DEEPAWALI!!!!

 India is a spiritual land. Our country is a paradise on this earth. It is recognized all over the world. It was regarded as a golden bird (Sone ki chidiya). The land with many traditions, customs, cultures, religions, languages, resources etc. There are so many diversities still we are united. The thread of love and bond of national integration hold all the various beads together to make us a strong nation, which we all are proud of!!!

 There are many religions in our country, so many festivals. Out of all festivals, we have this festival which make everyone jump up with joy- Deepawali or Diwali.  This is one of the most popular festivals in the Hindu calendar. Diwali is a festival of lights symbolizing the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness.

 Diwali is a major festival of India. It is celebrated on a new moon night sometime in the months of October and November. The exact day of the festival is decided according to the Hindu calendar.

 Mythology:

The day is primarily celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama from his 14 years of exile. However, there are various other stories associated with the festival.According to popular legend, when Lord Rama returned from his 14 years of exile after defeating Raavana, the people of Ayodhya lighted candles and diya to celebrate his return to the kingdom. The festival gets its name from the lines of diya that were celebrated the return of Lord Rama, and hence the name Deepavali. 'Deepa' means light and 'vali' means a line or row, literally translating to "lines of light." The name has gotten convoluted to Diwali over the years.  It is celebrated on the 15th day of Kartika, according to the Hindu calendar. This day symbolizes the victory of light over dark. 

According to other legend, Pandavas from the Mahabharata returned to their homeland after 13 years and the day is celebrated to commemorate their return.

 Bandi Chhorh Divas, which is the Sikh celebration of the sixth Nanak's (Guru Har Gobind) return from detention in the Gwalior Fort, coincides with Diwali. This coincidence has resulted in the similarity of celebrating the day among many Sikhs and Hindus.

There are still other theories associated with Diwali such as the rising of Goddess Lakshmi from the sea. This festival is celebrated in West Bengal as "Kali Puja", and Kali, Shiva's consort, is worshipped during Diwali. Diwali festival in southern India often commemorates the conquering of the Asura Naraka, a king of Assam who imprisoned many people. It is believed that Krishna freed the prisoners.

Many Buddhists in India mark anniversary of the Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism around the time of Diwali. Many scholars believe that Ashoka lived between 270BCE and 232 BCE. Many people who observe Jainism mark the anniversary of Mahavira's (or Lord Mahavir) attainment of nirvana on October 15, 527 BCE.

 Mahavira established the central spiritual ideas of Jainism. Many Jains celebrate the Festival of Lights in his honor. The last of the Tirthankars Mahavira, attained nirvana on this day at Pavapuriin 527 BC, on Kartik Krishna Amavasya. Therefore, Jains celebrate Diwali as a day of remembering Mahavira and offer Nirvan Ladoo after praying to the lord.

 Diwali Celebrations:

The event is largely celebrated in India. Indians celebrate this day as the start of the new business year. People light up their homes 2-3 days prior to the festival and gifts are exchanged between friends and families. On the night of the festival, prayers are offered to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi which is followed by bursting of fire crackers, eating of sweets and other special foods. However, people refrain from meat and alcohol on this day.

 With the changing scenario, a lot of clubs have started organizing special parties on Diwali. Although Diwali is largely an Indian festival, it is widely celebrated in other countries as well such as Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal, Myanmar, Maurititus and Fiji. In fact, Diwali is a national holiday in each of these countries.

Diwali celebrations may last for up to five days. Many people decorate their home and workplaces with tiny electric lights or small clay oil lamps. Bowls of water with candles and flowers floating on the surface are also popular decorations. Many people make a special effort to clean their homes and yards before Diwali. They may also wash themselves with water and fragrant oils, wear new clothes and give gifts of sweets to family members, close friends and business associates. Electric lights, small oil lamps made of clay and flames are important Diwali symbols. They represent both physical and spiritual aspects of light.Fireworks are set off in the evening in some areas. Melas (fairs) are held in many towns and villages. 

