Deepavali

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Deepavali

• Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya

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Deepavali

• Also known as Diwali
• 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

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The festival of Lights

• Celebrated for 5 days
• Customs vary but lighting lamps is common
• Fireworks, Rangoli, Lamps
• Lights, Sparkles, Glitters!

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Dhana-trayodashi

• Dhanteras, Yama Deepdan
• 13th day of Kartika 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

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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 Deepdan

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Narak-chaturdashi

• Chhoti Diwali, or little Diwali
• Falls on 14th day of Kartika month
• Tradition is to get very early and have an oil
  bath before the sunrise
• Earthen lamps are lit

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Narak-chaturdashi - Stories

• Narakasur, the demon king of Pragjyotishpur, 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 patal, or nether regions,
  by Vamanavatar

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Lakshmi Puja

• Diwali, Kaumudi Mahotsam
• Amavasya, or no moon night
• Day of Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth

• Millions of lamps lit
• Amavasya becomes brighter than Poornima, or full
  moon night

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Lakshmi Puja - Stories

• Lot of stories associated with this day
• Lord Rama return to Ayodhya after defeating
  Ravana
• Lord Krishna delivers knowledge of Gita to Arjuna
• Lord Krishna also attains nirvana this day
• Nachiketa attains knowledge from Yama and returns
  back to earth

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Bali Padya

• Padwa, Varsha Pratipada, Govardhan Puja, 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

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Bali Padya - Stories

• Vikramaditya 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 patal and given boon to
  return from nether regions once a year

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Bhai Dooj

• Bhav Beej, Bhai Tika, Yama Dwiteeya
• 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

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More on Diwali

• Sikh also celebrate Diwali to commemorate return
  of 6th Guru, Guru Hargobind from captivity
• Lord Mahavir, who established Jainism, obtained
  nirvana on this day

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Significance of Diwali

• Celebration of rise of knowledge
• Celebration of victory of dharma
• Occasion for self-enlightment
• Prosperity, peace, and progress for all

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