Diwali: The Festival of Lights – Significance, Importance, Highlights, and Speciality
Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is one of the most widely celebrated festivals across India and in the world at large. It is identified with great displays of lights, fireworks, traditional rituals, and wonderful food. It is a great festival with tremendous cultural and spiritual significance to millions around the world. This is a five-day festival based on ancient Hindu traditions; it represents victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
Now that we have discussed the various origins, meanings, importance, high lights, and specialties of Diwali in previous pages, let us now find out why it remains such an endearing festival.
##Origin of Diwali
There are several legends associated with the origins of Diwali. In fact, such is the diversity of the regions or communities within India that even the origins are diverse. Still, here are a few of the most significant legends associated with Diwali.
1. The Return of Lord Rama: One of the most renowned stories coupled with Diwali is the story of the return of Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana after a long exile of 14 years from Ayodhya. As per Ramayana, Rama has defeated the demon king Ravana, depicting how good vanquishes evil. The return of Rama has been considered a warm welcoming act by the people of Ayodhya. They lighted lamps called diyas, which marked the starting point for the festival of lights known as Diwali.
2. Lord Krishna Saves Narakasura Indian Studies Some people say that Diwali is when Lord Krishna killed the demon king Narakasura and rescued 16,000 princesses from his prison. In this very popular South Indian folktale, good conquers evil.
3. Lakshmi Puja or Worship of Goddess Lakshmi: The festival is also known as the Lakshmi Puja day, which is the day for the worship of the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi. According to people, on the night of Diwali, Goddess Lakshmi visits each house and awards them the prosperity and wealth they will have in the coming year.
4. King Bali’s Story This festival marks the initial celebrations in certain parts of India, especially in Kerala and it reflects the history behind King Bali, one character who sacrificed himself before Vishnu just to gain favor. So, in avtar of vamana Vishnu banishes the king from the kingdom but later asks him, for every subsequent Diwali to visit his country and catch a glimpse of the three planets that fall inside its range.
Each of these epics repeats the central theme of the festival that is, the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil.
## Importance of Diwali
Diwali is important not due to its religious and cultural premises but also because of the values and symbolism it provides. It is here that Diwali remains an important festival in contemporary days:
1. Spiritual Rejuvenation: Diwali is the festival that heralds a time of spiritual introspection, purification, and rejuvenation. Lighted diyas mean light at the head and heart removes darkness and brings in positives, knowledge, and peace.
2. Cultural Harmony: A Hindu festival, Diwali is celebrated by multiple communities and faiths of India and by Indian migrants across the globe. Diwali, as the above points suggest, creates cultural harmony because diverse cultures are coming together and celebrating a single festivity.
3. Economic Prosperity: Diwali is the festival of wealth and prosperity, new beginnings; each business gets to start a new fiscal year after Diwali, which would be a good time for financial growth, and in fact, it is the best time for retail sales because people buy new clothes, gifts, and sweets for family and friends.
4. Family bonding and celebrations: Diwali brings families and communities closer to each other. It’s that time when people go and visit each other, share sweets and create cherished memories with love ones. Communal celebrations result in a feeling of belonging and unity.
5. Social and Environmental Awareness: Lately, many communities have joined the “Green Diwali” movement that celebrates green practices such as no crackers and organic materials for decoration purposes. This is growing protection of the environment and having a responsible celebration.
पूजा का शुभ मुहूर्त (Diwali 2024 Puja Ka Shubh Muhurat)
पंचांग के अनुसार, लक्ष्मी पूजा का शुभ मुहूर्त शाम 5 बजकर 37 मिनट से 8 बजकर 45 मिनट तक रहेगा. यह समय देवी लक्ष्मी की पूजा और उनकी कृपा प्राप्त करने के लिए सबसे उपयुक्त माना गया है. 31 अक्टूबर को लक्ष्मी पूजन का शुभ मुहूर्त शाम 5 बजे से मध्य रात्रि तक रहेगा. इस दौरान घरों में साफ-सफाई करके, दीप जलाकर, और मां लक्ष्मी एवं भगवान गणेश की पूजा की जाती है, जिससे सुख-समृद्धि का आशीर्वाद प्राप्त होता है.
ज्योतिष शास्त्र के अनुसार, इन 3 शुभ मुहूर्त में भी लक्ष्मी पूजा की जा सकती है (Lakshmi Puja 2024 Time)
प्रदोष काल में पूजा मुहूर्त का समय – 31 अक्टूबर 2024, शाम 05 बजकर 35 मिनट से रात 08 बजकर 11 मिनट तक पूजा की जा सकती है.
वृषभ काल में पूजा मुहूर्त का समय – 31 अक्टूबर 2024, शाम 06 बजकर 21 मिनट से रात 08 बजकर 17 मिनट तक पूजा का समय रहेगा.
निशिता काल में पूजा मुहूर्त का समय – 31 अक्टूबर 2024, रात 11 बजकर 39 मिनट से देर रात 21 बजकर 31 मिनट तक रहेगा.
