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DIWALI - FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Diwali in 2012 will start on Tuesday, the 13th of November and will continue for 5 days until Saturday, the 17th of November.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081030/bathinda.htm
The Diwali illuminations with lighted diyas bring the supernatural brightness and joy with the hope of finding light in darkness, achieving knowledge where there is ignorance, and spreading love amidst hatred. Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights. Light is significant in Hinduism because it signifies goodness. So, during the Festival of Lights, 'deeps', or oil lamps, are burned throughout the day and into the night to ward off darkness and evil. Diwali has a major religious significance for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains alike - not only in India, but also for Indians living abroad.
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DIWALI FESTIVAL - TRADITIONS
The first day of five day long Diwali
celebrations is of great importance to the rich community of western India.
Houses and business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made
colorful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome Lakshmi,
the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival,
small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the
houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the night. Believing this day to be
auspicious women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new
utensils.
Lakshmi-Puja is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of
clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits, devotional songs-
in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and Naivedya of traditional sweets is
offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly
pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya In villages cattle
are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their
income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be
the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshiped
on this day .
On second day there is a traditional practice specially in
Maharashtra of taking bath before sunrise with oil and "Uptan"
(paste) of gram flour and fragrant powders. In northern India, especially in
places like Punjab, Diwali is dedicated to the worship of Lord Rama. While in
Bengal, Kali/Durga, the goddess of strength, is worshiped. Diwali is one of the
few Hindu festivals, which is celebrated in every part of the country, even in
states like Kerala that has Onam as its main festival. To the Jains, Deepavali
has an added significance to the great event of Mahaveera attaining the Eternal
Bliss of Nirvaana.
Govardhan-Puja is also performed in the North on the fourth
day. This day is also observed as Annakoot meaning 'mountain of food'. In
temples especially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the deities are given milk bath
and dressed in shining attires with ornaments of dazzling diamonds, pearls,
rubies and other precious stones. After the prayers and traditional worship
innumerable varieties of delicious sweets are offered to the deities as
"Bhog" and then the devotees approach and take Prasad.
Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in every Hindu household. In many
Hindu homes it is a custom for the wife to put the red tilak on the forehead of
her husband, garland him and do his "Aarti" with a prayer for his
long life. In appreciation of all the tender care that the wife showers on him,
the husband gives her a costly gift. This Gudi Padwa is symbolic of love and
devotion between the wife and husband. On this day newly married daughters with
their husbands are invited for special meals and given presents.
Diwali celebration is a very
happy occasion for all.