[ Edit ] Overview

The five day festival of Diwali meaning ‘row of lights’, is a major festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains in India and Nepal. The festival falls on Amavasya day (new moon day) in the month of Ashwin on the Hindu calendar. Each of the 5 days of the festival has their own significance and legends attached to them.

Innumerable diyas or earthen lamps are lit up in homes during the festival of diwali to invite Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, into the home.

Diwali is the beginning of the new year for Hindus and is celebrated all over India by taking the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. Diwali is also celebrated as the beginning of the financial New Year for the business community and is considered as a very auspicious time by traders and businessmen.

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Quick Facts

[ Edit ] When

Deepavali, is celebrated during the month of Ashwin or Aasho on the Hindu calendar which typically falls in October / November.

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[ Edit ] Duration

5 days.

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[ Edit ] Where

Across the country.

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[ Edit ] Also Known As

Diwali is also known as Deepavali, Deepawali, Tihar, Swanti.

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[ Edit ] Dedicated To

Goddess Laxmi.

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[ Edit ] Significance

Diwali is signifies the celebration of victory over evil.

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[ Edit ] Legends/History

There are several legends associated with Diwali.

Legend of Goddess Laxmi
It is believed that on the Diwali day, Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, was incarnated during the samudra manthan meaning the churning of the ocean. It is said that Lord Vishnu rescued Goddess Laxmi from the demon King Bali on this day.

Legend of Lord Krishna
Legend states that on the day preceeding Diwali Lord Krishna killed the demon King Narakaasur who had 16,000 women captive. Lord Krishna rescued the women and the following two days were celebrated as a victory over evil.

Legend of Lord Rama
The festival of Diwali was celebrated when Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman returned to the Kingdom of Ayodhya after defeating the Demon Ravana and completing their 14 years in exile. To celebrate the occasion the people of Ayodhya lit up their entire path with small diyas with lights burning to welcome the return of good and celebrate the coronation of Lord Rama as King.

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[ Edit ] Traditions And Celebrations

Diwali is a five day festival. Each day has its own traditions and celebrations associated with it.

Dhanteras (Day 1)
Dhanteras is derived from ‘dhan’ meaning wealth and ‘teras’ meaning 13th. Celebrated on the 13th day of the month of Ashwin, 2 days before Diwali, Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi as it is also known is celebrated to worship Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

The day holds a lot of importance to the business community in India and is celebrated with a lot of devotion. The day is considered auspicious to start new business ventures, fix marriages and buy new things like jewellery etc.

On Dhanteras colorful rangoli designs are drawn at the entrance of the homes and offices to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. To indicate her long awaited arrival small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermillion powder. Diyas or earthern lamps are lit to ward off evil spirits. In the evening a puja is performed to worship Goddess Lakshmi followed by bhajans.

In villages cattle are adorned and decorated and worshipped by the farmers who use them in the fields. In the South cows are especially worshipped as they are believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.

Legend of Yamraj
King Hima’s 16 yr old son’s horoscope said that he was doomed to die on the 4th day of his marriage by a snake bite. So out of fear for his life, on the 4th day of his marriage, his wife did not allow him to sleep and sang bhajans and narrated stories to him through the night. She lit her entire room with lamps and laid all her ornaments, gold and silver coins in a heap at the entrance.

Yama, the God of death arrived there in the night in the form of a serpent. The dazzle of the lights blinded him and preventing him from entering the room. But he climbed on top of the heap of gold and silver and listened to the melodious singing of the devoted wife. In the morning he glided away. This day is also known as ‘Yamadeepdaan’ as the wife’s devotion saved her husband from the hands of death.

Legend of Dhanavantri
According to another legend when the Gods and demons churned the ocean for amrit (nectar), Dhanavantri, the physician of Gods and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu emerged carrying a jar of elixir on this day.

Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali (Day 2)
On Naraka Chaturdashi, an early morning bath is taken generally before sunrise. It is a tradition to bathe the idol of Lord Krishna on this day and to then dress the idol in bright new clothes. In the evening fire crackers are burst but not to the same extent as the main diwali day.

In Maharashtra the traditional early morning oil bath is done with a paste gram flour and fragrant powder. In South India a paste of kum kum and oil is made and applied to the forehead to symbolize the head of the demon king. A bath is then taken with sandalwood paste.

