Romesh Mengi
Deepawali which has its origin from Sanskrit, meaning “line of lights” and is a festival of the triumph of good over evil. Over the years the name has been pronounced as Diwali, especially in Hindi, whereas it still remains Deepawali in Nepali.
The Origin of Diwali
According to the epic Ramayana, Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama from his 14-year exile after rescuing Sita and killing the demon Ravana. The people of Ayodhya illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and fireworks to celebrate the return of their king.
In rural areas of India, Diwali, which occurs at the end of a growing season, is a harvest festival. Harvests normally brought prosperity. After reaping their harvest, farmers celebrated with joy and gave thanks to God and the demigods for granting them a good crop.
At the time of the reign of Emperor Prithu, he ordered that all cultivatable lands be ploughed. When the rains came, the land became very fertile and grains were planted. The harvest provided food not only to feed all of India, but for all civilization at the time. This harvest was close to Diwali time and was a good reason to celebrate Diwali with great joy and merriment by a wider community.
In the Adi Parva of the Mahabarata, the Pandavas also returned from their exile in the forest during Diwali time, giving people another reason for celebration.
Thus, there is a tradition of lighting oil lamps that symbolize the victory of good over evil and freedom from spiritual darkness.
Hindus, also make preparations to welcome goddess Lakshmi by drawing Rangoli, and Paduka (footsteps) on the entrance that would allure goddess Laxmi to visit one’s home and bring prosperity along with her on the occasion of diwali.
The Five Days of Diwali
The first day of Diwali is called Dhan Teras (Dhanvantari Triodas), and it marks the official beginning of the Diwali festivities. This day has great significance in many parts of India; people consider this as a very auspicious day and Muhurat. The thirteenth lunar day of the Krishna Paksh (as per the Hindu Calendar), the dark fortnight of the month of Karthik, Dhan Teras is a special day. On this day, Lord Dhanwantari is believed to have come out of the ocean with Ayurveda, the science of medicine, for the benefit of mankind. A huge amount of buying, specifically gold, silver and precious stones, ornaments, new clothes and utensils done on this day. In the evening, children light crackers, and people also light some earthen lamps outside their home. In some parts of India, like Gujarat, this day is religiously held even more important than the actual Deepawali day, and people hold Lakshmi, Kuber (the Hindu God of riches) and Ganesha Pooja on this day.
The second day of Diwali week is called the Kali Chaudas or Narak Chaturdasi. In some parts of India, it is simply the Choti Diwali, the day before Diwali. On this day Lord Krishna is known to have destroyed the demon Narakasur, freeing the world from fear. On this day, it is believed that one should massage the body with oil to relieve it of tiredness, bathe and rest, so that Diwali can be celebarated with vigour and devotion. It is also believed that one should not light diyas or step out on this day, and rather stay at home and relax. However, in modern times, on Choti Deepwali, people go to each other’s homes to wish ‘a Happy and Prosperous Diwali’ and also exchange gifts and sweets.
The third day of these festivities is the actual Diwali/ Deepawali, when Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped, along with Lord Ganesha. People light diyas and candles in their homes, and the streets all across India light up with millions of sparklers, crackers and fairy lights. After worshipping MahaLakshmi in the evening with their families, people visit temples and gurudwaras . They also exchange sweets as prasaad.
The fourth day is celebrated in various forms all across India. In Northern states of India, this day is widely celebrated as Govardhan Pooja and Vishwakarma Day, when people worship their instruments, arms and machinery. Most of the business establishments, thus, remain closed on this day.
The fifth day of Diwali festivities is celebrated as the Bhai Dooj or Bhai Beej or Bhai Teeka/ Tilak . Brothers visit their sisters on this day, and the sisters celebrate and prepare sweets specially in honour of their brothers, wishing a long, happy, healthy life and great success for them.
From Darkness Unto Light…
In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.
From darkness unto light – the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope.
The lamp which is lit outside is indeed pleasing to the eye and it gives light — but to dispel the darkness of the mind, we need to light the lamp of dhyana or meditation and jnana or knowledge. And once these lamps are lit, their light can never go out, for it is sustained by the oil of vairagya or dispassion in the mind that fuels it. Without dispassion, this lamp cannot burn. And it is the fuel of dispassion from which rays of knowledge burst forth, giving rise to wisdom with the power of discrimination that enables us to distinguish between truth and untruth.
Once you learn something, you cannot forget it. And once we know something, we cannot pretend that we don’t know it. That is why it is said that once darkness is dispelled, once the light shines bright, then one does not stumble or trip ever again.
Deepawali, the festival of lights, is rich in symbolism. Celebrated on the darkest of nights, it indicates that for those who light the lamp of knowledge in the darkness of life, there is luminosity, both within and without. For those who don’t, the mind abides in darkness because the outer light is temporary.
Every person should strive to dispel the darkness that cloaks his mind. And it is ignorance which keeps the mind in the deepest, densest darkness, which makes us believe that we are living a good life that will always stay that way. We do not understand that just like the oil in the lamp burns away, one day the lamp of our life too will get extinguished.
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