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Diwali- Date, Significance and How it is celebrated...
Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word dipavali meaning "row or series of lights". It is a great festival that brings new lights into the home. It is a day to celebrate health and happiness. Almost everyone, irrespective of religion, celebrates Diwali together with joy. Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity.
DATE
DATE
The five-day celebration is observed every year in early autumn after the summer harvest, coincides with the new moon and is said to be the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The festivities begin two days before Amavasya, on Dhanteras, and extend two days after, on the second day of the month of Kartik. The festival is on the third day and is called the main Diwali. This year Diwali is celebrated on 4th of November.
SIGNIFICANCE
SIGNIFICANCE
Dhanteras, derived from Dhan meaning wealth and teras meaning thirteenth is celebrated as a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing and an auspicious beginning for the next year. On Yama Deepam, Hindus light a diya, ideally made of wheat flour and filled with sesame oil, that faces south in the back of their homes. This is believed to please Yama, the god of death, and to ward off untimely death.
According to a legend, the day of the slaying of the demon Narakasura was celebrated as Naraka Chaturdhashi. A festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.
Diwali is celebrated as the day Lord Rama returned to his kingdom Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after defeating Ravana in Lanka and serving 14 years of exile.
Govardhan puja, honouring the legend of the Hindu god Krishna for saving people by lifting the Govardhan mountain. According to one tradition, the day is associated with the story of Bali's defeat at the hands of Vishnu.
The last day of the festival is called Bhai Duj (brother's day). This festive day is interpreted by some to symbolise Yama's sister Yamuna welcoming Yama with a tilaka, while others interpret it as the arrival of Krishna at his sister's, Subhadra, place after defeating Narakasura. Subhadra welcomes him with a tilaka on his forehead.|
CELEBRATIONS
According to a legend, the day of the slaying of the demon Narakasura was celebrated as Naraka Chaturdhashi. A festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.
Diwali is celebrated as the day Lord Rama returned to his kingdom Ayodhya with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana after defeating Ravana in Lanka and serving 14 years of exile.
Govardhan puja, honouring the legend of the Hindu god Krishna for saving people by lifting the Govardhan mountain. According to one tradition, the day is associated with the story of Bali's defeat at the hands of Vishnu.
The last day of the festival is called Bhai Duj (brother's day). This festive day is interpreted by some to symbolise Yama's sister Yamuna welcoming Yama with a tilaka, while others interpret it as the arrival of Krishna at his sister's, Subhadra, place after defeating Narakasura. Subhadra welcomes him with a tilaka on his forehead.|
CELEBRATIONS
Diwali is a five-day festival, the height of which is celebrated on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of the lunar month. Rituals and preparations for Diwali begin days or weeks in advance, typically after the festival of Dussehra that precedes Diwali by about 20 days. The festival formally begins two days before the night of Diwali, and ends two days thereafter.
Dhanteras: On this day, many Hindus clean their homes and business premises. They install diyas, for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha portraits. On the evening of Dhanteras, families offer prayers to Lakshmi and Ganesha, and lay offerings of puffed rice, candy toys, rice cakes and batashas.
Naraka Chaturdashi: Naraka Chaturdashi also known as Chhoti Diwali. For some Hindus, it is a day to pray for the peace to the manes, or defiled souls of one's ancestors and light their way for their journeys in the cyclic afterlife. Many visit their favourite Hindu temple. Chhoti Diwali is also a day for visiting friends, business associates and relatives, and exchanging gifts. Hanuman, who is the deity of strength, power, and protection, is worshipped on this day to seek protection from the spirits.
Lakshmi Pujan/ Diwali: The youngest members in the family visit their elders, such as grandparents and other senior members of the community, on this day. As the evening approaches, celebrants will wear new clothes or their best outfits. At dusk, family members gather for the Lakshmi Pujan, although prayers will also be offered to other deities, such as Ganesha, Saraswati, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman, or Kubera. After the puja, people go outside and celebrate by lighting up fireworks together, and then share a family feast and mithai. Major temples and homes are decorated with lights, festive foods shared with all, friends and relatives remembered and visited with gifts.
Annakut/Govardhan Puja: Communities prepare over one hundred dishes from a variety of ingredients, which is then dedicated to Krishna before shared among the community. Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for darshan. This day ritually celebrates the bond between the wife and husband, husbands will celebrate this with presenting gifts to their wives.
Bhai Duj: The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. On this day the womenfolk of the family gather, perform a puja with prayers for the well being of their brothers, then return to a ritual of feeding their brothers with their hands and receiving gifts.
Dhanteras: On this day, many Hindus clean their homes and business premises. They install diyas, for the next five days, near Lakshmi and Ganesha portraits. On the evening of Dhanteras, families offer prayers to Lakshmi and Ganesha, and lay offerings of puffed rice, candy toys, rice cakes and batashas.
Naraka Chaturdashi: Naraka Chaturdashi also known as Chhoti Diwali. For some Hindus, it is a day to pray for the peace to the manes, or defiled souls of one's ancestors and light their way for their journeys in the cyclic afterlife. Many visit their favourite Hindu temple. Chhoti Diwali is also a day for visiting friends, business associates and relatives, and exchanging gifts. Hanuman, who is the deity of strength, power, and protection, is worshipped on this day to seek protection from the spirits.
Lakshmi Pujan/ Diwali: The youngest members in the family visit their elders, such as grandparents and other senior members of the community, on this day. As the evening approaches, celebrants will wear new clothes or their best outfits. At dusk, family members gather for the Lakshmi Pujan, although prayers will also be offered to other deities, such as Ganesha, Saraswati, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman, or Kubera. After the puja, people go outside and celebrate by lighting up fireworks together, and then share a family feast and mithai. Major temples and homes are decorated with lights, festive foods shared with all, friends and relatives remembered and visited with gifts.
Annakut/Govardhan Puja: Communities prepare over one hundred dishes from a variety of ingredients, which is then dedicated to Krishna before shared among the community. Hindu temples on this day prepare and present "mountains of sweets" to the faithful who have gathered for darshan. This day ritually celebrates the bond between the wife and husband, husbands will celebrate this with presenting gifts to their wives.
Bhai Duj: The day celebrates the sibling bond between brother and sister. On this day the womenfolk of the family gather, perform a puja with prayers for the well being of their brothers, then return to a ritual of feeding their brothers with their hands and receiving gifts.
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