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Diwali – The Festival of Lights🪔
Diwali — The festival of Light
Since then, Diwali has been celebrated annually to mark the occasion of Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after a fourteen-year exile. Numerous stories about Diwali can be found in mythology. Therefore, from a spiritual perspective, Diwali is a very significant event for Hindus. Diwali is known as the festival of lights and lamps. Additionally, it is a holiday of abundance, food, joy, peace, and prosperity. It is a word with a self-explanatory definition that we all recognise as a festival. Every year on Amavasya Tithi in Shuklapaksha month of Kartik, we celebrate Diwali. All countries that practice Hinduism, including India, Nepal, etc., celebrate it grandly.
Various popular stories (History) on the occasion of Diwali :
Diwali has a long history, and many myths surround it. For instance, some believe that Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakashipu on this day in the Satya Yuga, and as a result, Diwali is celebrated on this day. It is a festival because some people think that Krishna killed Narakasura on the Kartika new moon day. Some claim that Maa Lakshmi came from the ocean of milk on this day, while others assert that Maa Shakti took the shape of Mahakali; either way, it is celebrated.
The most popular story of Diwali :
The most well-known story about the origins of Diwali recalls how Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya fourteen years after killing Ravana in the Treta Yuga with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, and the entire city was festooned with flowers and lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, Diwali has been celebrated annually on Kartik Amavasya.
When is Diwali celebrated?
In the Northern Hemisphere, this festival is celebrated with great pomp during the full moon of the autumn month of Kartika. According to the Gregorian calendar, this festival is celebrated in the month of October or November.
Significance of Diwali :
Diwali preparations make it feasible to clean the house and its surroundings specifically. At the same time, the Diwali celebration gives us a sense of our heritage and the power of worship. It also imparts the knowledge that truth and goodness always win in the end. Diwali is a joyous occasion in addition to being a festival of lights. Everyone, even young and old, looks forward to this day. The market is crowded with brand-new clothing, vibrant snacks, and rangoli. People shop and spruce up their homes. The nation is in a happy mood on this particular day.
Reasons to celebrate Diwali in different parts of India :
Different states of India have different reasons for celebrating Diwali. Some of the major ones are as follows ------
1) Odisha, Bengal, located in the eastern part of India, celebrates Mother Shakti on this day as she takes the form of Mahakali. They worship Kali instead of Lakshmi.
2) Diwali holds great significance for Punjab in the northern part of India as the foundation of the Golden Temple in Amritsar was laid on this day in 1577. On this day Sikh Guru Hargobind Singh was released from jail.
3) Southern states of India such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc. celebrate Diwali by worshiping Krishna in celebration of Krishna's killing of Narakasura.
Conclusion
Many myths associated with Diwali add to its importance. From this festival, we all learn to follow the path of truth. Each festival has its own speciality. Similarly, this festival of lights is considered an indicator of prosperity. In most homes, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped on this day, and boons of wealth and food are sought.
© Dr. Tulika Sarkar
Since then, Diwali has been celebrated annually to mark the occasion of Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after a fourteen-year exile. Numerous stories about Diwali can be found in mythology. Therefore, from a spiritual perspective, Diwali is a very significant event for Hindus. Diwali is known as the festival of lights and lamps. Additionally, it is a holiday of abundance, food, joy, peace, and prosperity. It is a word with a self-explanatory definition that we all recognise as a festival. Every year on Amavasya Tithi in Shuklapaksha month of Kartik, we celebrate Diwali. All countries that practice Hinduism, including India, Nepal, etc., celebrate it grandly.
Various popular stories (History) on the occasion of Diwali :
Diwali has a long history, and many myths surround it. For instance, some believe that Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakashipu on this day in the Satya Yuga, and as a result, Diwali is celebrated on this day. It is a festival because some people think that Krishna killed Narakasura on the Kartika new moon day. Some claim that Maa Lakshmi came from the ocean of milk on this day, while others assert that Maa Shakti took the shape of Mahakali; either way, it is celebrated.
The most popular story of Diwali :
The most well-known story about the origins of Diwali recalls how Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya fourteen years after killing Ravana in the Treta Yuga with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, and the entire city was festooned with flowers and lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, Diwali has been celebrated annually on Kartik Amavasya.
When is Diwali celebrated?
In the Northern Hemisphere, this festival is celebrated with great pomp during the full moon of the autumn month of Kartika. According to the Gregorian calendar, this festival is celebrated in the month of October or November.
Significance of Diwali :
Diwali preparations make it feasible to clean the house and its surroundings specifically. At the same time, the Diwali celebration gives us a sense of our heritage and the power of worship. It also imparts the knowledge that truth and goodness always win in the end. Diwali is a joyous occasion in addition to being a festival of lights. Everyone, even young and old, looks forward to this day. The market is crowded with brand-new clothing, vibrant snacks, and rangoli. People shop and spruce up their homes. The nation is in a happy mood on this particular day.
Reasons to celebrate Diwali in different parts of India :
Different states of India have different reasons for celebrating Diwali. Some of the major ones are as follows ------
1) Odisha, Bengal, located in the eastern part of India, celebrates Mother Shakti on this day as she takes the form of Mahakali. They worship Kali instead of Lakshmi.
2) Diwali holds great significance for Punjab in the northern part of India as the foundation of the Golden Temple in Amritsar was laid on this day in 1577. On this day Sikh Guru Hargobind Singh was released from jail.
3) Southern states of India such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc. celebrate Diwali by worshiping Krishna in celebration of Krishna's killing of Narakasura.
Conclusion
Many myths associated with Diwali add to its importance. From this festival, we all learn to follow the path of truth. Each festival has its own speciality. Similarly, this festival of lights is considered an indicator of prosperity. In most homes, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped on this day, and boons of wealth and food are sought.
© Dr. Tulika Sarkar
