~ 🄽🄾🅅🄴🄼🄱🄴🅁 4, 2021 ~

“Deepawali ki mangal bela aayi hai phir ek baar,
saath mein apne sugaatein laayi hai hazaar.
Jholi mein iske hain khushiyan apaar,
mubarak ho aap sabko deepawali ka yeh tyohar”

Diwali, one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, lasts for five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Kartika. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) The name is derived from the Sanskrit term Dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangoli, consisting of elaborate designs made of coloured rice, sand, or flower petals. The doors and windows of houses are kept open in the hope that Lakshmi will find her way inside and bless the residents with wealth and success.

Diwali is generally a time for visiting relatives and friends, exchanging gifts, wearing new clothes, feasting, feeding the poor, and setting off fireworks (though such displays have been restricted to limit noise and other environmental pollution). Gambling, especially in the form of card games, is encouraged as a way of ensuring good luck in the coming year and in remembrance of the games of dice played by Shiva and Parvati on Mount Kailasa or similar contests between Radha and Krishna. Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins.

Observances of Diwali differ depending on various regions, religions and traditions. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists, although for each faith it marks different historical events and stories, but nonetheless the festival represents the same symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.

HINDUISM

Among Hindus, the most widespread custom is the lighting of diyas (small earthenware lamps filled with oil) on the night of the new moon to invite the presence of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. In Bengal, the goddess Kali is worshipped. In North India, the festival also celebrates the royal homecoming of Ram along with Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman to the city of Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the 10-headed king of the demons, thus connecting the festival with the pious day of Dussehra. In South India and Assam, the festival marks the victory of Krishna an avatar of Vishnu, killed the demon Narakasura, who was evil king of Pragjyotishapura, near present-day Assam and released 16000 girls held captive by Narakasura.

Many Hindus associate the festival with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of Vishnu. According to Pintchman, the start of the 5-day Diwali festival is stated in some popular contemporary sources as the day Goddess Lakshmi was born from Samudra manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean of milk by the Devas (gods) and the Asuras (demons) – a Vedic legend that is also found in several Puranas such as the Padma Purana, while the night of Diwali is when Lakshmi chose and wed Vishnu. Along with Lakshmi, who is representative of Vaishnavism, Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Parvati and Shiva of Shaivism tradition, is remembered as one who symbolises ethical beginnings and the remover of obstacles.

The first day, known as Dhanteras, is dedicated to cleaning of homes and purchasing small items of gold. Lakshmi is the focus of worship on that day. The second day, called Naraka Chaturdashi or Chhoti Diwali, commemorates Krishna’s destruction of Narakasura; prayers are also offered for the souls of ancestors. On the third day, the Lakshmi Puja, families seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity, light diyas, candles, and fireworks and visit temples. It is the main day of the Diwali festival. The fourth day, known as Govardhan Puja, Balipratipada, or Annakut, commemorates Krishna’s victory over Indra, the king of the gods, and it is also the first day of Kartika and the start of the new year in the Hindu calendar. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. They also offer prayers to Saraswati, who embodies music, literature and learning and Kubera, who symbolises book-keeping, treasury and wealth management. The fifth day, called Bhai Dooj, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Bij, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.

JAINISM

Diwali is also an important festival in Jainism. For the Jain community, the festival commemorates the enlightenment and liberation of Mahavira, the most recent of the Jain Tirthankaras, from the cycle of life and death. The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahavira’s holy knowledge. According to the Jain tradition, the practice of lighting lamps first began on the day of Mahavira's nirvana in 527 BCE, when 18 kings who had gathered for Mahavira's final teachings issued a proclamation that lamps be lit in remembrance of the "great light, Mahavira". This traditional belief of the origin of Diwali, and its significance to Jains, is reflected in their historic artworks such as paintings.

SIKHISM

Since the 18th century, Diwali has been celebrated in Sikhism as BANDI CHHOD DIWAS to commemorate the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji's return to Amritsar along with 52 Hindu Kings from their captivity by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in Gwalior prison. The tale says that only Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was going to be released from the prison but he refused to go alone and demanded the release of all other 52 Hindu Kings imprisoned along with him. Emperor Jahangir proposed a condition that the Hindu Sikhs would only be released if all of them can hold Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji's clothing and move out with him. If not, even he would have to remain inside, caged in the prison. Upon pondering over this condition, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji ordered his disciples to weave a very very long robe for him containing 52 corners so that every king can hold one corner and move out with him, thus finalising the release of all the 52 Hindu Kings along with himself. Residents of Amritsar light lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion.

However, according to J. S. Grewal, a scholar of Sikhism and Sikh history, Diwali in the Sikh tradition is older than the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji's return to Amritsar. Guru Amar Das Ji, the third Guru of the Sikhs built a well in Goindwal with eighty-four steps and invited Sikhs to bathe in its sacred waters on Baisakhi and Diwali as a form of community bonding. Over the time, these spring and autumn festivals became the most important of Sikh festivals and holy sites such as Amritsar became focal points for annual pilgrimages. The festival of Diwali, highlights three events in Sikh history: the founding of the city of Amritsar in 1577, the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji from the Mughal prison, and the day of Bhai Mani Singh Ji's martyrdom in 1738 as a result of his failure to pay a fine for trying to celebrate Diwali and thereafter refusing to convert to Islam.

BUDDHISM

Although not a primary festival of Buddhists, Diwali is still celebrated by some of them as a commemoration of the day when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE. It is observed by the Vajrayana Buddhist minority among the Newar people of Nepal. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha.

T O P  5  P L A C E S  T O  V I S I T 
D U R I N G  D I W A L I

JAIPUR
Jaipur is the most renowned destination to be visited during Diwali holidays every year. The real beauty of Deepavali stems from the warm glow of lamps and lights that decorate homes, shops, and streets. Jaipur, the Pink City, is the best place to experience this festival. Every year, competitions are organised for decorating the streets of the city.

GOA
Goa, the smallest Indian state, is famous for Diwali celebrations as well. The focus of celebrations is on the destruction of the demon Narakasura. In every city and village, competitions are organised to see who can make the largest figurine of the demon. Since gambling is also a famous Diwali activity, you can try your luck at casinos.

VARANASI
Varanasi is a lovely Indian destination to spend Diwali holidays. Make sure you stay at one of the riverside restaurants in the city of Varanasi to experience the real beauty of the festival. The main highlights of the festival include special Ganga Aarti and earthen lamps.

KOLKATA
While many people worship Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali, the main day of the festival is celebrated as Kali Puja in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal. Many devotees across the country visit Belur Math, Kalighat, and Dakshineswar, which are the Kali temples in the city.

DELHI
Delhi, the capital city of India, is famous for shopping during Diwali holidays. Dilli Haat organises a well-known Diwali Bazaar. If you are interested in unique handicrafts, Delhi should definitely be visited to spend during Diwali holidays.

F A M O U S  C O U N T R I E S  T H A T
C E L E B R A T E  D I W A L I

• Canada

• United Kingdom

• Thailand

• Indonesia 

• Malaysia

• Fiji

• Sri Lanka 

“Roshani ka yeh tyohar hai,
Rangoli se saja aaj har ek dwaar hai,
Roshni ki aaj kise darkaar hain,
Jab har ek kona jagmagahat se sarobar hai..”

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