 On this day, people pray to the Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Along with Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha—who symbolizes ethical beginnings and is considered the fearless remover of obstacles—is also venerated. The other gods and goddesses worshiped on the day include Saraswati, who embodies music, literature and learning and Kubera, who symbolizes book-keeping, treasury and wealth management. In the eastern states of India, Goddess Kali is worshipped instead of Lakshmi, and the festival is called Kali Puja. The mythological beliefs and religious practices in various regions of India vary greatly and in Braj and north central regions, people pray to Lord Krishna and celebrate the feast of Govardhan Puja (or Annakoot) wherein 56 different cuisines are prepared and offered to the lord before being shared with the community. The Diwali festivities are spread over a five-day period in many regions of India, with the major celebration centering on the new moon that falls between the end of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin and the start of the month of Kartika. The preparation for the festival starts days or weeks in advance, and each of the five days has certain rituals and significance.  

The Five Days of Diwali Celebrations

Day-1 Dhanteras: The first day of the festivities is celebrated as Dhanteras in northern and western part of India. This day marks the birthday of Lakshmi—the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, and the birthday of Dhanvantari—the God of Health and Healing, and is thus considered an auspicious occasion. Lord Kubera, the God of assets and wealth is also worshipped on this day. It is a major shopping day, especially for articles made of precious metals like gold or silver. Rangoli designs are drawn on pathways including the goddess' footprints to mark the arrival of Lakshmi, and shops and work places are decorated, symbolizing them as a source of sustenance and prosperity. In villages, cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. While in general, sweets and fruits are offered to Goddess Lakshmi in most Indian states, there is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery as an offering to the goddess.  

Day-2 Naraka Chaturdashi: Naraka Chaturdashi, also called Choti Diwali, marks Day 2 of the celebrations. According to Hindu literature, the demon Narakasura was killed on this day by Krishna or his consort Satyabhama. Some legends also state that the demon was killed by Kali. In some regions of India, the day is also known as Kali Chaudas and is allotted to the worship of Mahakali or Shakti. Rituals typically start early in the morning, with people in many regions taking a special oil bath before performing minor pujas. The puja is performed with oil, flowers, and sandalwood. Lord Hanuman is also worshipped on this day and is offered coconuts and prasad made of sesame seeds, jaggery, rice flakes and ghee. In Goa, effigies of Narakasura are burnt while in Tamil Nadu some people observe "nombu" and do Lakshmi Puja on this day. 

Day-3 Lakshmi Puja: The third day, the day of the Lakshmi Puja, is the main festive day. People light lamps, candles, and lanterns, and offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, GoddessSaraswati, and Kubera. Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and prosperity, is believed to roam the earth on Diwali night. The most auspicious time for the puja is decided when amavasyatithi prevails during pradoshkaal or the evening time. Mothers, who are seen as an embodiment of the goddess, are revered on this day. This is also an important day for socializing, and people visit their friends and relatives and exchange gifts. In the region of Bengal, Northeast Bihar, and Assam, this day is celebrated as Kali Puja and Goddess Kali is worshipped at night with Tantric rites and mantras. Offerings of red hibiscus flowers, animal blood in a skull, sweets, rice and lentils, fish and meat is made to Kali and ritualistic slaughter of animals is also made to appease her. In the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata and in Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Kali is worshipped as Lakshmi on this day.

 Day-4 Padwa or Balipratipada: The day after Diwali is celebrated as Padwa or Balipratipada, and it marks the beginning of the Vikram Samvat calendar in Western India and is considered the New Year Day in Gujarat. According to Hindu mythology, Bali Padwa commemorates the victory of God Vishnu in his dwarf incarnation Vamana, defeating Bali, and pushing him to the netherworld. The celebrations of the day vary according to regions. A common practice in north India is to play the gambling game called pachikalu (dice game), which is linked to a legend associated with Lord Shiva. North Indians also celebrate the day as Govardhan Puja. In southern India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, people perform Kedargaurivratam (worship of goddess Kedar-Gauri), Gopuja (worship of cow), and Gouramma puja (worship of Gauri). The day also honors the love and mutual devotion between husband and wife, and couples exchange gifts to show their dedication to each other.