Legends of Naraka Chaturdashi
Demon King Narakasura, the ruler of Pragjyotishpur, was an evil king who was causing a lot of grief and fear amongst his subjects and the gods, due to his acts. He defeated Lord Indra, snatched away the earrings of the Mother Goddess, Aditi and imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of Gods and saints in his harem.

On the day previous to Naraka chaturdashi, Lord Krishna killed the demon king thereby liberating the captive women and also recovered the earrings of Aditi. As a symbol of that victory Lord Krishna smeared his forehead with the demon’s blood and returned home very early in the morning of Naraka chaturdashi day. On returning home the women massaged his body with scented oil and bathed him.

Lakshmi Puja
The 3rd day is devoted to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. Lakshmi Puja is done on the dark night of Amavasya. Lakshmi Puja is the combined worship of 5 deities - Lord Ganesha also known as Vighnaharta who is worshiped at the start of every auspicious activity; Kuber, the treasurer of the Gods; and the 3 forms of Lakshmi, namely Lakshmi ,the Goddess of wealth, Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and Kali.

The day is considered auspicious for closing accounts and is also called as ‘Chopada Puja’. The ceremonial worship ends with the setting of the sun after which sweets are offered to the Goddess and then distributed as prasad.

Lakshmi puja is a major event in the northern and western parts of India. On this day families get together, feasts are arranged, everyone gets dressed in new clothes and friends and relatives are visited.

In north India, families and friends get together to play cards later in the evenings. It is believed that Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva. She decreed that whoever gambled on the night of Diwali will prosper throughout the year.

It is believed on this day Goddess Lakshmi will visit peoples homes and as she only likes to enter the clean homes people clean their homes and decorate the entrance with diyas or lamps to invite her in.

Govardhan or Padwa
Govardhan Puja is done mainly in North India to commemorate the lifting of Mount Govardhan by Lord Krishna. According to legends the people of Gokul used to celebrate a festival in honour of Lord Indra every year at the end of monsoon. But one particular year, Krishna stopped them from offering their prayers which in turn angered Lord Indra who sent a deluge to submerge Gokul. The residents were afraid seeing the result of their neglect towards Lord Indra. But Krishna reassured them and lifted Mount Govardhan and thereby protected the village and its residents. Lord Indra accepted Lord Krishna’s supremacy and Krishna earned the epithet of ‘Govardhandhari’.

This day is also called ‘Annakoot’ meaning ‘mountain of food’. On this day devotees stay up all night and prepare 56 or 108 different types of dishes, traditionally called ‘Bhog’, which is the offerings of food made to Krishna. In Mathura and Nathdwara, the deities in temple are given a milk bath on this day and dressed up in new clothes and decorated with precious ornaments. They are then worshipped and offered the bhog that is raised on top of each other to symbolize a mountain.

In Maharashtra the 4th day of Diwali is celebrated as Padwa or Bali Padyami. Legend states that King Bali was granted the boon by Lord Vishnu to come out only on this day to rule Bhulok. Padwa is considered as an auspicious day to start new ventures. It is customary for the wife to do an aarti and put a tilak on her husband’s forehead and pray for his long life.  Husbands generally present their wife’s with gifts on this day. On this day newly married daughters along with their husbands are invited for a meal to her parent’s home.

Bhai Duj or Bhaubeej
The 5th day of Diwali is called Bhai Duj or Bhaubeej or Bhaiyya Duj. On this day sisters do a puja and perform aartis for their brother long life and safety. As a token of his love the brother gives his sister gifts.

Festivities
There are varying local customs associated with the festival but one of the common ones is to light up homes and temples with diyas and the bursting of firecrackers. Firecrackers are believed to scare away the evil spirits.

In North India stages are set up in various places to hold the Ramleela, a play enacting the life of Lord Ram. Families come together to wish each other, do pujas together, burst fire crackers and then settle in for a late evening of playing cards. There is also a very strong tradition of exchanging gifts between corporate houses and between family members.  

In Maharashtra Diwali celebrations generally start on ‘Vasubaras’, the 12th day of second half month of Ashwin. On this day an aarti of a cow and her calf are performed signifying the love between mother and child.

In West Bengal Goddess Kali is worshipped. The Sikhs celebrate Diwali as ‘Bandhi Chorh Diwas’ to celebrate the release of 6th Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji and fifty two other princes who were imprisoned at Gwalior Fort by Mughal Emperor Jehangir.

