each of them has its unique significance and history.
Now that Diwali is just a few weeks down and will be celebrated on Saturday 24th October 2022, numerous families have formerly started preparing for the jubilee much in advance. According to the Hindu timetable, the jubilee of Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Krishna Paksh of the auspicious month of Kartik, which falls on around September/ October every time.
On this day, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhaya along with Sita after a 14-time old exile in the timbers. This day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fanfare in India and numerous countries abroad. The name Diwali is actually a corruption of the world Deepavali, which means array of lights. Diwali is thus rightly known as the jubilee of lights in English. Celebrate this Diwali with Clay diyas online.
The 5 Days of Diwali Festival:
Actually, the jubilee is an elaborate affair that spreads over 5 days. Each of these days is devoted to a particular deity.
1) The first day is devoted to the Lord Dhanvanatari the astral croaker to the Gods. On this day, Lord Dhanvantari is reverenced and worshiped. Hence called as Dhanteras and on this day people buy new things for family.
2) The alternate day is celebrated as Chhoti Diwali, also called Naraka Chaturdasi, on which day Lord Krishna freed the world from fear by exterminating the demon Narakasur. Naraka Chaturdasi marks the payoff of the demon king Naraka by Lord Krishna and his woman Satyabhama.
3) Diwali falls on the third day also known as Amavasya and according to the legends Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth, was expressed on the new moon day of the Kartik month.
4) Lord Govardhana(Mount Govardhan) is worshiped on the fourth day during the Govardhan Puja. In some corridor of the country similar as Gujarat, the day is celebrated as New Year Day, on which the New Year begins according to indigenous tradition. While in some part of the country “Kartika Shudda Padyami” is the name of the forth day. Bali would leave Pathala Loka on this day, following the blessing from Lord Vishnu, and take control of Bhuloka. Hence, it’s also known as” Bali Padyami”. Another name for the same day is “Bali-Paratipada”.
5) The fifth day is celebrated as Bhai Dooj which is devoted to sisters. On this day, Lord Yama the lord of Death, granted a boon to his family Yamuna that who so ever would visit her on this day would be liberated of all sins and attain moksha (final liberation). On this day, sisters visited their sisters and enquire about their well- being. This Day also known as” Yama Dvitiya” in some part of country.
Diwali: A Festival of Joy and Energy:
The jubilee of Diwali isn’t just about deification of Goddess Lakshmi, firecrackers and participating sweets and gifts. But the traditional way of celebrating Diwali includes decorating your homes and services with innovative crafts. The people love to prepare colorful crafts on the auspicious occasion of Diwali as the spirit of this jubilee encourages them to express their creativity.
Decorating the Diwali Puja Thali is one similar beautiful idea, which adds some further spiritualism to the jubilee of Diwali. Diwali has numerous legends and religious accounts to it. Lights and diyas are lit to signify the driving down of darkness and ignorance, as well as the awakening of the light within ourselves. Diwali is a time for family gatherings, food, fests, exchange of gifts and Pooja. The goddess Laxmi plays a major part in this jubilee, as do Ram and Sita.
Children and elders too look forward to Diwali with a lot of appetite. The fact that they get to set off a variety of firecrackers on this day makes it extra enjoyable for kids. After the small formal puja form, elders light lights in the yards and also go out into the neighbourhood and adjoining lanes to burst firecrackers to celebrate the home coming of Lord Rama and Sita.
Rangolis:
One of India’s most traditional and exquisite forms of art is the rangoli. Rangolis are patterns or motifs, generally depicting Nature, drawn on the bottom or a wall with powdered color made out of natural vegetable colorings. The term Rangoli is deduced from the Sanskrit word’ chimed’ which means color, and’ aavalli’ which means rows or creepers. So a Rangoli is principally a row of color, weaved into a pattern of feathers. The Rangoli is decorated with lots of diyas which make it more beautiful and attractive art. For each day of Diwali, Women make different rangolis in front of their homes.
According to the Chitralakshana, the foremost Indian composition on oil, when the son of a King’s high clerk failed, the king was most worried. Brahma, lord of the macrocosm decided to help the king and asked him to paint a likeness of the boy on the wall so that Brahma could breathe life into him again. Considered to be the first and original Rangoli. Another legend has it that God, in one of his creative moods, uprooted the juice of a mango and painted with it the figure of a woman so beautiful that the oil put all the misses in heaven at shame!
Diwali Puja Thali:
Puja thali has a special significance for the jubilee of Diwali in which the deification of Goddess Lakshmi is the main theme. Puja thali is the plate in which all those accessories are kept that’s needed to perform the deification or the Puja of the God and Goddess similar as the Roli for tilak, Akshat, Ghanti( bell), a small Kalash filled with water, Kalava to tie around the wrist, gold or tableware coins, Aarti- diya and some various flowers.
The following items is part of the Puja accessories required for Diwali glorification. It includes candles, flowers, seasonal fruits and sweets as prasad, and dinnerware or gold coins with images of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, Om, and Swastika. Roli for tilak, Akshat (the rice grains), Ghanti (bell), a little Kalash filled with water, Kalava or mauli to wrap around the wrist.
So let’s celebrate this lovely holiday with our families and use Singhcart to send Indian Sweets to our loved ones in India and around the world for Diwali. Happy Diwali and a prosperous new year to all of you!
