Diwali – Festival of Lights

Diwali( as well spelledDevaliin certain regions) orDeepavali,1popularly know as the feast of light ups, is an important five- sidereal mean solar daytimetime festival in Hindiism,Jainism, andSikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is peerless of the nearly important festivals of the year and is restraind in families by do tralatitious activities together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday inIndia,2Nepal,Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Mauritius,Guyana,Trinidad & Tobago,Suri divulge,Malaysia,Singapore,3andFiji. The name Diwali is a contraction of Deepavali (SanskritDipavali), which translates into row of lamps. 4Diwali involves the lighting of sm whole clay lamps (diyasordipas) inSanskrit ) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good everywhere horror. During Diwali, totally the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Most Indian product line communities begin the financial year on t he first day of Diwali. Diwali commemorates the father ofLord Rama, along withSitaandLakshman, from his fourteen-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-kingRavana.In joyous rejoicing of the reach of their king, the race ofAyodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthendiyas(oil lamps) and burst firecrackers. 5 In Jainism, Diwali mark the attainment ofmokshaornirvanabyMahavirain 527 BC. 67In Sikhism,Deepavalicommemorates the event ofGuru Har Gobind JitoAmritsarafter freeing 52 Hindu kings intent in FortGwaliorby defeating EmperorJahangir the people lit candles and diyas to celebrate his return. This is the originableness Sikhs also refer to Deepavali asBandi Chhorh Divas, the day of release of detainees.The festival starts withDhanterason which around Indian business communities begin their financial year. The abet day of the festival,Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demonNarakabyLord Krishnaand his wifeSatyabhama. Amavasya, the trine day of Deepawali, marks the worship ofLakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most likeable mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of LordVishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished theBali, and banished him toPatala.It is on the fourth day of Deepawali,Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went topatalaand took the reins of his new kingdom in there. The fifth day is referred to asYama Dvitiya(also calledBhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes. - Spiritual significance In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over abhorrence and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.From apparition into light the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us close at hand(predicate) to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the sc ent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is historied around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, its a jubilancy of South-Asian identities. 5 While Deepavali is popularly known as the festival of lights, the most square spiritual meaning is the sentience of the inner light. interchange to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the fleshly physical structure and intellectual which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called theAtman. The celebration of Deepavali as the victory of good over evil, refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks ones true nature, not as the body, save as the unchanging, infinite,immanentandtranscendentreality.With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the ace of all things (higher knowledge). This bringsananda(joy or peace). Just as we celebrate the make of our physic al being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light. While the story behind Deepavali and the mood of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same to exuberate in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman).Diwali Festival of LightsDiwali(also spelledDevaliin certain regions) orDeepavali,1popularly known as the festival of lights, is an important five-day festival inHinduism,Jainism, andSikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday inIndia,2Nepal,Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Mauritius,Guyana,Trinidad & Tobago,Suriname,Malaysia,Singapore,3andFiji. The name Diwali is a contraction of Deepavali (SanskritDipavali), which translates into row of lamps. 4Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyasordipas) inSanskrit ) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali. Diwali commemorates the return ofLord Rama, along withSitaandLakshman, from his fourteen-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-kingRavana.In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people ofAyodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthendiyas(oil lamps) and burst firecrackers. 5 In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment ofmokshaornirvanabyMahavirain 527 BC. 67In Sikhism,Deepavalicommemorates the return ofGuru Har Gobind JitoAmritsarafter freeing 52 Hindu kings imprisoned in FortGwaliorby defeating EmperorJahangir the people lit candles and diyas to celebrate his return. This is the reason Sikhs also refer to Deepavali asBandi Chhorh Divas, the day of release of detainees.The festival starts withDhanterason which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival,Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demonNarakabyLord Krishnaand his wifeSatyabhama. Amavasya, the third day of Deepawali, marks the worship ofLakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of LordVishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished theBali, and banished him toPatala.It is on the fourth day of Deepawali,Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali went topatalaand took the reins of his new kingdom in there. The fifth day is referred to asYama Dvitiya(also calledBhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes. - Spiritual significance In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.From darkness into light the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, its a celebration of South-Asian identities. 5 While Deepavali is popularly known as the festival of lights, the most significant spiritual meaning is the awareness of the inner light. Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called theAtman. The celebration of Deepavali as the victory of good over evil, refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks ones true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, i nfinite,immanentandtranscendentreality.With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This bringsananda(joy or peace). Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light. While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman).