Light it up: Happy Diwali! [22.10.22]
India's most significant event and the most important holiday in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism, Diwali, is a celebration of virtue triumphing over evil.
What is Diwali?
In India, Diwali is the largest and most important holiday of the year. And in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, Diwali is one of the most important religious celebrations. It lasts for five days, usually around late October and early November. The festival's dates are determined by the Hindu lunar calendar, which assigns a month to the length of the moon's orbit around the Earth.
Diwali means "row of lights" in Sanskrit, and is derived from the Sanskrit phrase dipavali, which means "triumph of light over darkness". The row of clay lamps (deepa/diya) that Indians light outside of their homes to represent the internal light that guards against spiritual darkness is what gave rise to the festival's name.
This festival is just as significant for Hindus as Christmas is for Christians. However, Diwali has developed into a national holiday that is celebrated by both Hindu and non-Hindu people. Prayer, feasts, fireworks, family get-togethers, and charity all take place throughout the five days of this festival. For some, Diwali marks the start of a new year. And although each faith has a different historical explanation for the holiday, ultimately, they all point to the triumph of virtue over evil.
Different geographical regions have different interpretations of the Diwali narrative. These, however, are all epic stories of individuals who, according to Hindu belief, were manifestations of the deity Vishnu, who is regarded as the universe's sustainer and whose job it is to restore the balance between good and evil in difficult times. The idea behind Diwali is a universal one: the conviction that light will ultimately prevail over darkness.
Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity and fortune, is also honored during the festival. Diwali, which fell on the last harvest before winter in early India's agrarian civilization, was a time for Lakshmi-related prayers for good fortune. Diwali is still regarded by Indian businesses as the start of the new fiscal year.
Many of the customs and celebrations surrounding Diwali take place at home. For instance, families may dress up in new garments and attend worship services at the temple. In addition to turning on the lights, people bring platters of desserts and other treats when they meet with neighbors, family, and friends. Fireworks cause the night sky to sparkle and roar. For millions of people all around the world, Diwali is a time for worship, socializing, and eating.
How Diwali is celebrated
Diwali is celebrated over a period of five days. While the dates of Diwali vary annually based on the Hindu lunar calendar, festivities usually take place in late October or early November. This year, the five days of Diwali begin on October 22, with October 24 being the most significant day as the third day of the festival. However, the five days of Diwali are each significant in their own way.
Day 1 - Dhanteras: On the first day of Diwali, people worship the goddess Lakshmi, bake sweets, and clean their homes. Individuals perform rituals called puja or pooja, hang tea lights all over their homes' balconies or entranceways, and buy culinary items that are said to bring good fortune.
Day 2 – Narak Chaturdashi: On the second day, families adorn their homes with clay lamps and rangolis, which are patterns constructed on the floor out of colored sand, powder, rice, or flower petals. People will spend a lot of time at home and exchange sweets with friends and family on this day, which is celebrated in varied ways depending on the location.
Day 3 - Lakshmi Puja: The third day of Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, is considered to be the most significant day of the 5-day Diwali celebration. On this day, families congregate to pay reverence to the goddess Lakshmi and celebrate together with delectable feasts, breathtaking fireworks displays, and more celebrations.
Day 4 - Govardhan Puja: The fourth day of Diwali is often considered the new year and is a time for holiday greetings and gift-giving from friends and family. The Gujarati new year and Lord Krishna are both connected to this day. For Puja, a huge amount of food is prepared as offerings.
Day 5 - Bhaiya Dooj: Finally, the fifth day is devoted to honoring the relationship between siblings. Traditionally, brothers will pay their sisters a visit, offer them presents, and celebrate with ceremonies and treats.
The “Festival of Lights”
To celebrate this five-day celebration, lights in a variety of shapes are essential. The holiday of Diwali gets its name from the diya, a clay oil lamp. Diyas are small, hand-made cups with flattened rims that are filled with oil and decorated with vibrant hues. A cotton wick is positioned partially in the oil and partially on a little ledge on the diya's rim. However, many individuals now utilize tea lights instead.
Along the balconies, entryways, and foundations of their homes, families put out rows of oil lights, giving forth another name for the festival, “Deepavali”. Deep, another name for the oil lamp, and avali, meaning "rows or clusters of lamps,". Tea lights, or diyas, are placed in rows with the intention of luring Lakshmi, the goddess of riches and well-being, into the house and dispelling ignorance, fear, and gloom.
On the day of Lakshmi Puja (the third day of celebration), in addition to these lights and decorations, people will also light fireworks and sparklers to celebrate. However, it's not just for show. The firecrackers symbolize a means to let things go and help release bad emotions.
Diwali serves as a reminder, not just to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists, but also to the rest of the world, to see beyond the differences that divide us and instead embrace each other as brothers and sisters and rejoice in the triumph of good over evil.
Happy Diwali, everyone!
To learn more about Diwali, check out the podcast “Light it up: Happy Diwali”.
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