ABOUT Diwali
THE MEANING OF DIWALI
Deepavali or Diwali means a row of lights. Diwali is known as the 'the festival of lights'. On this day, people illuminate their homes and premises with Diyas (lamps) and colourful lights, exchange gifts and mithai (sweets).
SYMBOLIC MEANING
Diwali celebrates the light of knowledge symbolising the victory of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. This scintillating festival stretches beyond cultures and religions, embracing and enveloping one and all.
ABOUT DIWALI
Normally celebrated in the months of October/November, Diwali is important to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains & Buddhists. Historically, Diwali can be traced back to ancient India. It most likely began as an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali.
Hindus
Said a Times of India editorial; "Regardless of the mythological explanation one prefers, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the
simple and some not so simple - joys of life."
A few common reasons that Hindus's celebrate Diwali:
1) To honour Goddess Lakshmi. Some traditions believe it to be her birthday and some believe that Lord Vishnu married her on this day.
2) The destruction of Narakasura. The demon Narakasura was the evil king of Pragjyotishpur, near Nepal. He ruled with a reign of terror, abducted 16,000 daughters of the Gods and stole the earrings of Aditi, mother of the Gods.The Gods asked Lord Krishna for help and after a mighty battle he killed the demon, freed the girls and recovered the earrings.
3) In Bengal, Goddess Kali is worshipped on Diwali day.
4) The return of Rama, his brother Lakshman &spouse Sita after their victory over Ravana, the demon king who had abducted Sita. It was a dark moonless night during the time of their arrival. People of the kingdom placed little lamps outside their houses and in the streets to welcome their beloved king and queen thus beginning the tradition of the festival of lights
Diwali is celebrated as a 5-day event
The five days of Diwal
Day One - Dhanteras (Day of fortune)
This day is solely dedicated to the worship and celebration of the goddess of wealth, goddess Lakshmi. People consider this day very auspicious (shubh) and buy something precious--specifically gold, silver, gemstones, new utensils and clothes. In the evening, earthen lamps are lit outside the houses to welcome the goddess.
Three reasons to celebrate Dhanteras:
Reason 1 - Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kuber emerged from the ocean of milk with a pot of gold while the sea was being churned.
Reason 2 - It was prophesied that the 16-year-old son of King Hima would die of snake-bite on the 4th day after his marriage. His young bride devised a cunning plan to save his life. She put piles of Gold coins and all her jewellery on the entrance of his room. She then kept him awake all night by telling him stories and singing songs to him. When the God of death, Yamadev, arrived in the guise of a snake, his attention was diverted by the glittering gold and he spent the night listening to the stories and the songs of the bride and he went away in the morning. In this way, death was cheated.
Reason 3 - Dhanvantri, an incarnation of Vishnu and a physician of Gods, appeared from the ocean with a jar of elixir to counter the cosmic battle between the gods and the demons when both churned the ocean for 'amrit' or divine nectar
Day Two - Kali Chaudas/ Naraka Chaturdasi (Day of knowledge)
3 reasons to celebrate Kali Chaudas/Naraka Chaturdasi:
Reason 1: The day is related to the traditional story of Lord Krishna slaying the demon Narakasura and rescuing 16,000 captive princesses.As the princesses' chastity could be called into question, Lord Krishna married them all.
The story shows that God wishes to take care of his people and offer them protection. Rice is used to make rangoli patterns on or
before the day.
Reason 2 - Hanuman as a baby, saw the Sun and in his hunger, thought it to be a fruit and devoured it, leaving the world in darkness. Lord Indra had to unleash his vajra to rescue the Sun.
Reason 3 - Worshiping Goddess Kali to receive strength that is used for the good of all. The fierce form of Goddess Shakti is known as destroyer of all the negative aspects and evil elements. Seeking her blessings will ensure protection from all negative energies and victory over enemies.
Day Three-Diwali (Day of light)
Fireworks are lit to mark the high point of the festival. It is the last day of the Hindu year in many regions, when businesses close old accounts.On this day, Lord Rama rescued his wife from the demon Ravana after an epic battle. When he returned home, his people lit up his path home, so he could return in the dark. Today, candles are lit to show the triumph of good over evil and homecoming. Gujarati Indians among others also light lamps in their windows to welcome Lakshmi into the home
Day Four - Annakut (New Year)
Celebrates the victory of the Lord Krishna over Indra, the deity of thunder and rain, by lifting Govardhana Hill with his little finger to save people from the floods. It's the new year of the VikramSamvat calendar.
