The Spirit of Diwali for Hindus
The festival is celebrated on four consecutive days as follows according to the Hindu Lunar Calendar.
Dhanatrayodashi: The thirteenth day (trayodashi) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (Sept-Oct).
Naraka Chaturdashi: The fourteenth day (chaturdashi) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (Sept-Oct).
Lakshmipuja / Diwali: The new moon day (Amavasya) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (Sept-Oct).
Balipratipada: This is the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Karthika.
Some omit Dhanatrayodashi and count only the remaining three days as Diwali.
Day 1: Dhanatrayodashi Dhanatrayodashi is also called Dhanteras in colloquial language.
The Hindu financial year is comprised of the period between one Dhanatrayodashi and another.
Businessmen worship their cash boxes and start with new account books on this day.
Worship of the deity Dhanvantari: It is the birthday of Dhanvantari, the bestower of immortality.
Therefore, it is also called Dhanvantari Jayanthi.
On this day, Ayurvedic doctors (vaidyas) worship Him by making a sacred offering (prasadam) of small pieces of neem leaves and sugar to visitors.
Neem leaves are known to be very good for health - chewing five to six of them every day helps prevent malady.
Offering of lamps: On this day, one performs Yamadipadan, an offering of lamps to Lord Yama to prevent premature death.
13 lamps made of wheat flour and lit with oil should be placed outside the house, facing southwards (direction of Lord Yama), in the evening.
At no time a lamp is kept facing southwards except on this day.
Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi Ablution with oil (abhyanga snan): According to the Srimad Bhagavatam, on this day Lord Krishna slayed a powerful demon, Narkasura.
The dying Narkasura asked Lord Krishna - On this day (tithi) let one, who takes an auspicious bath (mangala snan) not suffer in hell.
Lord Krishna granted him that boon.
Subsequently, this day is also known as Naraka (hell) chaturdashi, and on that day people started taking an auspicious bath before sunrise.
Yamatarpan and arati: On this day, one executes Yamatarpan, that is, offering to the deity of death (Lord Yama) after an auspicious bath (bath with an oil massage) to overcome untimely death (apamrutyu).
Thereafter, the mother does arati for her children to commemorate the celebration of Lord Krishna's victory.
Day 3: Lakshmipuja / Diwali Generally, the new moon day is considered inauspicious; however, this day is exclusion to the rule.
Since it is still not propitious for all events, it is more proper to call it a day of happiness rather than an auspicious day.
Though all people celebrate this festival, the mercantile class in particular does so with great enthusiasm and splendor.
The celebration of this is as follows.
An auspicious bath (abhyanga snan): Bath with an oil massage is recommended on all the three days from Naraka chaturdashi to Balipratipada.
An oil bath consists of an oil massage to facilitate the absorption of oil by the skin, followed by a warm water bath.
Oil should be applied to retain elasticity of the skin.
Warm water is auspicious and pleasing to the body.
Bathing after an oil massage retains only that amount of oiliness that the skin and hair require.
Hence, an oil massage is necessary before a bath.
Application of oil after a bath is inappropriate.
Lakshmipuja: On this day, one performs Lakshmipuja, that is, worship of deity Lakshmi, the deity of prosperity.
After an auspicious bath at dawn, one should worship the deities.
In the afternoon, a ritual for the departed souls and an offering of meals to Lord Brahma is done and in the evening, in a decorated pandal, Lakshmi, Vishnu, Kuber, and other deities are worshipped.
The Puranas narrate that on this day at nightfall, Lakshmi enters the ideal home, which apart from being clean, is occupied by men who are merciful and virtuous and are devotees of the Lord, and women who are righteous and faithful.
Cleaning the house: Development of virtues gains significance, only if in the process, defects are overcome.
Just as one struggles to acquire wealth (Lakshmi), poverty (alakshmi) should be removed.
To denote that, on this day a brand new broom is bought and is called Lakshmi.
At twelve midnight one should sweep the home with that broom, collect the rubbish and throw it out.
This is called 'driving off' of alakshmi (garbage - poverty).
Sweeping/vacuuming the house and throwing the garbage out at night is forbidden on other days.
Decoration with lit lamps: Lamps are lit both inside and outside the house on all days of Diwali.
This gives the house a festive look and produces enthusiasm and joy.
Clay lamps lit with oil are very decorative and soothing than a string of electric bulbs.
This is in alignment with the Vedic teachings that one should go from darkness (spiritual ignorance) to light (spiritual awareness.
).
Offering of lamps attracts Lakshmi.
Decoration with lanterns (akashkandil): Lantern is another attractive sight during Diwali nights apart from glowing lamps and the sky lit up by the bursting of innumerable varieties of fireworks.
A decorated lantern is hung outside the house on a tall pole.
This will be visible from a long distance and one is very delighted to watch it glowing in the sky.
This lantern should be displayed from the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashvin till the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of Karthika.
Rangoli: It is an age-old practice to draw rangoli at the site of any auspicious religious ritual.
During Diwali various rangoli designs are drawn at the doorstep and decorated with different colors after smearing the ground with a thick solution of water mixed with cow dung.
The word rangoli is derived from the Sanskrit word 'rangavali' (an array of colors).
The two aims of drawing rangoli are revelation of beauty and acquisition of auspiciousness.
Day 4: Balipratipada It is called Balipratipada, as the demon King Bali was stripped of his kingdom and sent to the sutala planet by Lord Vamanadeva.
Bali was a devotee of Lord Vishnu in spite of belonging to a demon family.
He exemplified the qualities of a Mahabhagavata (a great devotee) by completely surrendering all of his possessions, including his body to Lord Vamanadeva.
Hence, an image of King Bali and his queen is drawn with rangoli on the ground, decorated with colors and worshipped.
Then for the sake of Bali's kindness, lamps and clothes are given.
On this day, after an early bath and oil massage, women perform arati to their husbands.
There is a delicious feast in the afternoon.
People wear new dresses and celebrate the day.
Some people also worship a replica of the Govardhana hill ( Govardhan puja ) on this day, by making a heap of cow dung and tucking durva (a sacred grass) and flowers into it.
Images of Lord Krishna, cow herds, Lord Indra and the cows are arranged alongside and also worshipped.
Then, all the images are taken out in a procession, to commemorate Lord Krishna's saving the cowherds and their herds from torrential rains by holding up the mountain Govardhan like an umbrella over them, with His little finger.
Dhanatrayodashi: The thirteenth day (trayodashi) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (Sept-Oct).
Naraka Chaturdashi: The fourteenth day (chaturdashi) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (Sept-Oct).
Lakshmipuja / Diwali: The new moon day (Amavasya) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (Sept-Oct).
Balipratipada: This is the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Karthika.
Some omit Dhanatrayodashi and count only the remaining three days as Diwali.
Day 1: Dhanatrayodashi Dhanatrayodashi is also called Dhanteras in colloquial language.
The Hindu financial year is comprised of the period between one Dhanatrayodashi and another.
Businessmen worship their cash boxes and start with new account books on this day.
Worship of the deity Dhanvantari: It is the birthday of Dhanvantari, the bestower of immortality.
Therefore, it is also called Dhanvantari Jayanthi.
On this day, Ayurvedic doctors (vaidyas) worship Him by making a sacred offering (prasadam) of small pieces of neem leaves and sugar to visitors.
Neem leaves are known to be very good for health - chewing five to six of them every day helps prevent malady.
Offering of lamps: On this day, one performs Yamadipadan, an offering of lamps to Lord Yama to prevent premature death.
13 lamps made of wheat flour and lit with oil should be placed outside the house, facing southwards (direction of Lord Yama), in the evening.
At no time a lamp is kept facing southwards except on this day.
Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi Ablution with oil (abhyanga snan): According to the Srimad Bhagavatam, on this day Lord Krishna slayed a powerful demon, Narkasura.
The dying Narkasura asked Lord Krishna - On this day (tithi) let one, who takes an auspicious bath (mangala snan) not suffer in hell.
Lord Krishna granted him that boon.
Subsequently, this day is also known as Naraka (hell) chaturdashi, and on that day people started taking an auspicious bath before sunrise.
Yamatarpan and arati: On this day, one executes Yamatarpan, that is, offering to the deity of death (Lord Yama) after an auspicious bath (bath with an oil massage) to overcome untimely death (apamrutyu).
Thereafter, the mother does arati for her children to commemorate the celebration of Lord Krishna's victory.
