DeepāvaliDeepāvali

Tamaso Mā Jyotirgamaya

Deepāvali

• Also known as Diwāli

• Literal meaning, a row of lamps

• One of the biggest festival of Hindus

• Celebrated all over India– In Kenya, Thailand, Trinidad and in many

more countries

The festival of Lights

• Celebrated for 5 days

• Customs vary but lighting lamps is common

• Fireworks, Rangoli, Lamps

• Lights, Sparkles, Glitters!

Dhana-trayodashi

• Dhanteras, Yama Deepdān

• 13th day of Kārtika month

• Houses, business premises decorated

• Auspicious to buy gold, silver, new utensils

• Lamps lit and kept burning all night

• Cattles adorned and worshipped in villages

Dhana-trayodashi - Stories• Son of King Hima, as per horoscope,

was doomed to die on this night

• His wife did not allow him to sleep

• She kept all ornaments, gold, silver at the entrance of the room

• Yama, God of death, gets blinded by the dazzle of brilliant lights and leaves

• Hence, the tradition of buying gold and the name Yama Deepdān

Narak-chaturdashi

• Chhoti Diwāli, or little Diwāli

• Falls on 14th day of Kārtika month

• Tradition is to get very early and have an oil bath before the sunrise

• Earthen lamps are lit

Narak-chaturdashi - Stories

• Narakāsur, the demon king of Prāgjyotishpur, was killed by Lord Krishna

• After defeating the demon, Krishna returned early in the morning and had scented oil bath

• King Bali was pushed to pātāl, or nether regions, by Vāmanāvatār

Lakshmi Pujā

• Diwāli, Kaumudi Mahotsam

• Amāvasyā, or no moon night

• Day of Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth

• Millions of lamps lit

• Amāvasyā becomes brighter than Poornimā, or full moon night

Lakshmi Pujā - Stories

• Lot of stories associated with this day

• Lord Rāma return to Ayodhyā after defeating Rāvana

• Lord Krishna delivers knowledge of Gitā to Arjuna

• Lord Krishna also attains “nirvāna” this day

• Nachiketa attains knowledge from Yama and returns back to earth

Bali Padya

• Pādwa, Varsha Pratipadā, Govardhan Pujā, Annakoot

• In northern part of India, the hill of Govardhan is worshipped

• Annakoot, meaning “mountain of food”, is observed for all deities

• Variety of sweets are made and shared among all

Bali Padya - Stories• Vikramāditya the great, held his

coronation and started a hindu calendar, vikram samvat

• Lord Krishna, uprooted Govardhan hill and held it up to save residents of Gokul from rains

• Bali came back from pātāl and given boon to return from nether regions once a year

Bhāi Dooj

• Bhāv Beej, Bhāi Tika, Yama Dwiteeyā

• Sisters put tilak on forehead of brothers and wish for their success

• Originates from the legend that Yama went to see his sister Yami on this day

• Yama announced that anyone who receives tilak from his sister this day, will never suffer

More on Diwāli

• Sikh also celebrate Diwāli to commemorate return of 6th Guru, Guru Hargobind from captivity

• Lord Mahāvir, who established Jainism, obtained nirvāna on this day

Significance of Diwāli

• Celebration of rise of knowledge

• Celebration of victory of dharma

• Occasion for self-enlightment

• Prosperity, peace, and progress for all