Day Five - Bhai Duj (Day of love between siblings)
This was traditionally one of the few days when brothers could visit their married sisters' homes, to ensure they were being well cared for. Much of the traditional gift-giving during Diwali is from men to women. This is to show them respect and offer them protection. In the past if a husband or father died, the jewellery he had given to his wife and daughters would save them from destitution. Sisters pray for their brother's long lives while
they promise to protect their sisters.
Sikhs
For Sikhs, Diwali is particularlyimportant because itcelebrates the release fromprison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, and 52 other princes with him, in 1619.History explains that the Emperor Jahangir had imprisoned Guru Hargobind and 52 princes. The Emperor agreed to release Guru Gobind but where the princes were concerned, he stipulated that only those who could hold onto his cloak tail would be allowed to leave the prison. This was to slow down the process and limit the number of princes who could leave.However, Guru Hargobind had a cloak made with 52 pieces of string and so each prince was able to hold onto one string and leave prison.Sikhs celebrated the return of Guru Hargobind by lighting the Golden Temple and this traditioncontinues today. Hence it is called Bandi Shor Divas, the 'release of the prisoner's day'.
Jains
In Jainism, Diwali commemorates the anniversary of Lord Mahavir's attainment of moksha, or freedom from the cycle of reincarnation, orlight leaving the body (Dipalikaya). In 527 B.C.E. Lord Mahavir was the 24th and last proponent of Jainism and he is the one who invigorated the religion as it is known to us today. It is said that the earth and the heavens were illuminated with lamps to mark the occasion of Lord Mahavir's enlightenment.
Buddhists
What better way togo from darkness unto light, then giving up violence completely? For Buddhists, Emperor Ashoka personified the triumph of good over evil on Diwali by giving up his violent ways and choosing a path of peace and non-violence
The Newar Buddhists in Nepal, revere various deities in the Vajrayanatradition and celebrate the festival by worshipping Lakshmi and Vishnu. Their celebrations reflect the freedom granted in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition to worship any deity
Spiritual Significance of Diwali
Beyond the lights and fun, Diwali is also a time to reflect on life and make changes for the upcoming year.
With that comes some practices that we all hold very dear:
Unite and Unify: There is an air of freedom, festivity, and friendliness everywhere.
Forgiveness: It is common practice that everyone forgets and forgives the wrongs done by others during Diwali.
Dispelling darkness all around and within:
Traditionally Diwali is on a 'no moon night' and the roads, homes and surroundings are all lit up to prevent the heart from being engulfed by the 'darkness'.
Prosper and Progress:
On this day, Hindu merchants in North India open their new account books and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year. Everyone buys new clothes for the family. Employers, too, purchase new clothes or their employees
Rise and Shine:
Waking up during the Brahmamuhurta (at 4 a.m. or 1 1/2 hours before sunrise) is a great blessing from the standpoint of health, ethical discipline, efficiency in work, and spiritual advancement.
Charity:
People are inspired to be charitable and generous.
Cleanliness:
Homes are cleaned and so are our inner selves. Introspection andawareness are encouraged as a means of cleansing ourselves.
Inspires hope and peace:
Helps us totake the initiative to light a candle rather than to curse the darkness. With hope and all the remaining points above, comes inner peace.
From Darkness unto light:
Diwali is not just about outer illumination, but it promotes the awareness of the inner light that is the core of every human being. Spirituality is the true essence of Hinduism and it prophesies
that a person is not just a body or a mind but something beyond it - a pure, powerful and eternal source of energy, called the Atman. Diwali is the celebration of the realisation of this inner light, which has the power to show one the path of righteousness even at the darkest of the times.
DIWALI IN LONDON
The Diwali in London (DiL) committee, in partnership with the MAYOR OF LONDON, brings Diwali On Trafalgar Square (DOTS) to London. DiL comprises of several diverse member organisations with representatives from a cross section of multicultural communities of India who work together in harmony to ensure the seamless running of DOTS.