History of Diwali
Deepawali
or Diwali is certainly the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals.
It's the festival of lights (deep = light and avali = a row i.e.,
a row of lights) that's marked by four days of celebration, which literally
illumines the country with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy. Each
of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different
tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its
enjoyment and goodness.
The Origin of Diwali
Historically,
the origin of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when
it was probably an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends
pointing to the origin of Diwali or 'Deepawali.' Some believe it to be the
celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the
festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol
of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this
day. In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to
the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana.
Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his
fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous
celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of
Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst
crackers.
These Four Days
Each
day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell. The first day of the
festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya,
the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most
benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also
tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the
tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed to return to earth once
a year, to light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and ignorance, and
spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is on the third day of Deepawali — Kartika
Shudda Padyami that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to
the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya
(also called Bhai Dooj) and on this day sisters invite
their brothers to their homes.
The Significance of Lights & Firecrackers
All
the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to tell. The
illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an
expression of obeisance to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth,
knowledge, peace and prosperity. According to one belief, the sound of
fire-crackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on earth,
making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason
has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the crackers kill a lot of
insects and mosquitoes, found in plenty after the rains.
The Tradition of Gambling
The
tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed
that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva, and she decreed that whosoever
gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali is
associated with wealth and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of 'Dhanteras' ('dhan' = wealth; 'teras' = 13th) is
celebrated two days before the festival of lights.
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. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is
more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities. If
you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya, sit
quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light
and illuminate the soul.
No comments:
Post a Comment