Diwali is celebrated on the darkest night following Dashera, midway in time between New Moon and Full Moon, and commemorates the return of Lord Rama to ascend the throne of Ayodhya after his 14 years of exile in the forests of his kingdom. His arrival was awaited by a vast concourse of subjects who gathered round the throne waiting in anxious expectations for the advent of their beloved King. Then, through the brushwood and the forest, emerged the Mendicant King, Saffron Clothed, barefooted and bareheaded, with a sheaf of arrows across his back and a giant bow in his hand. All Ayodhya went mad with transports of joy. Night came. A thousand flairs went up in old Ayodhya. A myriad lights scintillated in the darkening sky and made day of night, while the warrior King Lord Rama sat in Royal State, in the splendour of his simple regalia. There sat a victor over mighty Ravana; a victor over personified Wrong; nay more, a victor over himself.
The word “Diwali” is the corruption of the Sanskrit word “Deepavali”—Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row. It means a row of lights and indeed illumination forms its main attraction. Every home—lowly or mighty—the hut of the poor or the mansion of the rich—is alit with the orange glow of twinkling diyas (small earthen lamps) to welcome Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. Multi-coloured Rangoli designs, floral decorations and fireworks lend picturesness and grandeur to this festival which heralds joy, mirth and happiness in the ensuring year
Diwali is the Festival of Lights, celebrated all over India as an occasion to worship Goddess Lakshmi. This is the time when people in all parts of India celebrate the beginning of something new; a time to herald in prosperity and happiness in their lives. Diwali is an occasion when people light diyas (small oil lamps) all over their home to welcome Goddess Lakshmi in their homes. The festival is marked by distribution of gifts, sharing of wealth and celebration by sharing sweets and lighting firecrackers. This occasion inspires people to share their wealth among those who do not have the wherewithal to afford firecrackers, food or new clothes. In many regions of India, the wealthy people send gifts of sweets, firecrackers and clothes to the poor. The dazzling firecrackers bursting all over the sky at night is truly a sight to behold. The firecrackers that set the sky on fire at night symbolize the burning away of a person’s anger, hatred, fear and sorrow.
Bharat Mata carries in her bosom diverse cultures drawn from infinite spiritual sources and traditions. And therefore it is no wonder that our sacred Motherland is imbued in the aura of festivities round the year. Most of the Indian festivals find their origin in Hindu Mythology. Diwali is one such widely loved festival. In an attempt to honor the great Lord Rama, we have come up with some amazing tales, which have been passed on from generation to generation in every family and are preserved as India’s ancient heritage. The popular story related to Diwali is the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. There are a number of myths surrounding the festival. For instance, the stories of the killing of Ravana and Narakasura, the emergence of Goddess Lakshmi etc. are some of the stories that enrich and enliven the glory of Lord Rama and reinforce his position of “Purushottama”—an exemplary Man of Honour—in India’s religious, cultural and social life. But, that is not all. There are many other mythical stories that enrich and enhance the significance of Diwali. The quintessence of Diwali celebrations lies in these timeless and immortal stories.
Let us now note the different regional traditions relating to the celebrations of Diwali. Each region of India celebrates Diwali in it’s own unique way. In West Bengal, it is celebrated as ‘Kali Puja’. After nineteen days of the completion of the Durga Puja, the whole State gets geared up to celebrate another popular festival, the Kali Puja. Kali is worshipped as the Mother Goddess who protects the people from evil. The Puja actually takes place at midnight on the day of the new moon. During the Kali Puja all houses are lit up with candles decorated around the house. During this Puja, children and adults are seen to burst firecrackers. No one seems to sleep on that night.
The First Day of Diwali festival begins with Dhanteras, a day to worship Goddess Lakshmi. The Second Day of the Festival is set aside to worship Goddess Kali, the Goddess of Strength. On the Third Day, lamps are kept alight brightly in homes. The lamp symbolizes knowledge and wisdom. The Fourth Day falls on the first day of the lunar New Year. On this occasion, old business accounts are settled and new books are opened. Indian priests worship these books in a special ceremony and participants are encouraged to let go of all anger, hate, and jealousy from within. The Fifth and last Day (Balipratipada) of the festival is dedicated to Bali, an Indian king. Bali destroyed the centuries old philosophies of the society. He is remembered for being a generous and kind person. The moral of this day is to see the good in others, even one’s enemies.
The Sikhs celebrate Diwali to signify the return of the Sixth Guru Hargobind to Amritsar in 1620 along with 52 Hindu kings imprisoned along with him by Emperor Jahangir. The Jain communities of India hold Diwali as a New Year’s Day. Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, attained his Nirva
na on this day. In Maharashtra also, on Diwali day for all Hindus traditional early baths with oil and “Uptan” (paste) of gram flour and fragrant powders are a `must’. All through the ritual of baths, deafening sounds of crackers and fireworks create a joyous festive atmosphere which enables all the children to enjoy their holy bathing on Diwali day. Afterwards steamed vermiceli with milk and sugar or puffed rice with curd is served.
Sri Chinmoy (1931-) has said: “Light and darkness. Darkness makes us feel that we are nothing and can do nothing, that we are useless. Light makes us feel that we are everything, that we can do everything, that we can become everything. “The ancient saints, sages and seers of India who composed the Upanishads declared for all time that ‘LIGHT’ is the essence of the Universe. The Upanishads say:
“Agni is Light and the Light is Agni.
Indra is Light and the Light is Indra.
Surya is Light and the Light is Surya.”
Agni, Indra and Surya are cosmic Gods in the Hindu pantheon. Sri Chinmoy (1931-) commented thus on the above Mantra:
“Light is Love revealed.
Light is Life manifested.
Light is God fulfilled.”
On the eve of Diwali—the great Festival of Lights—I cannot help chanting the following beautiful lines of Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950):
Thy golden Light came down into my brain
And the grey rooms of mind sun-touched became
A bright reply to Wisdom’s occult plane,
A calm illumination and a flame.
Thy golden Light came down into my throat,
And all my speech is now a tune divine,
A paean-song of Thee my single note;
My words are drunk with the Immortal’s wine.
Thy golden Light came down into my heart
Smiting my life with Thy eternity;
Now has it grown a temple where Thou art
And all its passions point towards only Thee.
Thy golden Light came down into my feet,
My earth is now Thy playfield and Thy seat.
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