An article on Diwali with contributions from Vedika Chawla and Harshali Jain, Class VII C
Ajinkya Kotasthane, Mihir Bagadia, Siddhant Athawale, Siddhant Mehta, Charu Bhasin, Shreya Malik, Ish Consul and Siddharth Gangrade, Class VII G
Deepavali, which is also called Diwali, is a Hindu festival. Deepavali, in Sanskrit, literally means ‘rows of lighted lamps’. ‘Deep’ means light and ‘avali’ means a row. Darkness represents ignorance and light is a metaphor for knowledge. Thus lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction of ignorance, of all negative thoughts, violence, anger, envy, greed through the light of knowledge.
Although a festival of the Hindus, all Indians celebrate Deepavali joyfully. They give expression to their happiness by lighting earthen ‘diyas’ or lamps. People clean, whitewash and light up their houses and shops; burst firecrackers; invite and visit their near and dear ones and partake in sumptuous feasts; many varieties of sweets and other delicacies are made at home. It is considered an auspicious time to begin new ventures and also to buy new clothes, jewellery and vehicles!
Deepavali is seen as a celebration of life and people use the occasion to strengthen family and relationships. The floors in living rooms and courtyard are decorated with patterns using coloured powder, rice, dry flour, flower petals etc. This traditional folk art called Rangoli, is believed to bring good luck.
Deepavali comes exactly twenty days after Dussehra. It coincides with the new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. According to the Gregorian Calendar, Deepavali falls between mid-October and mid-November. In many parts of India, Deepavali is celebrated for five consecutive days.
First day: Dhanteras, this day marks the birthday of Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, and the birthday of Dhanvantari – the Goddess of Health and Healing. People buy jewellery, silver and gold coins.
Second day: Narak Chaturdasi is the second day of festivities, and is also called Choti Diwali. People also celebrate this day as Roop Choudas, and undertake beauty treatments like bathing with ‘ubtan’ (a mixture of turmeric, bean, besan and other herbal ingredients).
Third day: The main festive day of Deepavali. Lakshmi puja is performed. For Hindu businessmen, this is the last day of the financial year. Kali puja is performed in Bengal.
Fourth day: New year day. It is also called Padwa or Varsha Pratipada. Also observed as Annakoot where deities are given a milkbath and adorned with shining attires and ornaments.
Fifth day: Bhai dooj, which glorifies the sister-brother bond.
Deepavali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.
Firecrackers use sulphur and release sulphur dioxide and charcoal into the air. They further cause a lot of noise pollution. They are now forbidden in silent zones i.e. near hospitals, schools and courts. People, specially children, are becoming environment friendly and have started celebrating Deepavali with fewer or no crackers.
This year, Deepavali is on 23rd of October. In 2015, it will fall on 11th November and in 2016, on October 30.
Various reasons for the celebration of Deepavali
- Lord Ram returned after 14 years of exile and his victory over the demon Ravan. The villagers of Ayodhya are said to have welcomed Ram, Sita and Laxman by illuminating their village with diyas.
- The evil Demon Narakasura was killed by Lord Krishna. Other legends attribute this to Goddess Kali and some others to Krishna’s wife Satyabhama.
- Mata Lakshmi’s Birthday. Goddess Lakshmi appeared from the churning of the sea on the new moon day of Kartik. She is worshipped as the Goddess of Wealth.
- Lord Vishnu rescued Lakshmi from the prison of demon King Bali.
- According to the great epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas appeared from their 12 years of banishment on the day of Kartik Amavasya.
- Coronation of king Vikramaditya, a Hindu king who ruled in first century BCE. The Vikram-Samvat calendar starts from 57 BCE.
- Red-Letter Day for Sikhs: The third Sikh Guru Amar Das institutionalized Diwali as one of the most important days for Sikhs, when all Sikhs would gather to receive the Guru’xs blessings. In 1577, the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid on Diwali.
- Special Day for Christians: Diwali was made special for Christians as Pope John Paul II performed a special Eucharist (the Holy Communion, a Christian sacrament) in an Indian Church. The altar was decorated with Diwali lamps, the Pope had a ‘tilak’ on his forehead
- Special Day for the Jains: Diwali is the day of nirvana (enlightenment) of Vardhman Mahavir the 24th and last Tirthankar.
- Special Day for the Arya Samaj: It was the new moon day of Kartik when Swami Dayananda Saraswati, one of the greatest reformers of Hinduism and the founder of Arya Samaj attained his nirvana (enlightenment).
- Hindu New Year day: Diwali enhances the festive mood of Hindus by marking the advent the Hindu New Year.
- The Harvest Festival: Diwali is also a harvest festival in India.
