Diwali or Deepavali is one of the most important and most widely celebrated festivals in India, and nowadays one can find celebrations all over the world.
Also known as ‘the festival of lights’, this celebration has a very beautiful and profound spiritual significance as well. By lighting rows (avali) of lights (deepa) during the darkest night of Kartik month, the festival symbolizes the victory of the Light (good) over Darkness (evil).
Although there are many different stories and significant events that are remembered and celebrated during Diwali, one of the main underlying principles is that of the victory of the light of knowledge over the darkness of ignorance. It is a reminder of the importance of spiritual knowledge, which can liberate us from the imagined bondage that we experience, to experience the true freedom that is our nature.
When we remember the spiritual aspect, Diwali becomes an opportunity to overcome negativity and reinforce our commitment to be a better human being. Instead of just bursting firecrackers in the streets, we burst any negativity, anger, jealousy, regret and aversion that are lingering in the mind from the past year. Instead of just lighting lamps in and outside our house, we reverently light the lamps of awareness and knowledge, so that there may be light and celebration in our lives and around us, even in the darkest of times. When we not only clean our house, but also our body, mind and emotions, then we become truly ready to receive the Divine into our ‘homes’. Not just during Diwali, but every day of our lives!
The Diwali celebrations usually start two days before the new moon, on the thirteenth day after the full moon (trayodashi). On this day, known as Dhana Trayodashi or Dhanteras, homes and offices or business premises are cleaned, renovated and decorated. The entrances are beautifully decorated in traditional manner, such as designs with rice powder, etc (rangoli) to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes abundance, wealth and prosperity. To symbolically show her arrival, small footprints are made with vermillion, rice powder, etc in different parts of the house. The whole night lamps are kept burning in the house, and this day is considered very auspicious to buy gold, silver, jewelry and new utensils.
This day is also known and celebrated as the day that the God connected to Ayurveda, Dhanvantari, was born, and gave the knowledge of Ayurveda to the world. As such it is celebrated as Dhanvantari Jayanti. All night lamps (deepa) are lit in reverence of the God of Death (Yama), and those lights are therefore known as Yamadeepam. It is believed that when done with devotion, this protects one from untimely death and removes the fear of death.
The next day, which is the fourteenth day after the full moon, is known as Naraka Chaturdashi. There is a story about Krishna defeating the terrible demon Narakasura on the day before this, and after defeating him freeing all the daughters of the gods and saints that this demon had captured and imprisoned. It is said that they washed off all the dirt of his battle on this day, and massaged him with scented oil. On this day people normally wake up early (before sunrise) and have a bath with water and scented oil. This tradition symbolizes the victory of the Divine over Evil. If done with devotion, this is said to bring a future full of goodness.
The third day, which is the day of the new moon (amavasya), is the most important day of the celebrations. On this day the energy that the goddess Lakshmi symbolizes is invoked and honored, as it is believed that on this night she descends on this planet to shower blessings for prosperity and abundance. Wealth and abundance, which is represented by the goddess Lakshmi, is said to be very transient. It is said that she only stays for a longer time in a place where there is love, purity, hard work, sincerity, righteousness and gratefulness. A true Lakshmi Puja is therefore incomplete without that love, devotion, purity, hard work, sincerity, righteousness and gratefulness.
This day is also celebrated by many as the day that many great souls and saints have left their mortal bodies, such as Lord Krishna, Lord Mahavira, and many others. It is also said to be the day that Lord Rama returned home after fourteen years in exile.
This Diwali, let us remember all that we have and feel grateful for all that is bestowed on us, and let us pray that there be peace and prosperity in every part of the world, and that all may experience joy, love and abundance in their lives.