Day 3: Lakshmipuja / Diwali Generally, the new moon day is considered inauspicious; however, this day is exclusion to the rule.
Since it is still not propitious for all events, it is more proper to call it a day of happiness rather than an auspicious day.
Though all people celebrate this festival, the mercantile class in particular does so with great enthusiasm and splendor.
The celebration of this is as follows.
An auspicious bath (abhyanga snan): Bath with an oil massage is recommended on all the three days from Naraka chaturdashi to Balipratipada.
An oil bath consists of an oil massage to facilitate the absorption of oil by the skin, followed by a warm water bath.
Oil should be applied to retain elasticity of the skin.
Warm water is auspicious and pleasing to the body.
Bathing after an oil massage retains only that amount of oiliness that the skin and hair require.
Hence, an oil massage is necessary before a bath.
Application of oil after a bath is inappropriate.
Lakshmipuja: On this day, one performs Lakshmipuja, that is, worship of deity Lakshmi, the deity of prosperity.
After an auspicious bath at dawn, one should worship the deities.
In the afternoon, a ritual for the departed souls and an offering of meals to Lord Brahma is done and in the evening, in a decorated pandal, Lakshmi, Vishnu, Kuber, and other deities are worshipped.
The Puranas narrate that on this day at nightfall, Lakshmi enters the ideal home, which apart from being clean, is occupied by men who are merciful and virtuous and are devotees of the Lord, and women who are righteous and faithful.
Cleaning the house: Development of virtues gains significance, only if in the process, defects are overcome.
Just as one struggles to acquire wealth (Lakshmi), poverty (alakshmi) should be removed.
To denote that, on this day a brand new broom is bought and is called Lakshmi.
At twelve midnight one should sweep the home with that broom, collect the rubbish and throw it out.
This is called 'driving off' of alakshmi (garbage - poverty).
Sweeping/vacuuming the house and throwing the garbage out at night is forbidden on other days.
Decoration with lit lamps: Lamps are lit both inside and outside the house on all days of Diwali.
This gives the house a festive look and produces enthusiasm and joy.
Clay lamps lit with oil are very decorative and soothing than a string of electric bulbs.
This is in alignment with the Vedic teachings that one should go from darkness (spiritual ignorance) to light (spiritual awareness.
).
Offering of lamps attracts Lakshmi.
Decoration with lanterns (akashkandil): Lantern is another attractive sight during Diwali nights apart from glowing lamps and the sky lit up by the bursting of innumerable varieties of fireworks.
A decorated lantern is hung outside the house on a tall pole.
This will be visible from a long distance and one is very delighted to watch it glowing in the sky.
This lantern should be displayed from the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashvin till the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of Karthika.
Rangoli: It is an age-old practice to draw rangoli at the site of any auspicious religious ritual.
During Diwali various rangoli designs are drawn at the doorstep and decorated with different colors after smearing the ground with a thick solution of water mixed with cow dung.
The word rangoli is derived from the Sanskrit word 'rangavali' (an array of colors).
The two aims of drawing rangoli are revelation of beauty and acquisition of auspiciousness.
Day 4: Balipratipada It is called Balipratipada, as the demon King Bali was stripped of his kingdom and sent to the sutala planet by Lord Vamanadeva.
Bali was a devotee of Lord Vishnu in spite of belonging to a demon family.
He exemplified the qualities of a Mahabhagavata (a great devotee) by completely surrendering all of his possessions, including his body to Lord Vamanadeva.
Hence, an image of King Bali and his queen is drawn with rangoli on the ground, decorated with colors and worshipped.
Then for the sake of Bali's kindness, lamps and clothes are given.
On this day, after an early bath and oil massage, women perform arati to their husbands.
There is a delicious feast in the afternoon.
People wear new dresses and celebrate the day.
Some people also worship a replica of the Govardhana hill ( Govardhan puja ) on this day, by making a heap of cow dung and tucking durva (a sacred grass) and flowers into it.
Images of Lord Krishna, cow herds, Lord Indra and the cows are arranged alongside and also worshipped.
Then, all the images are taken out in a procession, to commemorate Lord Krishna's saving the cowherds and their herds from torrential rains by holding up the mountain Govardhan like an umbrella over them, with His little finger.
