The beauty of India is its diversity. As you may already know, India has 22 official languages, with linguistically divided states. (Hindi is not the only official language as some may misconstrue, but is spoken the most. Approximately, 43% are native Hindi speakers). A few states have commonalities in food, dressing, reasons of celebration (festivals) and such, but have their uniqueness.
So the stories behind the celebration differ from which part of India we come from.
But we can find a commonality among all reasons of celebrations in the spiritual sense for each of the festivals.
In the case of Deepawali, the festival signifies the victory of good over evil – where the good and the evil are present in us. It also symbolizes light over darkness. Row of little lamps signify the small victories against darkness.
What is Deepawali:
Deepawali - deep - light(lit in a lamp) - awali - row. So Deepawali literally means row of lights or lamps. Colloquially it became Diwali. It is mainly celebrated with lighting lamps, making different kinds of sweets.
How we celebrate:
We light natural clay lamps with ghee/sesame oil and cotton wick.
We wear new clothes after taking an oil bath before sunrise. Some may have the custom during sunset. Customs vary.
We also make a variety of sweets and savouries for this occasion.
Many burst crackers and fireworks on the day of Deepawali.
We also draw kolam (rangoli) (Indian art) in the gate or near the door or/and in the pooja area with rice flour and colours.
When is it celebrated:
It is celebrated on different days in different regions in a span of 5 days, though actual Deepawali is celebrated on 2 different days depending on the region we belong to.
Also Deepawali falls on different dates of the English calendar every year as Indian festivals are calculated based on Indian calendars. In 2020, it falls on the 13th and 14th November.
(There are different monthly calendars followed by different regions (our new year calendar differs region to region). But there is a commonality in the lunar days. So the festivals fall on the same days across India though the month names would differ).
Significance of the celebration:
The first day (November 12, 2020)
The 13th day of a lunar fortnight in this month is celebrated for different reasons in different sects. The Day name differs based on reasons.
1. Vasubaras marks the beginning of the celebration of Diwali festival. On Vasubaras, the cow and her calf are worshiped and nurtured with the utmost respect. (We celebrate cows as they are our second mother i.e. We drink cow's milk right after we wean out of mother's milk).
2. Dhanteras, or Dhanatrayodashi. "Dhan" means wealth and "teras" refers to the 13th day of a lunar fortnight on the Hindu calendar.
Lord Dhanvantari, the founder of Ayurveda, the science of healthy living and a form of ancient Indian medicine, offered Ayurveda to the world on this day. Dhanvanthari had specialized in surgery. It is also celebrated as National Ayurveda Day. In South India, the families create a special legiyam / marunthu (medicine) and the family recipe is passed on to the daughters/daughter-in-laws. The medicine is meant to create balance in the body. We can interpret it as health over sickness.
3. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth was born on this day. So we can interpret it as wealth over poverty. Gold and other metals, including kitchen utensils are purchased on this day.
4. Yamadipadaan - Yama (Deity of Death) is allotted the task of taking one’s life (prāṇa) away at the destined time. One can never escape death. However, to prevent untimely death, thirteen oil lamps made of wheat flour are lit. These lamps are kept outside the house with its flame facing southwards. A lit lamp’s flame is never kept facing southwards otherwise.
The second day (November 13, 2020)
This is known as Naraka Chaturdasi. "Naraka" means hell and "Chaturdashi" means the 14th day of a lunar fortnight on the Hindu calendar.
1. This day is the main festival Deepawali for some South Indians as we celebrate it as the day Sathyabama (with the help of Lord Krishna) liberated the demon Narakasura on this day. Narakasura drunk by ego, addicted to power, ill-treated and kidnapped women. Sathyabama on hearing injustice done to women wanted to wage a war against him. So she accompanied Krishna in the war. As Krishna would be unable to kill Narakasura (due to the boon that Narakasura can be killed only by his mother), Narakasura will render Krishna unconscious by hitting him with the divine weapon 'Shakti'. Enraged Sathyabama (re-incarnation of Bhoomadevi, Narakasura's mother) will fire an arrow and kill Narakasura. Once mortally wounded, Narakasura realizes at the very last moment that Satyabama was his mother and repents for his follies at the dying instant and begs her mercy. Due to Her mercy, he gets moksha (liberation). Some give credit to Krishna as he would have promised a long time ago the ill-treated that help would come and would be aware of the play. Some worship the Goddess who liberated him for getting rid of our inner demons. Many give credit to both and worship both of them. Early morning before sunrise we take oil bath signifying we are getting rid of all old negativities and becoming good and pure. Some celebrate it the next day for the same reason.
2. It is also celebrated as Chhoti Diwali (small Diwali) in West India in the evening burning effigies of demons.
The third day (November 14, 2020)
This is the new moon day known as Amavasya.
This darkest day of the month is celebrated as Deepawali in north, east and west India for different reasons.
1. In North India they celebrate it as the day Lord Rama returned after 14 years exile (He was so obedient to his parents wishes (knowing the evil tricks of his second mother) that he went for exile in the forest with his wife for 14 years and forgo his kingdom to his brother. But his brother Bharat loved him so much that he kept Rama's footwear in the throne and ruled the country until exile). So the dark period of Rama's absence came to an end.
2. Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi is worshiped on this day, with a special pooja performed in the evening by business people and certain sects across India. Some observe fasting on this day as "Amavasai nombu". So this is the day for prosperity (getting rid of poverty).
3. Goddess Kali is also usually worshiped on this day in East India (West Bengal, Odisha and Assam). The supreme celestial Mother goddess Mahakali took 10 manifestations to slay evils on the Earth, of which tantric lakshmi is attributed to this day.
Again, there are two subdivisions here.
Some who follow tantric worship, offer tantrics and mantras recitals at night (animal sacrifice).
The non-tantric worshippers offer rice, lentils, sweets and worship Kali.
The fourth day (November 15, 2020)
It has various meanings across India.
1. In North India, Govardhan Puja is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna rescued his people in Govardhana hill. Lord Krishna wanted to do Go puja (Go means cow. We celebrate cows as they are our second mother. We drink cow's milk right after we wean out of mother's milk). But the jealous God Indra got angry about it and attacked their homes with thunder and rain. So Lord Krishna rescued his people under Govardhana hill thus uprooting evil, jealousy.
2. In Gujarat, it's celebrated as the start of a new year.
3. In Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, this is the day when the great demon king Bali is blessed by Lord Vishnu to visit back here after being sent to patala loka and it is celebrated as Bali Pratipada or Bali Padyami. This same cause is celebrated as Onam in Kerala as a different festival during a different time (August-September). The demon king was righteous and hence had the boon of returning to earth and celebrated. This signifies despite our nature if we make a conscious effort to be noble, we will be blessed.
4. The farming community celebrates this festival, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, by performing Kedara Gowri vratham (worship of goddess Kedara Gauri – a form of Parvati), Gopuja (worship of cow), and Gouramma puja (worship of Gauri – another form of Parvati). Before worship of cows, on this day, the goshala (cowshed) is also ceremoniously cleaned.
The fifth day (November 16, 2020)
In North India it is celebrated as Bhai Duj (Sisters day). It's dedicated to celebrating sisters. Brothers and sisters get together and share food, to honor the bond between them.
In South India, it marks the first day of the Karthigai month. Karthigai is the month of Lord Muruga (Karthikeya) and lamps are lit during this month.
I compiled this info for explaining my daughter why we are celebrating Deepawali. Then thought why not share it to the daughters/sons out in the world too :-)
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