Dear Editor,
THERE are many reasons, meanings, significance, customs, traditions, practices, stories and events attributed to the celebration of Diwali or “The row of lights.” All demarcate a specialty that associate within the realms of commemorating the observance of this glorious and momentous occasion. They incorporate a fusion of acceptable norms, beliefs, faiths and hope, all of which enhance an enriched culture.
1. Goddess Lakshmi’s Birthday: The Goddess of Wealth and the consort of the Vishnu Bhagwan is Lakshmi, one of the principal deities of the Hindu religion and the Supreme Being in the Vaishnavism Tradition. According to the Puranas, she was first incarnated on the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month during the churning of the ocean (samudra-manthan). She is one of the most popular of goddesses, and thus strongly associated with Diwali.
2. Lord Vishnu Rescued Shri Lakshmi: On this very day (Diwali day), Lord Vishnu disguised in his fifth incarnation as Vaman-avtaara (the dwarf avatar and Vishnu’s first incarnation) rescued Shri Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali and this is another reason for worshipping Ma Larkshmi on Diwali.
3. Shri Krishna Destroyed Narakaasur: On the day preceding Diwali, Shri Krishna and his consort Satyabhama, destroyed the demon King Narakaasur of Pragjothispura, who had invaded the three worlds, taking great pleasure in torturing the beings there. Shri Krishna rescued 16,000 women from his captivity. The celebration of this freedom went on for two days including the Diwali day as a victory festival. The second day of Diwali is Naraka Chaturdasi.
4. The Return of the Pandavas: According to the great story ‘Mahabharata,’ it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’ when the five Pandavas (brothers Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva) returned from their 12 years of banishment as a result of their defeat at the hands of the Kauravas at the game of dice (gambling). The subjects who loved the Pandavas celebrated the day by lighting the earthen lamps.
5. The Victory of Shri Rama: According to the ‘Ramayana,’ it was the new moon day of Kartik when Lord Ram, Ma Sita, and Lakshman returned to Ayodhya after vanquishing the demon King Ravana and conquering Lanka. The citizens of Ayodhya decorated the entire city with the earthen lamps and illuminated it like never before, and so, the festival of Diwali is celebrated in honour of Shri Rama’s victory.
6. Coronation of Vikramaditya: One of the greatest of Hindu kings, Vikramaditya was crowned on the Diwali day. The legendary emperor, who may have been a historical figure or based on one, is thought of as the ideal king, known for his generosity, courage, and patronage of scholars. Thus, Diwali became a historical event as well.
7. Special Day for the Arya Samaj: It was the new moon day of Kartik (Diwali day) when the 19th-century scholar Maharshi Dayananda, one of the greatest social reformers of India and the founder of Arya Samaj, attained his nirvana. Dayananda’s great mission was to ask humankind to treat one another as brothers through practices of nobility.
8. Special Day for the Jains: Mahavir Tirthankar, considered to be the founder of modern Jainism also attained his nirvana on Diwali day. Mahavira abandoned his royal life and left his family to become an ascetic, undertaking fasting and bodily mortifications. At the age of 43, he achieved the state of Kevala Jnanan and began teaching the philosophy of Jainism.
9. Special Day for the Sikhs: The third Sikh Guru Amar Das institutionalized Diwali as a Red-Letter Day when all Sikhs would gather to receive the Guru’s blessings. In 1577, the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid on Diwali. In 1619, the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind, who was held by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, was released from the Gwalior fort along with 52 kings.
10. The Pope’s Diwali Speech: In 1999, Pope John Paul II performed a special Eucharist in an Indian church where the altar was decorated with Diwali lamps, the Pope had a ‘tilak’ marked on his forehead and his speech bristled with references to the festival of light.
11. Bhai Dooj: Nowhere is the bond of brotherly-sisterly love glorified with such grandeur as in the Indian culture. Hindus celebrate this special relationship twice every year, with the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj. – when sisters sermonize their love by putting an auspicious tilak or a vermilion mark on the forehead of their brothers and perform aarti on him by showing him the light of the holy flame as a mark of love and protection from evil forces. Sisters are lavished with gifts, goodies, and blessings from their brothers. Bhai Dooj comes every year on the fifth and last day of Diwali which falls on a new-moon night. The name ‘Dooj’ means the second day after the new moon, the day of the festival, and ‘Bhai’ means brother. Bhai Dooj is also called ‘Yama Dwiteeya’ as it’s believed that on this day, Yamaraj, the Lord of Death and the Custodian of Hell, visits his sister Yami, who puts the auspicious mark on his forehead and prays for his well-being. So, it’s held that anyone who receives a tilak from his sister on this day would never be hurled into hell. According to one legend, on this day, Shri Krishna after slaying the Narakasura demon, goes to his sister Subhadra who welcomes him with the holy lamp, flowers, and sweets and puts the holy protective spot on her brother’s forehead. Yet another story behind the origin of Bhai Dooj says that when Mahavir, the founder of Jainism, attained nirvana, his brother King Nandivardhan was distressed because he missed him and was comforted by his sister Sudarshana. Since then, women have been revered during Bhai Dooj.
12. Dhanteras: The festival of Dhanteras falls in the month of Kartik (sometime during October or November) on the 13th day of the dark fortnight. This auspicious day is celebrated two days before Diwali. On Dhanteras, Shri Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, is worshipped to provide prosperity and well-being. It is also the day for celebrating wealth, as the word “Dhan” literally means wealth and “Tera” comes from the date 13th. In the evening, the lamp is lit and Dhan-Lakshmi is welcomed into the house. Alpana or Rangoli designs are drawn on pathways including the goddess’ footprints to mark the arrival of Lakshmi. Aartis or devotional hymns are sung eulogizing Goddess Lakshmi and sweets and fruits are offered to her. Hindus also worship Lord Kuber as the treasurer of wealth and bestower of riches, along with Goddess Lakshmi on Dhanteras. This custom of worshipping Lakshmi and Kuber together is in the prospect of doubling the benefits of such prayers. People flock to the jewelers and buy gold or silver jewelry or utensils to venerate the occasion of Dhanteras. Many wear new clothes and wear jewellery as they light the first lamp of Diwali while some engage in a game of gambling.
13. Naraka Chaturdashi: An ancient legend ascribes the occasion to an interesting story about the 16-year-old son of King Hima. His horoscope predicted his death by snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that particular day, his newly wed wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid out all her ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a heap at the entrance of the sleeping chamber and lit lamps all over the place. Then she narrated stories and sang songs to keep her husband from falling asleep. The next day, when Yama, the god of Death, arrived at the prince’s doorstep in the guise of a Serpent, his eyes were dazzled and blinded by the brilliance of the lamps and the jewellery. Yam could not enter the Prince’s chamber, so he climbed on top of the heap of gold coins and sat there the entire night listening to the stories and songs. In the morning, he silently went away. Thus, the young prince was saved from the clutches of death by the cleverness of his new bride, and the day came to be celebrated as Dhanteras. And the following days came to be called Narak Chaturdashi (Naraka means hell and Chaturdashi means 14th). It is also known as Yamadeepdaan the ladies of the house light earthen lamps or ‘deep’ and these are kept burning throughout the night glorifying Yama, the God of Death. Since this is the night before Diwali, it is also called ‘Chhhoti Diwali’ or Diwali minor. (To be continued)

Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall.