October 25th - Diwali or Deepawali, 'deep' means light and 'avali' means a row thus the word Deepawali or 'an array of lamps', is one of the oldest Hindu festivals celebrated in the month of Kartik, on the new moon day. This festival commemorates the return of Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The enthusiasm and fervour that marks Diwali celebrations in India is comparable to Christmas mania in the West.
Diwali also marks the beginning of the Hindu and Gujarati New Year and is celebrated with the lighting of lamps and candles, and firecrackers. It is a time to replenish wardrobes with new clothing and exchange gifts of sweets, with friends and neighbors. This festival is celebrated over a period of five days beginning with 'Dhanteras' and culminating in 'Bhai-duj'.
In Hindu homes, Diwali celebrations involve a ritual puja to Lakshmi - the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity and also to Rama in the evening. Songs honoring the gods are sung and an 'arati' is performed. Oil or ghee diyas are lit. The gods are offered kheel (beaten rice), 'batashe' and sweet 'khilone' and various other sweetmeats. After the puja, the diyas are placed in and around the house, in the doorway, near the Tulsi plant, the backyard, and the back and front gates to brighten up this typically moonless night. The lamps welcome home the spirits of dead ancestors, who are believed to visit on this auspicious night. In addition, the light frightens away any evil spirit that may be wandering about near the house, on this night.
This day is also known by the name of "Chopada-Puja". On this very day the sun enters his second course, passing Libra, which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Despite the fact that this day falls on an amavasya day it is regarded as the most auspicious.
In Orissa, lamps are lit to illuminate dark paths, which the spirits of ancestors take back to heaven. After this, fire crackers are lit, people gather with friends and neighbors, to exchange good wishes and sweets. According to one belief, the sound of fire crackers resounding throughout the universe makes all aware of the great homecoming of Rama. Another belief is that the fire crackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on the Earth, making the gods aware of their prosperity. Still another belief has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the fire crackers kills a great many insects, whose population is plentiful due to the heavy rains.
The origin of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvesting season. It was thus extremely important to the largely pastoral Vaishya community. Their granaries are full. The weather is pleasant, as monsoons are long gone, and the onset of an arduous winter has yet to begin. Most tradesmen close their old ledgers and dealings, and start afresh with new ledgers after Diwali.
According to a popular legend, Diwali is celebrated to honour the return of Rama, his consort Sita and brother Lakshmana, after a 14-years exile. Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating the evil king Ravana of Lanka and rescuing Sita from his clutches. Diwali thus also connotes the victory of good over evil. To celebrate the return of their young victorious king the whole city of Ayodhya is believed to have illuminated their homes with lamps, as an expression of joy. The illuminations symbolize the removal of spiritual darkness, and the onset of happiness and prosperity.
According to another belief, on this day Lakshmi emerged from the ocean during the 'Samudra Manthan'. Lakshmi Puja commemorates her birth, and is a major aspect of Diwali celebrations. This day, emphasizes the Goddess of Wealth, and is also considered lucky for gambling. It's also time for a thorough spring cleaning of the house, for the belief is that Lakshmi will only enter clean and well decorated houses. The scientific reason behind this belief, is the wet and humid conditions brought on by monsoon season encourages the breeding of insects and the growth of fungus. With the end of the monsoon season, homes must be cleaned and repainted. All personal belongings are aired out and dried before the onset of the impending winter season.
Another myth surrounding Diwali celebrations is that it marks the killing of the evil Narkasura at the hands of Krishna. Naraka is the personification of hell and is synomous with the monsoon when all activities came to a stand still. He is believed to have abducted 16,000 women. Krishna killed him and rescued these women whom he later married. Choti Diwali or Naraka Chaturdashi is celeberated to mark this event.
One very interesting story about this Diwali day is from Kathopanishad of a small boy called Nichiketa who believed that Yam, the god of Death was as black as the dark night of 'amavasya'. When he met Yam in person, he was puzzled when he saw Yam's calm countenance and dignified stature. Yam explained to Nichiketa, on this Diwali day of 'amavasya' that by only passing through the darkness of death, man sees the light of highest wisdom, and then only his soul can escape from the bondage, of his mortal frame, to mingle with the Supreme Power. It was then that Nichiketa realized the importance of a worldly life, and the significance of death. Nichiketa's doubts were lain to rest and he whole-heartedly participated in Diwali celebrations.
One of the most curious customs which characterizes the 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 decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuring year. Thus the tradition of playing cards � high stakes flush and rummy, on this particular day continues.
On this auspicious day Lord Shri Krishna around whom revolved the entire story of our great epic Mahabharat and the philosopher, who preached Karmayog through his Geeta to Arjun on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, discarded his body.
Bhagwan, Mahavir, the Jain prophet also ttained "Nirvan" on this day.
Swami Ramtirth, the beloved "Ram Badshah" of millions of Indians was not only born on this day and took "Sanyas" but also took "Samadhi" on this day.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati, founder of Brahma-Samaj with his superb yogic powers greed his soul from his body and mingled with divinity on this auspicious day of Diwali.
Though Diwali is equally important in the South as in the North, the celebrations are markedly different. In West Bengal, Kali Puja is performed on Diwali as it is believed that on this day Kali killed the wicked Raktavija. Being one of the main festivals of the trader community, markets are gaily decorated and illuminated.
In South India, the story widely associated with Diwali is that of Narasimha, the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu. According to legend, Hiranyakshipu was an evil demon king. He was unjust and cruel to his people. However, he was thought to be invincible, having extracted a boon from Brahma, that he would be killed neither by beast nor man, neither inside nor outside, neither during the day, nor at night.
When his atrocities became unbearable, the gods sought Vishnu's help. Assuming his fifth incarnation of Narasimha, the man-lion, Vishnu killed Hiranyakshipu with his claws in the courtyard just before daybreak, hence steering clear of the boundaries of the boon. For this reason in Southern Indians light diyas in their homes, on the day preceding Diwali. The next day begins early. First is the ritual bath, which begins with an oil massage of the hair and body. This is absolutely essential on this day. Its importance likely may refer to cleaning oneself thoroughly, after the monsoon months. After bathing, the young receive new clothing and gifts, from their elders, which they are expected to wear. The family then prays to Vishnu for its well-being and prosperity. After the prayers, the main celebrations commence. In the North, this consists of firecrackers and the lighting of candles. At day break, all celebrations end. People then gather to visit friends and relatives and exchange sweets.