DEEPAWALI:
Deepawali or the Festival of Lights is an important
and popular festival celebrated throughout the
country in one form or the other. It falls on the
last day of the dark half of kartik
(October-November). As a matter of fact it is a
five-day long festival, but the main celebrations
take place on the day of Deepawali.
Deepawali is associated with several legends. One
myth says that on this auspicious day Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth and good fortune roams about and
visits the houses of people. Therefore, people tidy
up their homes, establishments and shops and
decorate them lavishly to welcome the goddess. In
the night she is worshipped with great devotion.
It also commemorates the triumph of Lord
Rama over Ravana, and Rama’s return to Ayodhya. It
is also on this day that Krishna killed the demon
Narkasura.
A few days before the festival, the houses are
whitewashed and completely cleaned. The courtyards,
the gates and the place of worship are decorated
with bandanvars, flowers, intricate coloured
paperwork and at night every nook and corner of the
house is illuminated with earthern lamps or candles,
and fireworks are displayed till late midnight. On
the day of Deepawali, people get up early in the
morning, cleans their home and after the completion
of daily chores, attire themselves in their best
clothes and move around freely in the atmosphere of
gaiety, mirth, greetings and festivity. Lots of
sweets are prepared and exchanged along with
greetings.
On this occasion people ask for each other’s
forgiveness for the wrongs done knowingly or
unknowingly and mutual relations are reestablished
and strengthened. Thus, all enmity is forgiven and
forgotten and people embrace one another. At night,
Lakshmi along with Ganesh is worshipped, old
accounts are closed and new ones are opened. People
throng the bazaars and streets during the night in
order to watch and appreciate the illumination.
Special shops and bazaars are also set up on this
occasion, and there is brisk buying of sweets,
utensils, clothes, jewellery, toys, etc.
Diwali also marks the advent of new season
and the sowing of new crop-seeds. The new Vikrama
Era begins on this day and account books are opened.
The famous King Vikramaditya, after whom the era is
named, was crowned on this day. People greet each
other and distribute sweets. In Bengal, Kali is
worshipped with great fervour and devotion on this
day. The Jains celebrate Deepawali as a day of final
liberation and moksha of Lord Mahavira. Similarly
Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya
Samaj, attained salvation on this day. The great
Swami Rama Tirtha also entered his final jal-samadhi
on this tithi. At great Jaina Shrines like that of
Pavapuri in Bihar, and Girnar in Gujarat, special
puja festivals are held, sacred scriptures read and
recited and Lord Mahavira worshipped. Thus, this
great festival of lights symbolizes man’s urge to
move towards light of truth from darkness of
ignorance and unhappiness.
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