Happy Diwali...🌸

Hello readers, 

I am mori sejal. I am studying in B.A.with English  at government arts college talaja. I am student of semester 3.  Today, This blog is diwali  festival why celebrate in diwali ? 

• Diwali festival.. 

As a symbol of the triumph of virtues over the vices within human beings, people light small earthen lamps filled with oil and place them in tiny clay pots. The five-day festival of diwali Pebegins with the rising of the new moon, falling between October 13 and November 14. According to the hindu calendar , it is observed at the end of the month of Ashwin and the beginning of Kartik, on the day of the new moon. The celebration starts on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin (the 28th tithi of Ashwin) and concludes on the second day of the bright fortnight of Kartik (the 2nd tithi of Kartik). There are regional variations in the main days of celebration.

In many parts of India and Nepal, according to Hindu belief, this festival commemorates the return of lord rama after 14 years of exile and his victory over ravana Over time, the name of the festival evolved into diwali in hindu and diwali in nepali though in the southern and eastern regions of India, the original term is still preserved.

In Jainism, Diwali symbolizes the attainment of Nirvana by Lord mahavira on October 15, 527 BCE.

The meaning of Diwali is a garland of lamps (in Sanskrit, deep = lamp and avali = row or garland). In many modern languages, especially in North India, it is popularly known by its shorter name “Diwali.” Different communities celebrate the festival over varying numbers of days. Although the main days of celebration in India and Nepal are the same and occur simultaneously, they may fall in different Gregorian months, depending on the version of the Hindu calendar followed in each region.

Return of Rama to Ayodhya:

After 14 years of exile and the death of Ravana in battle, Lord Rama, the king of Ayodhya, returned to his kingdom along with his wife sita and brother lakshman. Diwali is also celebrated to commemorate this joyous homecoming. It is believed that the people of Ayodhya lit lamps filled with ghee to illuminate the dark paths and welcome Rama back. Since Rama traveled from South India to reach his kingdom in the North, passing through the southern regions first, the festival is celebrated one day earlier in South India for this reason.

Spiritual Significance:

The festival of Diwali, known as the “festival of light,” carries its deepest spiritual meaning as the “awakening of the inner light.” According to Hindu philosophy, beyond the physical body and the mind, there exists something pure, infinite, and eternal — the soul (atman). Just as we celebrate our physical birth, Diwali is a celebration of the inner illumination, the awakening of one’s true self.

When this inner light is realized,darkness is dispelled  all difficulties and ignorance vanish  and a person becomes aware of their true nature, not merely as a body, but as the unchanging, infinite, universal, and transcendent reality.

With the realization of the soul comes compassion, love, and awareness of oneness with all creation  a state of higher wisdom. This leads to true joy, an inner peace and bliss.

Diwali is celebrated with fireworks, lights, flowers, sweets, and devotion. Though the stories and legends associated with Diwali vary across regions, the core essence remains the same — celebrating the joy of inner light (the soul) or the ultimate truth that underlies everything (brahman).

Five days In India and around the world, the festival of Diwali is celebrated over five days. Except for Diwali itself, the names of all other days are based on the dates (tithis) from the Hindu calendar.

Vashu baras :

The word Baras means the twelfth day, and Vasu means cow. On this day, cows and calves are worshipped.

Dhan teras

The word Dhan means “wealth,” and Trayodashi means the “thirteenth day.” As the name suggests, this festival falls on the thirteenth day of the second half of the lunar month. This day is considered auspicious for purchasing utensils and gold. It is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of lord dhanvantari, who emerged during the churning of the ocean (samudra manthan) by the gods and demons.

Kali chaudas is considered a special day for practitioners of occult knowledge. They believe that performing rituals in the cremation ground on this day helps them complete all their spiritual practices and strengthens their mystical powers. During these days,goddess Jagdamba is worshipped in three different forms.

Kali chaudas :

Kali Chaudas is considered a special day for practitioners of occult knowledge. They believe that performing rituals in the cremation ground on this day helps them complete all their spiritual practices and strengthens their mystical powers. During these days, Goddess Jagdamba is worshipped in three different forms.

In Gujarat,

Diwali is considered the last day of the year, and this day holds great importance for traders. Every businessperson in Gujarat — from the smallest workshop owner to the largest company owner — performs the worship of their account books (chopda pujan ) at an auspicious time on this day.

In earlier times, traders used to worship their traditional red account books, which can still be seen in some places today. However, in the modern age of computers, traders have replaced those red books with laptops. Yet, their devotion and purity of worship remain just as sincere as before.

For Gujarati traders, Diwali marks the worship of their business accounts, offering prayers for the profits earned throughout the year and symbolically closing the year’s transactions. After this, they begin their business anew in the new year — usually starting from Kartik Sud Ekam (the first day of the Kartik month) or sometimes on the fifth or seventh day, according to their tradition.

After Krishna’s victory over Narkasur came to be celebrated as a symbol of the triumph of good over evil. The day before Diwali is remembered as Narak Chaturdashi, the day when Krishna killed Narakasura. Many Hindus associate this festival with goddess lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and the consort of Lord vishnu.

New year : A Day of Joy and Blessings

In Gujarat, the new year that begins on karta sud ekamis known as nutan varsh or Bestu Varsh. The day begins early in the morning with the bursting of fireworks and enthusiastic celebrations to welcome the new year. According to Hindu belief, a new day begins at four o’clock in the early morning.

Bhai dooj :

Bhai Dooj is celebrated to honor the unique bond between brothers and sisters, symbolizing their love, care, and mutual protection. Sisters perform rituals like applying a tilak to their brothers' foreheads and praying for their long life, while brothers promise to protect their sisters. The celebration involves exchanging gifts, enjoying special meals, and reinforcing family connections through mythological stories like that of Yama and Yamuna or Lord Krishna and Subhadra.

Strengthening sibling bonds: The festival is a dedicated time for brothers and sisters to express their love and appreciation for each other. 

Protection and well-being: Sisters pray for their brothers' long life and well-being, and according to legend, these rituals provide protection from evil and harm. 

Brother's promise: In return, brothers make a promise to protect their sisters and shower them with gifts and blessings.

 

• Mythological origins:

Yama and Yamuna: One legend says the god of death, Yama, visited his sister Yamuna, who celebrated by applying a tilak on his forehead. Yama then blessed the day, making it a tradition for brothers to visit their sisters for a special greeting. 

Lord Krishna and Subhadra: Another story tells of Lord Krishna visiting his sister Subhadra after defeating a demon. She welcomed him by performing a ritual with a tilak and sweets, which is said to have initiated the festival. 

Family celebration: The day is marked by joyous family gatherings, sharing special meals, and exchanging gifts to celebrate the strong and loving relationship between siblings. 

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