मां लक्ष्मी को प्रसन्न करने के लिए दिवाली पर ऐसे करें पूजा (Diwali Puja Vidhi)
सुबह जल्दी उठकर पूरे घर की अच्छे से साफ सफाई करें. ध्यान रखें दिवाली के दिन घर के किसी भी कोने में धूल या गंदगी जमा नहीं होनी चाहिए. मान्यता है कि लक्ष्मी मां सिर्फ ऐसे ही घरों में निवास करती हैं जहां साफ सफाई का विशेष ध्यान रखा जाता है. सफाई के बाद स्नान करें और स्वच्छ वस्त्र पहनें, इसके बाद घर के मंदिर या पूजा स्थल में पूजा अर्चना करें. इसके बाद शाम के समय की पूजा के लिए पूरे घर को फूल और पत्तियां से सजाएं. दरवाजों पर तोरण लगाएं और घर के मुख्य द्वार को विशेष रूप से सजाएं. मां लक्ष्मी के स्वागत के लिए मुख्य द्वार और पूजा स्थल के पास रंगोली बनाएं.
अब पूजा के लिए एक चौकी पर लाल कपड़ा बिछाकर उस पर लक्ष्मी गणेश जी की प्रतिमा स्थापित करें. इस दिन धन की भी पूजा की जाती है इसलिए पूजा स्थल पर धन भी जरूर रखें. कुबेर जी की भी तस्वीर या प्रतिमा स्थापित करें. पूजा स्थल पर फूल, रंगोली और चंदन से सजावट करें. अब शुद्ध घी का दीपक और सुगंधित धूप जलाकर गणेश जी, लक्ष्मी जी और कुबेर जी को रोली, अक्षत, फूल आदि अर्पित करें और आरती करें. आप चाहें तो पूजा के दौरान लक्ष्मी मंत्र और कुबेर मंत्र का जाप भी कर सकते हैं. पूजा के बाद भोग लगाएं. इस दिन मां लक्ष्मी को खीर का भोग लगाना बहुत शुभ माना जाता है. पूजा के बाद पूरे घर में दीपक जलाएं.
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There was just the right amount of tradition, ritual, and activity to be going on about the making of the festival seem so lively and memorable, while Diwali lasted. Let me enumerate a few of its highlights.
1. Home Decoration and Home Decoration Cleaning and decorating houses and homes during Diwali forms a huge part of it. Everyone cleans up and adorns his house with multicolored rangolis, diyas, and flowers. People believe that good energy along with Lakshmi blessings is attracted toward a cleaned and decorated home.
2. Lighting diyas and candles: Perhaps the most iconic practice when people do anything regarding Diwali-light up diyas and candles in front of homes, crossing the roads, and even around the temples. It speaks to magic depicting hope and optimism.
3. Bursting firecrackers: Firecrackers are an integral part of Diwali celebrations, which signify the removal of negativities. However, considering the environmental aspects, people have started celebrating in eco-friendly ways, which has resulted in minimal noise and air pollution.
4. Lakshmi Puja: Lakshmi Puja, which is done on the third day of Diwali, is a very important ritual in which people pray for prosperity and success. This puja includes offering sweets, fruits, flowers, and prayers to Goddess Lakshmi.
5. Sharing gifts and sweets: In the Diwali festival, an exchange of gifts and sweets is one of its integral parts. Families distribute packets of sweets and dry fruits, etcetera and celebrate the day with gifts along with the company.
6. Traditional Food Feast: Traditional food and sweets are prepared in Diwali. Right from the spicy savouries that include samosas and chaklis, laddoos to sweets like barfis, Diwali festivals make a feast of food for all families across the country.
7. New Clothes: This is another expensive affair whereby people buy new clothes since it represents something new and the market is full of people buying gifts, decors, and traditional costumes.
8. Community Events and Festivals: The festival also involves community get-togethers, fairs, and other festival celebrations where the entire community goes out for its celebration, which involves various cultural programs, competitions, and fundraising events.
#Specialty of Diwali
Diwali alone stands apart from the rest of other festivals as it is a fine blend of culture, spirit, and social aspects. The following are really special things about Diwali.
1. Festival for All: Diwali is that one festival where people of every community come together and enjoy. This is one hallmark feature of Diwali, bringing unity and harmony.
2. Spirituality and Positivity: This festival is all about self-reflection, positivity, and spiritual growth. Lighting lamps and diyas symbolizes the way of dispelling darkness and negativity from life with the hope that the future would be much brighter.
3. Economic Development: Diwali is one of the greatest economic festivals in India. It boosts sectors like retail, handicrafts, sweets, and textiles contributing towards the country’s economy.
4. Good Bond with Family: Diwali is the season of families coming together and bonding to create memories for everyone. Rituals, food, and gifts make Diwali a time full of love and togetherness.
5. ECO-Friendly Celebrations: This movement towards eco-friendly Diwali celebrations itself depicts how the festival of lights has adapted to modern times. Now, a lot of people are shifting towards organic decorations, green rangolis, and fewer firecrackers, making the festival of lights more environmentally friendly.
# Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Diwali
Q1. Why is Diwali known as the Festival of Lights?
A1. Diwali is also called the Festival of Lights because the central festival lights diyas, candles, and lanterns that signified the victory of good over evil and light against darkness.
Q2. Over how many days does the celebration of Diwali continues?
A2. Five days is the duration taken by the festival of Diwali. Each of the days has its activities and rituals. The day of Lakshmi Puja is the most celebrated day of Diwali.
Q3. Why is Lakshmi Puja performed on Diwali?
A3. Lakshmi Puja is performed on Diwali to worship Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. People think that praying to Lakshmi on this day will bring prosperity and success in the coming year.
Q4. Is there a way to celebrate Diwali in an eco-friendly manner?
A4. Yes, Environment friendly diwali involves the use of only organic and biodegradable dekorative material, abstaining from fire crackers, and using LED lights instead of oil lamp, Rangoli powders made from eco-friendly sources, more, and promoting sustainable ways of living by all means.
Q5: What is normally consumed at Diwali?
A5. Sweets : laddoos, barfis, gulab jamun; namkeens : samosas, chaklis, pakoras. Indian sweets and snacks recipes for diwali vary from one region to another.
Q6. Why do people burst fire-crackers on Diwali?
A6. Breaking firecrackers is in vogue because it’s a symbol of removing any negative energy. It sends away the evil spirits with the wind and adds cheer to the festive atmosphere too. Of course, given the present scenario of polluting the air, children are increasingly being discouraged.
Q7. What does Diwali represent in other religions?
A7. Diwali, however is not confined to Hindus but also commemorated by Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists amongst other Indians. For the Jains, Lord Mahavira had attained Nirvana on this night day. For the Sikh faith, the Guru himself, an anniversary of rescuing the captivity of was the event observed during this day’s night.
Q8. Is Diwali a distinctly Indian festival?
A8. No, the Indian diaspora all around the world, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and other regions in their countries, where there are Indian communities, celebrate Diwali. It is very well known and accepted all over that place, which brings all people from different cultures together.
Q9. What is the difference between Diwali and Dussehra?
A9. Diwali and Dussehra are triumphs of good over the evil but reasons are varied for their commemoration. Dussehra commemorates about the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana so that evil is coming into an end. Diwali is about the moment when Lord Rama enters Ayodhya after his victory. Diwali also commemorate Goddess Lakshmi – it is richness and abundance which has nothing to do with Dussehra.
Q10. Why people clean their homes before Diwali?
A10. Culture cleaning the house before Diwali because a neat and beautiful house attracts good vibes and boons from the goddess Lakshmi. People believe that goddess Lakshmi enters only into clean houses, which is treated as respect, purity, and preparation for new boons.
Q11. Is there any color specific to Diwali?
A11. In fact, gold, red, and yellow are colors of Diwali because they symbolize richness, optimism, and strength. Colorful rangoli, decorations, and attires add to a festive and animated atmosphere.
Q12. Is there a difference in the way Diwali is celebrated in different regions of India?
A12. No, Diwali celebrations differ from region to region in India. For instance, in South India, Diwali starts with an oil bath in the morning. Lakshmi Puja, diyas, and fireworks characterize North India’s Diwali evenings. Every region has its own set of local traditions that are added to this festival.
Q13. Can non-Hindus participate in Diwali celebrations?
A13. Absolutely! Diwali is the time for happiness, inclusion, and all things positive. Indeed, a lot of individuals with different religious affiliations also tend to join the festivity in one way or another: either as being invited by friends and relatives, lighting diyas, or having festive food.
Q14. What would you say to somebody on Diwali?
A14. You can say, “Happy Diwali!” or “Diwali Mubarak!” wishing someone a happy festival. You can also say, “May this Diwali bring prosperity, happiness, and light into your life.” Good wishes and positivity are the must-requirement of the festival.
Q15. How to make Diwali greener?
A15. To be greener, people celebrate Diwali more consciously now. Clay diyas have replaced plastic lights, there is lesser firecrackers, more reusables for the decorative materials and rangoli is done with natural colors. Tree planting along with gift giving with a greeny is the new thing now.
##Conclusion
Diwali is just a festival if any but a celebration of life and culture and of the power of the human spirit. Its lights remind us that hope never loses its might, for it is kind, hence removing the darkness from out lives – not only outer but also the inner kinds. It’s a great time to catch up again with dear ones, gaze back, and look forth to a very promising tomorrow.
Thus, through its rich legends and vibrant traditions and message of unity and renewal, the Diwali stands apart from all other festival’s timeless appeal. For example, while lighting diyas as we enjoy the merriment, we will know the meaning of relationships: to nourish the connection between people, establish unit, and bring back some light.
Diwali would shine eternally in the heart of man as a reminder of triumphing lightness over the darkness of negativity. Since we are indeed changing the way we hold our festivities, we take responsibility with the fact that these unchanged values would prevail across different generations.