Diwali is also celebrated as harvest festival in many rural areas. The festival coincides with the harvest season and farmers offer prayers for the current harvest and pray for a better harvest the next season.

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Festival Fun

[ Edit ] Food / Recipes

Diwali is a festival of sweets. Dishes like pedha, lapsi, badami phirni, channa payesh, kheer , meethe chawal, rasmalai, shakarpara etc are either made at home or bought from the sweet shops.

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[ Edit ] Music / Dance

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[ Edit ] Gift Tradition

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[ Edit ] Others

Arts and Crafts
Rangoli is an intricate part of many Indian festivals. Rangoli is generally drawn at the entrance of the house. It is an auspicious sign to welcome good luck and prosperity.

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[ Edit ] Other Information

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SMS & Greetings

[ Edit ] SMS Wishes

The following are a few Diwali SMS wishes and greetings to share with you and your family.  If you have any other Deepavali SMS' that you particularly like, please share them here for the benefit of the Rang7 community.  Thanks.

• May the divine light of diwali spread into your life peace, prosperity, happiness and good health.

• Deepak me roshni,Roshni me PRAKASH; Pulkit hai dharti, jagmagaye AAKASH; Patakho ka shor, Deepon ki KATAR; Wiraje Maa Laxmi Aapke Ghardawar..Happy Diwali

• May d divine light sprd in2 ur life with prosperity, happiness & good health.

• Wishing u n ur family happy diwali Deepak me rosh

• Aai aai Diwali aai, Saath me kitni Khushiya laayi, Dhoom machao, mauz manao, aap sabhi ko Diwali ki badhai. Happy Diwali

• I Pray to God to give U Shanti, Shakti,Sampati, Swarup, Saiyam, Saadgi, Safalta, Samridhi, Sanskar, Swaasth, Sanmaan, Saraswati, aur SNEH. SHUBH DIWALI

• With my 1 heart 2 eyes 7 liter blood 206 bones 4.5 million red cells 60 trillion D N A”S… All wishing you a very very HAPPY DIWALI!
• Ek Dua Mangte hai hum apne Bhagwan se... Chahte hai Aapki Khushi Pure imaan se, Sab Hasratein Puri Ho Aapki, Aur Aap Muskaraye Dil-o-Jaan se!! Happy Diwali and New Year that leads you on the road of Success.

• |———–|
  | ‘–.__.–’ | Here is
  |———–| my
  GREETING CARD 4 you.
  Kindly open it….

  $========$
  ( HAPPY (
  ( DIWALI (
  ) & )
  ( Prosperous )
  ( New Year )

• Memories of moments celebrated together.......
  Moments that have been attached in my heart, forever.......
  Make me Miss You even more this Diwali.
  Hope this Diwali brings in Good Fortune & Abounding Happiness for you!
  HAPPY DIWALI

• Ashirwad Mile Bado Se
  Sahyog Mile Apno Se
  Khusiya Mile Jag Se
  Doulat Mile Rub Se
  Yahi Duaa Karte He Hum Dil Se
  
  Wish U A
  "Happy
  Dipavali

• Swarglok se Laxmi,
  Vaikunth se Vishnu,
  Kailash se Mahadev, Brahmlok se Brahma
  aur Pruthvi se swayam
  HUM aap ko advance me DIWALI ki shubhkamne bhej rahe hai. 

• Hai Roshni ka ye Tyohar
  Laye Har Chehre par Muskaan
  Sukh aur Samridhi ki Bahaar
  Samet lo Saari Khushiyan
  Apno ka Saath aur Pyar
  Is Pawan Avsar par
  Aap sab ko Diwali ka pyar

• Paying respects to the gods,
  And decorating for them the thali,
  This is what the occasion is all about,
  This is the spirit of Deepavali.

• "This Is To Formally announce that I have started accepting Diwali gifts by CASH,CHEQUES & CREDIT CARD etc.Avoid last day rush.Send now."

• Light a lamp of love!
  Blast a chain of sorrow!
  Shoot a rocket of prosperity!
  Fire a flowerpot of happiness!
  Wish u and your family "SPARKLING DIWALI"

• D-DelightfulI- Illuminating; W-Worshipping; A-Auspicious; L-Loving (Spreading love and joy);    I-Invocating Goddess Lakshmi. That's Diwali.Let all of the above be enjoyed and experienced by all.Happy Diwali !!!!!

   

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