Deepawali or Diwali is certainly the biggest of all Hindu
festivals. It's the festival of lights (deep = light and avali
= a row i.e., a row of lights) that's marked by four days of celebration, which
literally illumines the country with its brilliance and dazzles all with its
joy. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different
tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its
enjoyment and goodness.
The Origin of Diwali
Historically, the origin of
Diwali can be
traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest
.
However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali. Some believe
it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas
in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of
Mother
Kali, the goddess of strength.
Lord
Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom,
is also worshipped in most Hindu homes on this day. In
Jainism,
Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining
the eternal bliss of
nirvana. Diwali also commemorates the return of
Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman
from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In
joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital
of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen
diyas (oil lamps) and burst
crackers.
These Four Days
Each day of Diwali has it's own tale, legend and myth
to tell. The first day of the festival
Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing
of the demon Naraka by
Lord Krishna
and his wife Satyabhama.
Amavasya, the second 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 tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed to return
to earth once a year, to light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and
ignorance, and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is on the third day
of Deepawali —
Kartika Shudda Padyami that Bali steps out of hell
and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day
is referred to as
Yama Dvitiya (also called
Bhai
Dooj) and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.
The Significance of Lights & Firecrackers
All the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance
and a story to tell. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with
firecrackers is an expression of obeisance to the heavens for the attainment
of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. According to one belief,
the sound of fire-crackers are an indication of the joy of the people living
on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible
reason has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the crackers kill
a lot of insects and mosquitoes, found in plenty after the rains.
The Tradition of Gambling
The tradition of gambling on Deepawali also has a
legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice
with her husband
Lord Shiva, and
she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout
the ensuing year.
From Darkness Unto Light...
In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory
of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate
our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From
darkness unto light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to
good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate
every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled
with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Outside India,
Diwali is more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities.
If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a
diya, sit
quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light
and illuminate the soul.
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