  Day-5 Bhai Duj or Bhaiya Dooji: The final day of the festivities marks BhaiDuj (Brother's second) in India or Bhai Tika in Nepal. The festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. According to Hindu mythology, after slaying Narkasura, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who gave him a warm welcome with sweets and flowers. This is believed to be the origin of the festival. In some regions, the day is known as Yamadwitheya or Yamadvitiya, after a legendary meeting between Yama the god of Death and his sister Yamuna (the famous river) on Dwitheya (the second day after new moon). Girls and women perform a puja for the well-being of their brothers which is followed by the ritualistic exchange of gifts and food-sharing. 

 Decorations Ideas:

Precautions:

Accidents due to fireworks occur as a result of carelessness, negligence and ignorance. These can  be avoided by observing some simple precautions. We all enjoy the ambience of light, the festivity but when disaster strikes the injured has to bear the pain. Safety is a must and should be followed whether you enjoy the crackers indoor or outdoor.

Storage: Crackers must be stored in a closed box, somewhere in a cool and dry place, out of reach of children and animals and away from all sources of heat, until the actual time.

Clothing: Loose clothing can very easily catch fire so must be avoided. Long dangle scarves can be risky too. In case the clothing catches fire, avoid running as you provide more oxygen to the fire better to roll on the floor. This procedure will curb the oxygen levels.

Preparation: Before starting, first thing is to find enough of safe place. Have a full bucket of water handy for any emergency, and for putting used sparklers into. Finding a bigger open space and safest surrounding is preferable in case if whole family is involved. Keep children well away from fireworks, and never let a child handle or light one. Follow safety always.

Noise: Aged people, sick ones, infants, toddlers etc must be taken good care. Pets  get very frightened on fireworks night, so keep all your pets indoor. Close all the curtains to make things calmer. 

My plan to celebrate a Green Diwali this year include:

1. Avoiding use of electric lights, opting for diyas (earthen lamps/ clay lamps) and candles. This will reduce the amount of electricity being consumed. Using LED lights for illumination since they use at least 80 per cent lesser energy. 
2. Planning for a bonfire using neem leaves, branches, twigs.
3. Using balloons filled with thermocol colour balls and sparkles for decoration and later in the evening bursting them.
4. For a beautiful rangoli, instead of using artificial colours, I will make use of natural products. Example: For white, rice powder, Yellow: turmeric, Brown: mud or sand, Green: dry green leaves, Red: kumkum or dry rose petals,  Orange: Orange fruit peels,  as its available now.
5. For the evening  rangoli, use of fresh flowers and leaves, their fragrance is sure to create the perfect festive ambience.
6. Will decorate the doorway with garlands of marigold and jasmine and set up vases of roses and chrysanthemum. They will enhance the beauty of  house way better than the paper streamers and artificial lights.
7. Later I can use these flowers and leaves for organic manure.
8. Marigold flowers can be dried to get the seeds, which will  help me in growing new plants.
9. To use organic incense sticks and fresh flowers to create that fragrance  associated with a puja instead of the synthetic room fresheners.
10. To use kumkum and haldi to create Goddess Lakshmi's footprints.
11. To donate old clothes, stationary etc, to make sweets at home and celebrate Diwali by offering them to others. Believing in the fact that festivals are firstly related to spreading cheer and smile!!!

 With this, I wish everyone a very very  Happy Diwali!!!

 I wish all of you a lot of happiness, health, success and prosperity.
 

Through this blog I want to extend my message of Diwali- 2016:
Let's try and make the festival more worthwhile and delightful. Let us take an oath not to harm the environment and ourselves.

 Regards,
 Mrs. Srividya Gurugubilly.