Now that Diwali is just a few weeks away and will be celebrated on Saturday 17th October 2009, many families have already started preparing for the festival much in advance. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival of Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of Krishna Paksh of the auspicious month of Kartik, which falls on around September/October every year.
On this day, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhaya along with Sita after a 14 year old exile in the forests. This day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fanfare in India and many countries abroad. The name Diwali is actually a corruption of the world Deepavali, which means array of lamps. Diwali is therefore correctly known as the festival of lights in English.
Diwali - Full of Joy and Enthusiasm
The festival is usually preceded by a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. Children and elders too look forward to Diwali with a lot of eagerness. The day is full of traditional fervor and religious passion. On the occasion, people also worship Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, and pray to her for divine wealth and well-being. Children especially love this day, since they look forward to bursting a variety of firecrackers on this occasion. After the small formal puja ceremony, elders light lamps in the courtyards and also go out into the neighborhood and adjoining lanes to burst firecrackers to celebrate the home coming of Lord Rama and Sita.
The 5 Day Celebrations and Prayers
Actually, the festival is an elaborate affair that spreads over 5 days. Each of these days is dedicated to a particular diety. The first day is dedicated to the Lord Dhanvanatari - the astral physician to the Gods. On this day, Lord Dhanvantari is venerated and worshiped.
The second day is celebrated as Chhoti Diwali, also called Narak Chaturdasi, on which day Lord Krishna freed the world from fear by exterminating the demon Narakasur. Diwali falls on the third day, and Lord Govardhana (Mount Govardhan) is worshiped on the fourth day during the Govardhan Puja. In some parts of the country such as Gujarat, the day is celebrated as New Year Day, on which the New Year begins according to regional tradition.
The fifth day is celebrated as Bhai Dool which is dedicated to sisters. On this day, Lord Yama - the lord of Death, granted a boon to his sister Yamuna that who so ever would visit her on this day would be liberated of all sins and attain moksha (final emancipation). On this day, brothers visited their sisters and enquire about their well-being.
A Symbol of Victory of Good over Evil
The celebrations of Diwali indicate the victory of good over evil. Just before his return to the throne, Lord Rama vanquished the 10 headed Ravana who had kidnapped Sita to his abode Lanka. This symbolises the victory of good over evil and the vanquishing of darkness and the emergence of light.
On the day of the actual festival, elders and children thoroughly enjoy the festival after participating in the small formal worship at dusk. In today's times, many families also decorate their houses with colored electric lamps. The celebrations usually continue till late in the night, and since ages have brought joy and happiness to one and all in India and many others around the world.
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